Tea and Pregnancy

 

pregnancy.jpg

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 | 5 Comments

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

Numi Mint Tea Review

 

As soon as I took this tea bag out of its individual package the strong, crisp smell of mint was present. The tea bag itself appeared to be made of recycled material, but individually wrapping each one kind of defeats the positive environmental impact.

Numi Mint Tea

The boiled water immediately began transforming in to a deep, clear, golden brown as soon as the tea bag touched it. The mint aroma was very strong as the tea steeped. After removing the tea bag I took my first sip.

Numi Mint Tea Steeping

The flavor was simple and bold. The sharp mint flavor was extremely refreshing and soothing. There was a slight hint of earthy tones followed by a cool clean feeling in my mouth.

After finishing this cup of refreshing herbal goodness I realized that there is a whole other world of teas outside of the green, black and white blends that I usually drink. I would definitely drink this tea again.

Overall 8/10

Flavor- 9/10

Aroma- 9/10

Presentation- 6/10

 

Posted by CB at Saturday ~ March 03, 2007 | No Comments

Category: Herbal Tea, Tea Reviews, Tea Facts, Tea, Uncategorized