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Green tea during pregnancy
Last reviewed: 20.11.2021
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The great popularity of green tea has recently been justified by its useful properties. It is the beneficial properties of green tea and the abundance of antioxidants and trace elements in it that explains the universal preference for green tea to black tea. The pregnancy of a woman, of course, obliges to change the habitual way of life and nutrition in particular, and sometimes the rejection of some products, in view of the responsibility for the safe development of the fetus and successful childbirth. All this stimulates a more serious attitude of a pregnant woman to choosing food and drinks.
Pregnant admirers of green tea, sooner or later, are wondering - is it possible to consume green tea during pregnancy? Special methods of processing green tea allow you to save as many substances and trace elements as possible, which is why it is of great utility. But green tea during pregnancy, it is necessary to use very limited, and this is due to a number of scientifically valid reasons. It has long been known that green tea contains the maximum content of caffeine, of all caffeine-containing foods and beverages. As you know, caffeine helps to increase blood pressure, palpitations.
Uncontrolled consumption of green tea during pregnancy is especially dangerous in the second trimester of pregnancy, in addition, caffeine can affect the development of the fetus, slowing its formation and development. Probably increase the likelihood of premature pregnancy. The content of caffeine in green tea is necessary to calculate the total amount of caffeine consumed per day. Scientifically confirmed the maximum dose of caffeine, safe for both the future mother and the baby, is not more than 200 ml per day. This is about four cups of green tea. But when calculating the total amount of caffeine, consider other possible sources of its intake into the body. Experts calculated that a woman who consumes green tea during pregnancy, without harm to herself and her child, with the maximum benefit, it is enough to drink two glasses a day.
Another significant point that confirms the limited use of green tea in pregnancy is a scientific study confirming that green tea reduces the activity of folic acid as a chemical element. Folic acid is an important element in pregnancy, taking part in the formation and development of the fetus. Accordingly, with a decrease in the activity of folic acid, the risk of developing all kinds of abnormalities in fetal development increases. Again, all this is possible if a woman uncontrolled and unrestrictedly consumes green tea during pregnancy.
The consumption of green tea by a pregnant woman within two glasses per day will provide the maximum amount of nutrients. After all, green tea is the leader in the content of antioxidants, which strengthen and rejuvenate the body. But the composition of green tea is not limited to the presence of antioxidants, it also contains a lot of useful microelements, for example, zinc, magnesium, calcium, iron. Favorable effect on the whole organism, stabilization of the blood pressure level, improvement of the cardiovascular system, normalization of the sugar and cholesterol level in the blood, strengthening of the immune system are all miraculous properties of green tea. Similarly, when drinking green tea during pregnancy, its usefulness for the condition of teeth and bones is very important. Symptoms of toxicosis during pregnancy will help neutralize a glass of green tea. Again, it is not superfluous to recall the observance of the norm of daily intake of green tea during pregnancy. During pregnancy, the use of green tea is not recommended immediately after a meal or during a meal, as mixing with food, green tea does not have the best effect on its assimilation in the stomach. Green tea has a strong diuretic effect and therefore its use during pregnancy leads to an increase in the burden on the kidneys. This must be taken into account if the pregnant woman has complications with kidneys or cystitis. So, weighed all the pros and cons, we can conclude that green tea when pregnant in limited quantities will benefit both women and the future child.
Properties of green tea
Useful properties of green tea are known since ancient times. Green tea is, so to speak, a treasure trove of a multitude of vitamins and trace elements that tonify and favorably affect the human body as a whole. The universal love and popularity of green tea is explained by the tonic effect on the body, thanks to the content of caffeine. It is very important that the caffeine contained in the leaves of green tea is much milder on the body than caffeine, which is contained in coffee or other caffeinated products. Caffeine in combination with tannin has a stimulating effect on the productive activity of the brain, and improves the person's well-being. The ability to slow the aging process is explained by the large amount of antioxidants in the composition of green tea. This explains the high life expectancy and excellent health of residents of China and other southeastern countries, where green tea is already an integral part of the national culture.
The content of ascorbic acid in green tea is much higher than that in citrus fruits, which can not but affect the usefulness of green tea. The ability of green tea to neutralize the negative impact of computer technology and other electromagnetic radiation is widely known. Numerous scientific studies confirm the ability of green tea to prevent the formation of malignant tumors, stabilize the composition of human blood to the optimum level, reducing the level of sugar and cholesterol.
Scientific research on the beneficial properties of green tea continues and at the present time and experts do not exclude the possibility of new sensational discoveries, as green tea contains more than three hundred various micronutrients whose beneficial effect on the human body has yet to be fully explored.
Scientifically substantiated the ability of green tea to strengthen the human immune system, activate cardiac activity, improve sleep, strengthen the nervous system. The increase in sexual energy also applies to the useful properties of green tea. Many diets in their diet provide for the use of green tea, in order to successfully reduce excess weight. A more extensive study of the antitumor and antiradiation properties of green tea is yet to be made by specialists, but the fact that green tea has excellent preventive properties of these diseases is an indisputable fact. Most likely, the preventive properties of green tea are explained by the ability to strengthen immunity and purify blood. The anti-radiation properties of green tea have been known since the time of the explosions in Hiroshima, whose inhabitants not only survived the explosions and successfully cured radiation sickness. In general, Japanese green tea absorbs and removes strontium from the body and even in cases of its deposition in the bones.
