What Herbal Teas Are Safe for Pregnancy

What Herbal Teas Are Safe for Pregnancy

Many women opt for tea every bit a natural, healthy, and satisfying potable during pregnancy.

But while it certainly has its benefits, y'all may be surprised to learn that information technology'south not without its risks.

We'll comprehend everything y'all need to know nigh drinking tea while pregnant. How information technology tin can assistance, how it tin can hurt, and some of the best teas to enjoy while you're pregnant.

• The Different Types of Tea
• Benefits of Drinking Tea During Pregnancy
• Precautions When Drinking Tea While Meaning
• How Much Caffeine Does Tea Accept?
• What Teas are Recommended During Pregnancy?
• What About Nettle Tea?
• The Lesser Line

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The Dissimilar Types of Tea

Tea is fabricated by pouring boiling water over dried leaves and letting them steep, allowing the flavor to infuse the hot water. It is the most widely consumed drink in the world, deeply entrenched in many cultures across the earth.

Tea can exist made from a nearly countless number of plants. The flavors are often enhanced by combining different types of herbs or spices along with the main tea leaves to create unique concoctions.

Teas autumn into one of two categories:

1. Real Tea: If you're a tea purist, there'south merely one type of tea, and this is information technology. Real tea comes from ane type of plant, Camellia sinensis. Different varieties are created by altering the processing methods of the tea leaf. Greenish, black, white, pu-ehr, and oolong teas are all considered "real tea" and are made from the aforementioned institute ⁽ⁱ⁾ . Real teas are naturally caffeinated but tin can be fabricated into decaf through boosted processing.
2. Herbal Tea: Herbal teas are made from the leaves, flowers, bark, stems, or any other parts of diverse plants. Sometimes instead of steeping the leaves in hot h2o, tea is made by boiling the herbs directly. This method is more commonly used when making tea from bark, stems, or other more than dumbo parts of the plant. Herbal teas are naturally decaffeinated.

Benefits of Drinking Tea During Pregnancy

At that place are many benefits to drinking tea while significant, including:

i. It Can Help Keep Yous Hydrated

It's easy to get out of the water-drinking habit when y'all can't proceed annihilation down, have a stomach that is compressed past your baby, and experience the need to run to the bath every twenty minutes. As a result, dehydration can easily happen when you're meaning.

Even if you lot're non dehydrated to the bespeak you need medical attention, you may be walking around with less water in your torso than you demand.

Even minor aridity tin exacerbate common pregnancy complaints such every bit:

• Constipation.
• Water retention.
• Fatigue.
• Headache.
• Sleep difficulties.

Have caution since highly caffeinated teas tin can have a diuretic outcome, which means they can brand you urinate more often and, in turn, crusade dehydration if consumed in big amounts. Avoid brewing your tea for a long time since that can raise the caffeine level, and call back that black and oolong teas are known to contain the nigh caffeine. Herbal teas are mostly caffeine-costless and tend to exist better for hydration.

Editor's Note:

Dr. Njoud Jweihan, Dr.

ii. It Can Combat Morning Sickness

Morning sickness is 1 of the near hard pregnancy symptoms, making it a challenge to enjoy the early months.

Morning sickness well-nigh commonly occurs on an empty stomach, leaving pregnant mothers in a Catch-22 in which they demand something in their breadbasket to make them feel improve yet notice it difficult to tummy a lot of food or beverages.

One of the most mutual pregnancy aversions is java, so if you're accustomed to waking in the morn and having a coffee first thing, you need to discover a substitute that will not simply satisfy simply that you'll also detect palatable.

Ginger is an effective ingredient to soothe nausea, and there are lots of ginger teas on the market. If you find information technology difficult to tum a cup of hot tea, pour it over ice and add together pasteurized beloved or sugar to make a sweet iced tea version. Cold and sweet foods are often easier to proceed down if yous struggle with morning sickness. Some other type of tea that can ease morning sickness is lemon balm. If you are at high take chances for miscarriage, avoid chamomile and peppermint tea, specially in the starting time trimester.

