Herbal tea and its consumption is widely supported by medical practitioners these days who promote their usage due to the optimum health benefits. Same is the case when green tea consumption is concerned with pregnancy. Many doctors now promote the usage of herbal teas especially green tea in their pregnant patients. However, there is a general confusion amongst women regarding the consumption of green tea in pregnancy as some studies have shown that green tea and pregnancy don’t mellow down together.
Nutrients such as magnesium, iron and calcium are provided by green teas. Many pregnant women consume green tea as they think that these nutrients would benefit them. However, there is a lack of studies to show the corroboration of green tea safely in pregnant women. Some of the studies which are conducted regarding the safety of green tea in pregnancy are not as much so as to be of concrete value. In contrast, some studies also show that green tea is considerably safe in pregnancy, provided that it is used in moderation.
Many studies also guide that green tea can be safe in pregnancy, provided that it doesn’t exceed 5 cups per day. This restriction is done due to the fact that green tea contains caffeine which should be limited. Even though caffeine doesn’t harm the baby directly, it is shown that it might result in lesser fetal growth if caffeine is consumed above 400 milligrams per day, which is actually more than 6 cups of green tea. Moreover, it can also risk the miscarriage in the late first half of the second trimester on pregnancy.
Studies also show that green tea affects the folic acid level of the pregnant woman, which is essentially present in the woman to ensure healthy growth of the baby. Folic acid also tends to prevent neural tube defects in the initial month after conception. Recently, studies have proved that green tea has a negative effect on folic acid levels. A compound in green tea, EGCG causes the enzyme DHFR – dihydro folate reductase to be inactivated, thus leading to incomplete utilization of folic acid by the pregnant body.
Therefore, if the EGCG of green tea manages to inactivate the enzyme DHFR, then the fetus would not be able to gain complete benefits from folic acid, thus causing promotion of neural tube defects in the fetus. It is even noted that if the pregnant woman takes continuous supplements of folic acid and consume food that is rich in folate compounds, there would still be an effect, though on a smaller scale. However, it has also been reported that the data of EGCG-DHFR study is comparatively weaker so much conclusion cannot be drawn from this study to indicate the effect of green tea on folic acid.
However, many professionals still tend to focus on the benefits of green tea in pregnancy. They believe that if taken in moderation, this beverage can be beneficial for the pregnant women. So, it is highly recommended that women should not exceed their green tea usage above 4 cups. It is also preferable that the usage of green tea is discussed by the consultant doctor and his/her advice should be followed whenever pregnant women think of consuming green tea.