Modern man living in a metropolis, it is extremely necessary to use green tea, the medicinal properties of which will help to cope with the daily stresses, the harmful effects of the environment. In addition to stabilizing the work of the whole body, green tea is a powerful spiritual stimulant, which has been an integral part of the culture of Oriental peoples for thousands of years. It is green tea that is used in tea ceremonies in China and Japan. The mild effect of the properties of green tea has a psycho-stimulating effect on the whole organism. Regular use of green tea increases the susceptibility of the nervous system, increases the speed of human reaction, accelerates the thought process, and increases concentration.
The Benefits of Green Tea in Pregnancy
The benefits of green tea during pregnancy, as shown by numerous scientific studies, are indisputable for both women and children, if consumption does not exceed two glasses per day and does not cause negative reactions. As practice shows, most women develop gum disease during childbearing. In this case, green tea, which contains a lot of substances that prevent the inflammatory processes in the body of a pregnant woman, helps to maintain the health of gums and teeth.
During pregnancy, very often there are problems with the level of sugar in the blood, due to the increase in the amount of hormones in the body of a woman and the instability to insulin. As a result, gestational diabetes develops, which is extremely unfavorable for the child. Increased sugar level in the blood of a pregnant woman increases the likelihood of obesity of the child and the risk of developing diabetes of the second degree. Green tea has powerful stabilizing properties of the sugar level in a person's blood. It is only natural that experts recommend green tea during pregnancy, in order to prevent the increase in blood sugar levels and especially for women prone to blood diseases.
During the entire period of bearing a child, the use of many antibiotics is contraindicated for a woman. Green tea during pregnancy performs the function of a "natural" antibiotic and very actively eliminates inflammatory processes and various infections in the body, thanks to the content of a large number of antioxidants. Green tea antioxidants help to strengthen immunity and improve the general condition of the human body.
As you know, the nutrition of a pregnant woman is the basis for successful fetal development and safe delivery. As a rule, in most women during pregnancy, the blood cholesterol level rises due to a doubled norm of food intake, which leads to an increase in blood pressure. The use of green tea helps to regulate the level of cholesterol in the blood and to stabilize blood pressure in general.
Enhanced nutrition during pregnancy provokes problems with the digestive system and abnormal work of the gastrointestinal tract. Using green tea during pregnancy, the likelihood of such symptoms is significantly reduced.
Considering all the above facts, we can say that the benefits of green tea during pregnancy significantly improves the condition of the woman and the future child, but with the obligatory condition of observing the permissible amount of consumption. In general, the regular use of green tea for several years, contributes to the improvement of the general condition of the woman's organism and the favorable birth of a healthy child.
The harmfulness of green tea in pregnancy
Despite a lot of facts about the usefulness do not forget that under certain conditions, it is possible to harm green tea during pregnancy. Relatively low caffeine content in one cup of green tea, about 15 mg, with regular uncontrolled use by a pregnant woman, can provoke serious health problems for an unborn baby. In some cases, the child is born with insufficient weight, and in some cases premature birth is possible.
There are cases when the harm of green tea during pregnancy in the first months had very serious consequences in the development of the fetus and even the probability of miscarriage, due to destruction of the structure of folic acid by the active components of green tea, which contributes to the correct development of the fetus. Antioxidants contained in green tea in large quantities actively contribute to strengthening the immune system and the work of the heart, but at the same time destroy the structure of molecules of folic acid, a very necessary for a pregnant woman for the normal development of a future child and his successful childbirth. The recommended rate of consumption of green tea during the first trimester of pregnancy is one to two cups per day. The norm of consumption can be increased, in the absence of complications of the course of pregnancy, up to three to four cups in the future gestation period.
Summing up all the facts about the benefits and harm of green tea during pregnancy, we can conclude that under controlled use, its benefits are obvious, and on the contrary, excessive use is not safe for both women and children. Choosing green tea for a pregnant woman should take into account the level of caffeine content in different grades and give preference to varieties with low content.
Reviews about green tea during pregnancy
Numerous reviews of green tea during pregnancy can be roughly divided into supporters of drinking green tea and opponents of its use. This is understandable - how many people have so many opinions. Despite this, in the majority of all the reviews are unanimous in the opinion that it is possible to use green tea during pregnancy without causing harm to the child and the woman, but in an amount not more than two glasses per day. The daily dose of caffeine contained in foods consumed by a pregnant woman should not exceed 200 mg, this must be taken into account in view of the fact that caffeine in large quantities adversely affects the development of the fetus and the condition of the woman. With moderate consumption of green tea, a pregnant woman receives a charge of vivacity.
Natural green tea antioxidants stabilize the cardiovascular system and blood pressure, strengthen the immune system of a pregnant woman. Calcium helps to strengthen bone tissue and teeth, which is also very important during pregnancy. The property of green tea to neutralize folic acid, of course, is the main fact against using it during pregnancy, because the lack of folic acid provokes severe pathologies of the child. However, to date, experts do not prohibit moderate consumption of green tea during pregnancy. In its larger number of reviews on green tea during pregnancy contain recommendations on the use of the drink, so you can draw conclusions about its many pregnant connoisseurs.
The use of green tea with honey and milk is certainly tasty and useful, but it has a special feature - honey becomes a carcinogen at high temperatures, which is extremely undesirable when pregnant, so tea must be cooled before use. And in combination with lemon, mint or ginger - green tea will bring not only pleasure from taste, but also a significant benefit to the body of a pregnant woman. Reviews of green tea are the opinions of different people who do not always have an objective character, therefore, when preparing a diet for a pregnant woman, first of all, one must listen to one's body and consult a professional specialist.