3. Tea Has Antioxidants and Nutrients

Antioxidants are naturally-occurring substances in plants that remove waste product products that tin can cause potential prison cell damage ⁽²⁾ . These damaging waste matter products, called costless radicals, are responsible for signs of aging in our peel and have even been implicated in the development of cancer.

Accept Note

When you're meaning, the placenta naturally produces waste products in your body. Testify shows that an adequate corporeality of antioxidants is necessary to remove this waste, and a lack of antioxidants may contribute to negative pregnancy outcomes, such every bit miscarriage ⁽³⁾ .

To be clear, antioxidants are not unique to tea. They are bachelor through many other foods, but tea is i way to get them into your body. The more antioxidants you lot have in your torso, the better.

Tea also has nutrients that are of import in pregnancy. These include calcium, magnesium, and iron. Tea also helps to boost your immune arrangement, which is ultra-important to ward off disease.

Some studies say that adding milk to your tea neutralizes many of its benefits, including its antioxidants and nutrients, and so endeavor to avoid adding milk, and add some flavor such as herbs or lemon instead ^(iv) . You should avoid tea bags since they are considered not as constructive and beneficial as loose leaf tea.

Editor's Annotation:

Dr. Njoud Jweihan, Doc

4. Tea Tin Help Prepare Y'all for Labor

Aside from the health benefits that are healthy whether yous're pregnant or not, some teas merits to help you lot during pregnancy specifically.

Some herbal teas, such as blood-red raspberry leaf tea and cinnamon-flavored teas, are believed to assist tone your uterine muscles. This tin help you ready for labor, making your contractions more efficient and, hopefully, shortening your labor.

5. It Can Help You Relax

There'southward something very soothing almost sitting downwards with a warm cup of tea. Many tea drinkers love the feeling of relaxation that comes over them as they take in the aroma of the tea and pause to breathe.

Pregnancy can be a stressful time that can plow you into a bundle of nerves. If a cup of tea can give you a few minutes of relaxation, you lot should go for information technology.

Precautions When Drinking Tea While Pregnant

When choosing tea while pregnant, consider the following:

1. Tea Has Caffeine

Tea has caffeine, which is widely considered okay during pregnancy every bit long as yous swallow it in moderation. About 200mg or 12oz of caffeine a day should exist acceptable for about pregnant women. Even "decaffeinated" varieties have a piffling caffeine. Be mindful of the caffeine levels in the tea product y'all choose.

2. Wellness Claims are Not Regulated

Many herbal teas brands claim they will enhance your health in certain ways. Yet, most of the claims they make are not backed past scientific research.

When the science is in question, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that manufacturers include a disclaimer ⁽⁵⁾ . If you are purchasing a tea specifically for its touted health benefits, check the side or back of the box.

Check The Box

If it says, "These statements have non been evaluated by the Nutrient and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any affliction," then proceed with caution.

It doesn't mean the product won't work in the mode you lot'd like information technology to, but it might be worth doing a little more than enquiry before trying it.

3. Some Have Ingredients that Aren't Safe During Pregnancy

This tin can exist a flake dicey because herbal health claims aren't regulated. Merely when you're pregnant, it'southward better to exist safe than sorry. Some herbal teas have ingredients that may not be safe while pregnant.

If you're meaning, it's a good idea to avoid teas that include the following ingredients ⁽⁶⁾ :

• Chamomile.
• Dandelion.
• Earl Grayness.
• Licorice tea.
• Cohosh.
• Rosehip.
• Xanthous dock.
• Dong Quai.
• Nettle.

You should also avert herbal blends that are marketed to relieve PMS symptoms, help with menstruation, detoxify the body or liver, or help y'all lose weight. These likely include ingredients that are not recommended for pregnancy.

Whenever purchasing an herbal blend tea, read the ingredient characterization to ensure it doesn't comprise any of the ingredients listed hither. Some teas have instructions for women that specifically mention phrases such every bit "avert if pregnant" or "consult with your doctor earlier apply."

4. Some Teas Contain Arsenic and Pesticides in Varying Degrees

While teas are full of healthy minerals, some brands are organic while others aren't. Studies accept shown some brands contain an alarming amount of pesticides, arsenic, atomic number 82, and other undesirable ingredients.

