The ritual of making and drinking tea has been practised for thousands of years, and for good reason. Tea contains polyphenols to protect your heart, antioxidants that may lower your risk of cancer, and nutrients that boost your immune system. You may be wondering what type is the best tea for pregnancy. We’ve got the answers for you here.
Herbal teas that are safe during pregnancy
Listing below some pregnancy safe teas that can be consumed even post-delivery for added benefits of lactation and nutrition.
Ginger Tea
Ginger is a herb known to relieve nausea and heartburn and keep you refreshed. You can prepare a homemade concoction by adding a few ginger pieces into a bowl of boiling water. Brew it for a while, strain, and drink it up to three times a day. Some studies show that drinking ginger tea can be beneficial for pregnant women, especially during the first trimester, as it acts as a natural remedy for morning sickness. But, ideally, pregnant women should not consume more than 1gm of ginger per day during pregnancy.
Chamomile Flowers Tea
Chamomile is rich in antioxidants and flavonoids that protect the skin and fight off all infections. This tea derived from the flowers of the chamomile plant has soothing effects that help you with a good night’s sleep. It is known for its calming nature and will help put your jittery nerves to ease. Chamomile tea while pregnant is really beneficial as it cures sleeplessness, improves resistance and immunity, aids in digestion, and lessens morning sickness. Limited consumption of Chamomile Tea is beneficial.
Raspberry Leaf Tea
This is one of the best herbal teas for pregnancy. The ingredients in this herb are safe for intake by pregnant moms. Women can start drinking one cup a day from the 24th week and increase it to three cups by the 37th week. The tea contains good amounts of vitamin B complex, calcium, and magnesium and prepares the uterus for labour. Regular sipping of this tea from the second trimester builds the immune system of the mother and prevents postpartum haemorrhage.
Dandelion Leaf Tea
Dandelion is one of the most common herbs in the Western world. It grows wild and its leaves and roots are highly nutritious. During pregnancy, it’s important to eat a diet rich in vitamins and minerals, because they contribute to healthy foetal development. The leaves and roots contain essential vitamins and minerals, including iron, potassium, calcium, and magnesium, as well as vitamins A, C, D, and B.
Peppermint Leaf Tea
The peppermint plant is known as an aromatic herb that has a variety of uses as a flavouring agent for everything from mints and toothpaste to foods. It is great for pregnant women as it helps in curbing nausea and vomiting, easing heartburn, soothing an upset stomach, and reducing headaches. If you are suffering from morning sickness issues like nausea, heartburn, and vomiting, try sipping this tea. The pleasant minty aroma and taste will provide relief from discomfort.
Lemon Balm Tea
It is a soothing tea, lemon balm has a pacifying effect. It treats problems of insomnia, anxiety, and restlessness.
Fennel Tea
This age-old herb has always been used for culinary purposes and consumed as a mouth-freshener. A concoction made out of aniseeds in boiling water is a wonderful galactagogue for increasing the breast milk supply. It is administered to a mother post-delivery to increase the milk supply. This tea also relieves the baby of troubled tummy and gas issues and is one of the best teas for pregnancy.
Anise Tea
Another superb herb for postpartum healing, Anise is given to women post-delivery for better lactation. It also passes through the mother’s milk and reaches the baby. It serves as a miraculous remedy for an upset stomach and colic problems. Limited consumption of Anise Tea is beneficial.
FAQ’s
Can pregnant women drink tea?
Caffeine is a stimulant that should be limited during pregnancy. Although it is generally considered safe to drink black, green, matcha, oolong and white, many women may need to limit their intake. High caffeine intake during pregnancy may increase the risk of miscarriage or stillbirth. Herbals teas are the safest teas during pregnancy.
Is it safe to drink herbal tea during pregnancy?
Herbal teas are made from the leaves, roots, seeds, flowers, and berries of certain plants and they also have certain health benefits. What a lot of us don’t know is that not all herbal teas are the best herbal tea for pregnancy.
They are definitely a better option than caffeinated drinks but must be ingested with caution and care. The herbs that FDA approves for food are deemed safe for teas also. But if you are pregnant, there are only specific herbal teas that you can consume. So read the labels carefully before buying your herbal tea. Pregnancy safe tea provides an effective solution to many pregnancy related issues.
Not all teas are safe for pregnancy. In addition to caffeine content, safety should be considered when choosing a tea. While black, green, white, and matcha are typically considered safe, you may need to limit them during pregnancy due to the caffeine content. Expectant moms have varied tastes and preferences in pregnancy and need to be more conscious while choosing the right tea. Herbal teas for pregnancy are not only safe they also provide relief from pregnancy symptoms.