Green tea during pregnancy - benefits and harms

The content of the article

1 About the benefits of green tea
2 Controversial issues
3 How to brew and drink green tea
4 Water quality
5 What to brew?
6 Green Tea Rules
7 Video: is it possible for pregnant hibiscus tea

An excellent means to support health while carrying a child is considered natural green tea. It perfectly quenches thirst, and in combination with honey and lemon helps a woman cope with the first signs of a cold. And unlike classic black tea or coffee, there is practically no caffeine in it, the use of which during pregnancy is undesirable. What else is green tea famous for, and what benefit is it for women in position? Why it is not necessary to drink it in liters, and how to strengthen its healing effect?

About the benefits of green tea

Green tea is a healthy drink with an original taste, which contains most of the minerals and vitamin necessary for the female body during pregnancy. At the same time, the special technology of primary processing allows you to save maximum components in it even under the influence of high temperatures. Its unique properties include the following features:

Green tea is considered a good source of macronutrients such as magnesium and calcium.
The natural antioxidants contained in it enhance the immune response, protecting not only from free radicals, but also seasonal infections.
Prevents pregnancy diabetes because it balances blood sugar.
Strengthens teeth and bones, preventing their destruction.
Normalizes blood pressure.
Thanks to its phytoncides, it helps to cope with toxicosis, relieving bouts of nausea.
Promotes the coordinated work of the entire gastrointestinal tract, normalizing the digestion process.
Since many pregnant women often overeat, this can trigger an increase in cholesterol. A few cups of green tea prevent its deposition.

ginger tea during pregnancy

Controversial issues

Despite the rich composition and benefits that green tea brings to the body, scientists do not recommend that they get carried away too much. In particular, an official study was published according to which its constituent components interfere with the normal absorption of folic acid. For a pregnant woman, this is an important trace element, the deficiency of which leads to malformations of the neural tube of the child, which in the future can lead to disability. But gynecologists have no clear comments on this problem. Nutritionists advise simply restricting your intake of green tea to a few 200 ml cups per day. Such an amount of drink does not harm the fetus.

Another reason why you should not drink uncontrolled green tea is the caffeine that is part of it. Being a stimulant, it can lead to an increase in maternal pressure and a rapid heartbeat. This is especially dangerous at the end of the first trimester, because it can not only provoke a general malaise of a woman, but also bleeding. Caffeine has a very negative effect on the development of the child. It inhibits the laying of internal organs and increases the risk of giving birth to a premature baby. But again, the dose of caffeine per 2 cups per day does not harm the body.

How to brew and drink green tea

To get the most out of any product, you need to properly prepare it. In the case of green tea, you first need to select the appropriate variety. It can be clean leaves, or it can be with the addition of herbs or pieces of fruit. It all depends on personal preference.

The classic proportion for brewing green tea is no more than 1 teaspoon without a slide per 250 ml of water. Infusion time depends on the size of the tea leaves and the result we want to achieve.Tea contains thein, which provides a tonic effect. It is transferred to water during the first minutes after the tea leaves come in contact with boiling water. Then the tea is enriched mainly with tannins. Therefore, if you want to cheer up, then leave the tea to infuse for no more than 1.5 minutes. If you just want to enjoy the multifaceted taste of leaf tea, then you can leave it to infuse for up to 5 minutes.

Water quality

The optimum temperature for brewing tea is from 80 to 90 ° C. You cannot use tap water; pregnant women (as well as, in principle, anyone who cares about their health) are better off buying bottled water. Water quality must be approached very critically, because many manufacturers save on installations by offering consumers water with an overwhelming amount of nitrates and heavy metals. Ideally, it should be sent to an independent laboratory for analysis. If possible, you can install a compact filtration system in the house.

What to brew?

Any tea, including green tea, needs to be brewed in dishes that retain heat well. In the classical Chinese tradition, porcelain or clay teapots are used for this. For lack of such, you can use ceramics or glass. Before laying the tea leaves, the kettle must be doused with boiling water - this will not only remove excess odors, but also help to reveal the taste of the drink. The same procedure can be done with cups. If you pre-rinse them with hot water, the tea will not cool too quickly.

Green Tea Rules

Green tea is not recommended to drink immediately after a meal, because in this case it will interfere with the absorption of iron. For a pregnant woman, this threatens with anemia (a lack of oxygen entering the tissue), which will negatively affect the development of the fetus. It is enough to wait from 30 minutes to an hour. A unique feature of green tea is that it can be re-brewed. Moreover, subsequent times the characteristic bitterness disappears from it.

Combine green tea is better with honey (adding to warm water, but not boiling water), milk or fresh ginger. But it is better to refuse sugar. If you want something sweet, you can drink a cup of tea in the bite with dried fruits.

Green tea improves the work of the whole body: fights infections, restores the intestines, helps to cope with toxicosis. Provided that it is consumed in an acceptable amount, it will become an excellent vitamin cocktail, enriching the woman’s body with the necessary components.

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