Tea and pregnancy: everything you need to know
Pregnancy is often synonymous with joy, but it presupposes certain precautions, including food. They begin with the consumption of tea which, like coffee, is a stimulating drink. Can tea continue to be consumed during pregnancy and, if so, how?
Tea, a thousand-year-old drink
Tea, an aromatic drink prepared by infusion of the dried leaves of the tea plant, has been consumed since ancient times. It is the most drunk drink in the world, after water. Very appreciated for its taste and thirst-quenching character, it is also consumed for its multiple virtues – slimming, detoxifying, energizing, relaxing.
There is not one tea, but teas, which differ in their color: black, green, oolong (blue-green), yellow, white, post-fermented (or smoked). The color of each tea is due to a different treatment of the leaves. This treatment will also influencethe tannin and theine content of the tea.
Theine is called caffeine in tea. But this is to rectify the common mistake that the two substances are different. Theine in tea and caffeine incoffeeare one and the same molecule: methyltheobromine, an alkaloid that acts as a stimulant of the central nervous system and cardiovascular system. The only difference between coffee and tea is the assimilation of their caffeine by the body. Indeed, the tannins of tea have the effect of delaying this assimilation. This is the reason why tea is stated to be less exciting thancoffee. In addition, tea also contains theanine, an amino acid with relaxing andanti-stress properties(1).
Finally, tea contains many polyphenols (or tannins). Polyphenols are organic molecules found in plants that have many positive health effects(2). Their antioxidant potential would have a positive impact on inflammatory diseases(3) andcardiovascular diseases(4), but also oncancer(5).
Risks and benefits of tea during pregnancy
Risks
Excessive consumption of tea duringpregnancycan lead to inconvenience or even risks for the pregnant woman and/or the fetus.
- Palpitations and increased heart rate of mother and child.
- Accentuation ofgastric burnsand gastroesophageal reflux disease in pregnant women.
- Poor assimilation of certain minerals, like iron. The Public Health France site advises to consume tea away from meals, otherwise you will not absorb themicronutrients provided by food badly and, therefore, suffer from deficiencies, such as anemia.
- Increased risk of bone loss in the future mother, and calcium deficiency in infants, due to the high fluoride content of poor quality tea (less noble or old leaves).
- Growth retardation in children (6)
Benefits
Tea, moreover, is a beneficial drink for pregnant women, when consumed in moderation.
- Tea is a good source of hydration, which pregnant women need. It is indeed advisable, during pregnancy, toDrink 2 to 3 liters per day.
- Following hydration, the risk of transit disorders (constipation), urinary tract infections and water retention are reduced.
- Strengthening of the immune system, thanks to the high content of polyphenols in tea.
- Stimulation of insulin sensitivity and, therefore, prevention of Gestational diabetes sometimes present during pregnancy.
- Prevention of pregnancy-related hypertension and, consequently, reduction of the risk of pre-eclampsia. Pre-eclampsia is a disease of pregnancy associating a rise in blood pressure and proteinuria (protein in the urine), after the 20thweek of amenorrhea.
Under what conditions should you continue to drink tea during pregnancy?
If, despite pregnancy, you want to continue drinking tea, for taste, but also for its positive effects on health, it is a question of looking more closely at your consumption.
Which tea to favor during pregnancy?
Not all teas have the same theine content. Also, it is better to favor teas low in theine, Roobois (nicknamed “red tea”, but which is not) devoid of caffeine, or even decaffeinated tea. For information:
- Black tea and smoked tea are the richest in tannins and theine.
- Green tea, which is growing in popularity, is very antioxidant, and contains slightly less caffeine than black tea.
- White tea, which has not been oxidized, contains very little theine, but also few polyphenols.
- Oolong is a very elegant tea, low in theine.
Finally, if you want to consume a hot drink similar to tea, but avoid any risk associated with theine, you can opt for Herbal Teastag. They contain no tea and therefore no stimulating substances. Moreover, some plants should be avoided: liquorice, angelica, Ginkgo biloba, sage, yarrow, ginseng, passionflower…
Quantities and frequency
Tea is allowed during pregnancy, but its consumption must remain moderate. Thus, the World Health Organization advises not to exceed 300 mg of caffeine per day(7)tag. To better know what this quantity corresponds to, know that:
- A 250ml cup of black tea contains 50mg of theine
- A 250ml cup of green tea contains 30mg of theine
In addition, if you consume, in parallel with your tea, foods or drinks rich in caffeine, such as cola drinks or energy drinks, coffee (and all foods containing it), mate or Chocolate , be sure to total caffeine accumulation.
Stephen Paul is the lead author and founder of My Health Sponsor. Holder of a diploma in health and well-being coaching with more than 200 articles in the field of health, he makes it a point of honor to offer advice based on reliable information, based on scientific research, and verified by health professionals.