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Tea and Pregnancy

 

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Pregnancy by Ola Czechowska

When I learned I was pregnant, the first thing I did was a little research to find out the things I should eliminate or reduce from my diet. Smoked fish, soft cheese, alcohol, and caffeine topped the list. I love smoked fish, soft cheese, and alcohol, but they’re not things I consume on a daily basis. Caffeine, however, is in something I love and consume daily: TEA! I’m hot, hungry, and tired all the time, and on top of that I’m not supposed to have tea!? Let me look into this a little further.

The Yale University School of Medicine published the results of their research on maternal consumption of caffeine during pregnancy in 2003. The concern was that caffeine contributed to low birth weight, but the study determined that “[t]his small decrease in birth weight, observed for maternal caffeine consumption, is unlikely to be clinically important except for women consuming >=600 mg of caffeine daily (approximately six 10-ounce (1 ounce = 28.3 g) cups of coffee). ”

Three other things worth noting:

  1. Caffeine can be found in foods and beverages other than coffee, tea, cola, and chocolate.
  2. Because herbal teas aren’t regulated by the FDA, there may be ingredients in herbal teas that are not good for pregnant women or developing fetuses. Do your research and consult with your doctor.
  3. Another article I read stated that the epigallocatechins in green tea may affect the way the body uses folate, a B vitamin that is necessary for the production and maintenance of new cells and especially important during pregnancy.

Considering how much tea I drank pre-pregnancy, there’s a good chance that I was consuming around 600 mg of caffeine. So, I have drastically reduced the amount of tea I drink, but I’m relieved that I don’t need to complete eliminate it.

 

Posted by Rachel at Tuesday ~ October 02, 2007 | 6 Comments

Category: Herbal Tea, Black Tea, White Tea, Tea Facts, Tea, Health Benefits, Green Tea

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Category: Health Benefits, Tea, Green Tea

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Category: Recipes, Tea, Green Tea

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Category: White Tea, Tea Facts, History of Tea, Green Tea, Uncategorized

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Category: Tea Reviews, Tea, Green Tea, Uncategorized

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Posted by CB at Monday ~ February 26, 2007 | No Comments

Category: Tea News, Health Benefits, Tea, Green Tea, Uncategorized