Can You Drink Green Tea During Pregnancy? Gynaecologist Explains The Benefits And Risks

People tend to think green tea is healthier than coffee or regular tea. It is rich in antioxidants and is associated with various health benefits like improved heart health and metabolism enhancement. However, some everyday foods and drinks have to be taken into a different consideration during pregnancy. Ideal for the general population might not be beneficial during pregnancy. 

So, can you drink green tea when pregnant? Yes, but moderation is important and there's not a lot of evidence to support its health benefits when it is added to your pregnancy diet. There are also a couple of little-known side effects regarding caffeine, folate and iron absorption, which it is worth knowing.

Does Green Tea Offer Any Benefits During Pregnancy?

“It is a complicated yes and no,” says Dr Lavanya Kiran, Director and Lead Consultant, Obstetrics, Gynaecology, KIMS Hospitals, Electronic City, Bengaluru. 

Green tea isn't off-limits during pregnancy, but it isn't the wellness boost it's often marketed as either, and there are specific reasons to be genuinely careful with it, not just casually cautious.”

Catechins, antioxidants studied for their potential benefits in cardiovascular and metabolic health, are found in green tea. But the majority of this research is from the general population, not from pregnant women.

It can also be a part of your daily fluid intake. But it's not an exclusive green tea attribute. This can be accomplished using water or other appropriate beverages.

Thus, limited evidence exists to support the pregnancy-specific benefits of green tea consumption that exceed any potential concerns.

Is Caffeine In Green Tea A Concern During Pregnancy?

This is due to caffeine being one of the primary ingredients in green tea that you should be mindful of. The amount varies depending on the type of tea, serving size and brewing method. The NHS advises pregnant women to not exceed a total of 200mg of caffeine per day.

The two main issues are its caffeine content, and, less talked about, its effect on folate absorption, which is very important in early pregnancy,” says Dr Lavanya Kiran.

Caffeine is limited to 200mg per day, which may mean that you should not consume any of the following:

• Green and black tea
• Coffee
• Cola and energy drinks
• Chocolate
• Some medicines and supplements

According to Reproductive Toxicology, caffeine easily crosses the placenta. The placenta is the organ that passes food and oxygen to your baby. The researchers found that caffeine is linked to issues like lower birth weight, pregnancy loss, and heart problems. 

The biggest surprise? Some studies in this review showed that these health risks can happen even when moms drink less than the widely accepted safe limit of 200 milligrams a day. This means there is no clearly safe amount of caffeine. Cutting back as much as possible is the safest bet for your baby's health.

What About Green Tea And Folate?

Folate is especially crucial during early pregnancy when the baby's neural tube, which would eventually develop into the brain and spinal cord, is formed. Green tea contains catechins and research indicates that there may be some effects of tea compounds on the availability or metabolism of folate.

Dr Lavanya Kiran explains, "The compounds in green tea, namely, the catechins, can interfere with the body's ability to absorb and use folate, which is essential during the first trimester to prevent neural tube defects.”

However, the evidence needs to be interpreted carefully. A 2022 Nutrition Research review and dose-response meta-analysis examining tea consumption around conception did not find a significant increase in neural tube defects with tea consumption.

So, it would be incorrect to say that drinking green tea causes neural tube defects. The concern is more about being cautious with regular, substantial intake during a period when folate is especially important.

How Much Green Tea Can You Have During Pregnancy?

For most pregnant women, moderate consumption is not likely to be a concern as long as it's within the suggested caffeine limit.

“Moderate consumption (one to two cups/day, total daily caffeine intake) is not likely to cause significant concern for most pregnant women,” says Dr Lavanya Kiran.

Two cups are not considered a set, safe amount, however, due to the difference in amount of caffeine in products.

In case you are a green tea lover:

• Limit caffeine to 200 mg/day.
• Add caffeine from coffee, other teas, chocolate and other sources.
• Do not consume with iron supplements.
• Try to avoid giving it at the same time as folic acid and iron.
• Especially during the first trimester of pregnancy.
• Drink brewed tea instead of concentrated tea.

Are Green Tea Extracts Safe During Pregnancy?

While normal green tea is made by steeping tea leaves in water, tea supplements and concentrated extracts are not the same. They  should be avoided during pregnancy unless explicitly prescribed by a doctor. These can have very different and many higher levels of Catechins and Caffeine.

“Capsules with concentrated extracts of green tea contain much higher, less standardised, amounts of catechins and caffeine than a cup of tea and should generally be avoided during pregnancy unless prescribed by a doctor,” says Dr Lavanya Kiran.

This is critical because a green tea health product which is marketed as such is not the same as a cup of green tea.

ALSO READ- Pregnancy and Unwanted Facial Hair: Gynaecologist Explains The Hidden Link

Conclusion

Complete prohibition of green tea in pregnancy is not needed. However, there isn't much evidence to begin consuming it as it is marketed as a health drink suitable for pregnant women. Dr Lavanya Kiran says to limit to 1 or 2 cups daily including all other caffeine, and if there is any, to remove it from the diet. 

She also recommends the use of folic acid as directed and that they do not consume green tea with folate or iron. Talk to an expert about your personal caffeine and dietary habits as the amount from all sources is more important than the amount from green tea alone.