Drink tea during pregnancy, good or bad idea?
No matter the season of the year, tea is savored, hot or cold, black, green or white, we love it in all its forms! Particularly moisturizing, tea is an excellent source of antioxidants and includes many other virtues.
For more information about tea benefits, read our previous post « The benefits of Matcha tea ».
Finally, to disentangle the truth from the false, read our post on the 5 received ideas about tea!
Here is an article dedicated to future mothers ☺
As you already know, during pregnancy many drinks and foods are banned or discouraged. Unfortunately teas are part of the food to be consumed in moderation to avoid certain deficiencies such as iron.
Tea during pregnancy, good or bad idea ?
Tea contains caffeine, which decreases the absorption of non-heme iron (of vegetable origin). Tea, (just like coffee) is an existing one, it's not totally forbidden to consume it ,simply, it's advisable not to exceed 300mg per day.
Green tea, consumed in large quantities, could reduce the absorption of folate (folic acid) in the body. So this one is to reduce to the maximum during the pregnancy not to impair the development of the baby.
Indications
- A cup of black tea (about 250ml of water) contains about 50 mg of theine
- A cup of green tea contains about 30 mg of theine
Iron requirements are essential for pregnant women, particularly for the transport of oxygen.
Tea consumption during pregnancy
During pregnancy, it's preferable to consume tea without theine such as red tea or herbal teas (check composition and contraindications). However, if you can not do without a good cup of tea, be sure to consume it outside meals to not limit the absorption of iron, consume at least 1 hour before or after the meal (in reasonable quantity) .
For women who don't consume meat (vegetarian) it's important to follow this recommendation because the lack of iron can be even more important because of the lack of iron from animal proteins.
Limit the negative effects of iron deficiency during pregnancy
Vitamin C is an excellent alternative for increasing the absorption of non-heme iron. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables that are good for you and your baby!
For tea addicts, you can consume a small cup of tea with a drop of milk and lemon (containing vitamin C).
Finally, avoid adding too many sugars in your tea that has consequences on weight gain
Did you know?
Many brands of tea now offer tea ranges for pregnant women, you can especially find in organic grocery stores, pharmacies ... Be careful! It's better to always seek the advice of a professional not to take Risks!