Black tea in pregnancy

Nutrition during pregnancy does not exclude the use of familiar drinks. Other factors are important - such as usefulness, quality and quantity. Black, green, white, herbal - which tea to choose so that it is both tasty and healthy for the body? Black tea is not prohibited during pregnancy, but savoring the drink has some peculiarities.

Can you drink black tea during pregnancy?

In response to the question of whether it is possible to drink black tea during pregnancy, I would like to ask a counter question: why not? Just because it contains caffeine? But this substance is dangerous only in large doses, and the strength and amount of the drink, that is, the caffeine entering the body, can be regulated by the woman herself.

The risk is that caffeine penetrates the placenta, which is undesirable for the fetus. There are no thorough studies on this topic, so no one is willing to make any categorical prohibitions or recommendations. And practice confirms that if you do not drink black tea by the bucketful during pregnancy, then the danger is actually negligible.

Moreover, the modern view of pregnancy states that it is not a disease, but a normal physiological state of the female body. Anyone who still doubts about tea can always agree on a menu with a nutritionist or obstetrician-gynecologist.

It is interesting that black tea during pregnancy can not only be drunk, but also eaten, that is, chewed dry raw materials. For some women, this helps get rid of annoying nausea.

More clarity on the issue of herbal infusions. Among them there are clearly dangerous ones, in particular, from those herbs that can interrupt pregnancy, causing miscarriages. These include ginseng, pennyroyal, fennel, licorice, wormwood, hops, sage, mugwort, etc.

Mixtures that may contain uterine stimulating plants are also unsafe. To eliminate the possible danger, it is better to refuse drinks of this kind or choose ready-made teas for pregnant women.

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Black tea during early pregnancy

If there is unanimity in matters of nutrition for pregnant women, then there are different opinions regarding drinks. Some categorically do not recommend any tea: neither green, nor red, nor black tea during pregnancy. With the proviso: if you really want to, then you can - one cup a week, if possible, agreeing with your doctor. The explanation of why this is harmful is too long and complicated to include in a popular article.

Others recommend weak black tea and forbid green tea, while others do the opposite. Another option is to drink only vitamin and fruit infusions, alternating them. But no more than three servings daily.

To ensure that tea drinking is enjoyable and that black tea does not cause harm during early pregnancy, it is important to follow several rules:

• prepare weak tea;
• add it to milk;
• do not abuse the quantity;
• do not drink at night.

In the second half of the term, black tea is not desirable in the menu of a woman preparing to become a mother. The risks are associated with the tonic effect of the product: it can increase blood pressure, stimulate the uterine muscles, and contribute to late toxicosis.

Black tea with milk during pregnancy

The usefulness of tea with milk during pregnancy is that milk neutralizes harmful components, among which caffeine is in first place. In addition, the drink has a unique smell and taste, and not only quenches thirst, but also saturates the body with necessary substances - enzymes, amino acids, calcium, milk fat. Looking ahead, we note that this is a proven folk method to increase lactation and the quality of breast milk.

• The tradition of drinking tea with milk came from England. There they even conducted research into the ideal recipe – minute by minute and second by second studying the temperature, the balance of sweetness and bitterness, the development of aroma and the flavor bouquet of the tea-milk drink.

It is not a fact that such a recipe will be preferred by a pregnant woman who wants to drink tea immediately, here and now. Therefore, we will focus on the extremely simple method of preparing black tea during pregnancy: pour a little tea leaves into hot milk, add sugar and drink, savoring it to your heart's content. And in general, with any method of brewing, it is recommended to pour tea into milk, and not otherwise.

This drink:

• has a mild diuretic effect;
• stimulates metabolism;
• has a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract;
• improves the mood and well-being of the pregnant woman.

Tea with milk and honey can serve as a cure for colds when it is risky for a woman to take pharmaceutical drugs.

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Green or black tea during pregnancy

No one can say for sure whether green or black tea is preferable during pregnancy. It depends on individual taste, lifestyle, and consumption culture. Sometimes the taste of a pregnant woman changes and a product that she couldn’t imagine a day without becomes an outcast, and previously unloved dishes take priority places on the menu. There are even known cases of perversion, when you want something inedible…

This can happen with tea too. But if we are not talking about extremes, but about a more or less normal course of the process, then the principle of "what is not prohibited is allowed" applies. Neither green nor black tea is prohibited during pregnancy. On the contrary, they are even recommended as healthy drinks, because tea ingredients:

• replenish increased expenditure of vitamins and microelements;
• have an invigorating effect;
• strengthen enamel and bone tissue;
• stimulate forces;
• improve well-being.

Black tea is useful to prepare with honey and lemon or with milk. You can combine tea raw materials with mint leaves: such a combination of tea components eliminates dizziness, edema, toxicosis.

If the expectant mother wants to drink herbal tea, it is better not to experiment with the ingredients, but to buy a special tea for pregnant women. It is safe in terms of plants that are undesirable during pregnancy.

Benefits of Tea During Pregnancy

The drink loved by many has not only a pleasant taste, but also useful properties. The benefit of tea during pregnancy (classic) is that it contains vitamins, minerals, theophylline, theobromine, has a positive effect on the penetrating ability and elasticity of blood vessels, adds hardness to tooth enamel. The only warnings - black tea during pregnancy should not be strong.

What about other popular teas? The leading place is for green tea, a recognized antioxidant that has many beneficial properties. In particular, it normalizes blood pressure, which is important during pregnancy.

• Those who are wary of drinking the classic drink because of its caffeine content can switch to the decaffeinated exotic, the so-called white tea.

It boosts immunity, resists bacteria, and reduces the risk of tumor pathologies. It also strengthens teeth and blood vessels, improves heart function and skin condition. However, there is one "but": experts say that real white tea can only be enjoyed where it grows, since this delicate raw material cannot withstand long-distance transportation.

Vitamin herbal teas are also very useful in the diet of a pregnant woman. Decoctions of rose hips, raspberry and currant leaves, ginger root, mint have a beneficial effect on digestion, the nervous system, and the mood of the expectant mother. Caution is necessary regarding chamomile tea, which is very useful in other cases, as it increases the risk of miscarriage.

Contraindications

There is an opinion that black tea is extremely useful for female physiology. It even contributes to the onset of pregnancy, of course, if a woman really wants it and prepares in all directions, including leading a healthy lifestyle. And if you drink black tea during pregnancy correctly, then for a healthy woman there are no special contraindications. The main thing is not to abuse the amount and concentration, so as not to provoke the development of defects in the fetus.

But if the mother’s medical history includes heart disease, a tendency to hypertension, or glaucoma, then tea can act as a trigger for unwanted stress on these organs.

In doubtful or controversial situations, a woman should take responsibility and decide for herself whether to drink tea or not during pregnancy. Knowledge of the topic and heightened intuition will help make the right decision.

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No drink, including black tea, is recommended to be drunk uncontrollably and in unlimited quantities during pregnancy. The golden mean is exactly what a woman needs at this time. A reasonable amount of a popular drink will bring pleasure and will not harm anyone.