Accept Note

Organic teas may toll more, but information technology might be worth springing for them during pregnancy.

How Much Caffeine Does Tea Have?

A typical eight-ounce cup of real tea has anywhere between 20-48 milligrams of caffeine ⁽⁷⁾ . The exact amount volition depend on the blazon of tea, brewing method, and processing of the tea leaves, but it is considerably less than a loving cup of brewed coffee, which runs about 95-165 milligrams.

Green tea tends to have less caffeine than black tea, which can have upwards to xc mg of caffeine, and the decaffeinated varieties still accept a bit of caffeine — somewhere around 3 milligrams.

Herbal teas are naturally decaffeinated merely may still comprise up to half a milligram of caffeine.

No conclusive studies have been conducted on the effects of caffeine on pregnancy ^(eight) . However, there does seem to be testify that it may exist linked to miscarriage, preterm labor, and some birth defects. Nosotros also understand that caffeine crosses the placenta and can impact the baby's immature digestive system, which is not notwithstanding equipped to handle the substance.

For these reasons, it'due south generally recommended that meaning women limit themselves to 200 milligrams of caffeine per mean solar day or one 12-ounce cup of coffee. For comparison, you could sip four cups of caffeinated tea throughout the mean solar day and still likely be under that corporeality.

What Teas are Recommended During Pregnancy?

If you're looking for the best teas to beverage while meaning, you tin can choose from the post-obit:

• Real Tea: Black, green, and oolong tea are all considered safe to consume during pregnancy. However, the chief business concern with these teas is their level of caffeine. So if you drink real tea, limit yourself to iv 8-ounce cups per twenty-four hours, or opt for decaffeinated varieties to become the flavor without the jolt.
• Red Raspberry Leafage Tea: This is an herbal tea fabricated with leaves from the raspberry plant. It is believed to tone the uterus and aid prepare for labor. Even so, most medical providers recommend skipping this tea during the showtime trimester and drinking it simply during the second and tertiary — but to exist safe.
• Peppermint Leaf Tea: This herbal tea is widely believed to be prophylactic during pregnancy. It too tends to be more palatable to those with a queasy tum and is believed to assistance with morning time sickness. Avoid this tea if you have heartburn or acid reflux since information technology tin worsen your symptoms.
• Ginger Root Tea: Ginger is widely used across cultures to combat nausea. This is a great choice to try if you suffer from pregnancy-related nausea.

There are many other options available — many of which your girlfriends probably drank while they were expecting. Still, the trouble is the limited information bachelor most their effects on the fetus.

Because of this, our list of recommended teas is very brusque since nosotros believe information technology's all-time to err on the side of caution and stick with the basics.

Avoid overindulging in drinking any kind of tea since some studies show it can limit the absorption of iron and folic acid, which are very important for your baby's development. ^(nine)

Editor's Note:

Dr. Njoud Jweihan, MD

What Most Nettle Tea?

Nettle tea is an herbal tea made from the stinging nettles plant. It is listed equally "Likely Unsafe for Pregnancy" in the Natural Medicines Database but is nevertheless widely recommended by midwives and herbal experts. It is often included every bit an ingredient in tea blends marketed specifically for pregnancy.

The divergence betwixt the recommended use and the actual use is likely related to the part of the plant used to make the tea. For pregnancy, information technology'south thought that using the leaves from the nettle constitute renders information technology safety, while teas made from the roots are not.

Still, most medical practitioners consider nettle tea to exist "off-limits" for pregnant women as the Natural Medicines Database does not distinguish between teas made from the leaves or roots. For this reason, we take a conservative arroyo and practise not recommend nettle tea during pregnancy.

A Word Of Caution

If you purchase a commercial "pregnancy tea," check the ingredients list to brand sure nettles are not included.

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The Lesser Line

In moderation, tea can exist a benign addition to your nutrition during pregnancy. It can aid to alleviate some of your common pregnancy complaints and offers you a less-caffeinated culling to your morning cup of coffee.

Simply go along in mind the guidelines we take listed above, limiting your caffeine intake to 200mg per solar day and avoiding ingredients that are not safe for pregnancy, such as Dong Quai and nettles.

What Herbal Teas Are Safe for Pregnancy

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