Tea is one of the healthiest drink you can have. Not only do tea consists of a lot of useful substances beneficial to our bodies, there is also a wide variety of tea for you to choose from. Therefore, tea has become the go-to drink for many people. However, when it comes to mothers-to-be, they might be a little cautious. Would too much caffeine be harmful to the baby? Actually, drinking tea in a moderate amount usually would not do any harm during the pregnancy.
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Common pregnancy sickness
Pregnancy often represents a new stage in life. While parents-to-be are excited to welcome a new member of the family, expecting mothers might often experience various levels of pregnancy sickness.
Some common pregnancy sickness includes morning sickness, nausea, headaches, sleeping problems and hemorrhoids. Since pregnant women have to be skeptical to use medicines during pregnancy, some of them might opt for a natural remedy – tea.
Tea is no doubt a beneficial drink to human bodies and some types of tea are particularly useful during pregnancy due to the abundant amount of minerals and antioxidants. Here are some teas that might be helpful to your pregnancy.
Chamomile Tea
Pregnancy can often cause insomnia, both due to pressure as an expecting mother and the giant tummy. Here is where chamomile tea can help. Chamomile tea is known for its soothing effect brought by its amazing aroma and the tranquility from the appearance of the chamomile flower itself.
Scientifically speaking, the high level of calcium and magnesium in chamomile tea can help to relieve stress along with its lovely aroma, giving pregnant women a relaxing mood to fall asleep.
The rich minerals in chamomile tea can also relieve joint pains that might be caused by the increased body weight. Some may suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of chamomile tea might be harmful to pregnant women, therefore, in case of any sickness, consult a medical professional. However, to most women, drinking chamomile tea in moderate amount brings more good than harm.
Lemon Balm Tea
Lemon balm is actually a type of mint that can be easily grown even in a house garden. Many pregnant women experience anxiety during the course of pregnancy. No worries, the refreshing aroma and the calming properties of rich minerals with a hint of lemon flavor from a cup of hot lemon balm tea can certainly calm the nerves of expecting mothers during pregnancy.
Some pregnant women might also experience difficulties in sleeping due to pressure, joint pain and anxiety. Drinking lemon balm tea can help to improve sleeping quality and treat some sleeping disorders.
Some people also report that drinking lemon balm tea can help with digestive problems like indigestion, constipation and acid reflux, which are also some common pregnancy sickness. However, to some, lemon balm tea may cause nausea during pregnancy, so, drink moderately and advice a medical professional if necessary.
Dandelion Tea
Water retention is one of the major challenges faced by pregnant women. Swollen ankles not only lead to unfit shoes, but also general discomfort when walking and sleeping. The high level of potassium in dandelion tea makes it a natural diuretic.
Women suffering from inability to retain water in the course of pregnancy can drink dandelion tea in a moderate amount to retain unnecessary water. It may also help to prevent urinary tract infections, which may happen during the course of pregnancy.
Some people also use roasted young dandelion roots, which is of dark brown color, as a coffee substitute, which is perfect for mothers-to-be because it is not recommended for pregnant women to consume too much caffeine. However, remember to use dandelion tea moderately because drinking too much dandelion tea can cause kidney stones. Also, those with known allergy problems should drink dandelion tea cautiously.
Nettle Tea
Nettle tea, or stinging nettle tea, is one of the most beneficial teas for expecting mothers due to its rich mineral content.
It contains a vast amount of important minerals including magnesium, calcium, potassium, phosphorus and iron, all of which are essential during pregnancy to promote the health of both the mother and the baby.
Drinking nettle tea can help with digestive problems, like constipation and bloating, two common problems among expecting mothers.
Its anti-inflammatory properties can also help to treat sore muscles and joint pains, which might be caused by the baby weight. However, drinking too much nettle tea might cause miscarriage. Although the changes are very slim, pregnant women should always seek professional advices whenever they feel unwell during the course of pregnancy.
Rooibos Tea
Known as a national treasure of South Africa, rooibos tea is popular around the world for its full flavor and extremely high content of anti-oxidants.
Rooibos tea contains 50% more anti-oxidants than green tea, making it more beneficial even than matcha green tea.
Its rich content of antioxidants and minerals like magnesium and calcium can help with a myriad of digestive problems like acid reflux and generally detoxify the body.
Also, unlike green tea and black tea, rooibos tea is caffeine free so for pregnant ladies who are sensitive to caffeine, they can safely enjoy this hot red beverage with a mild sweet flavor.
Although rooibos tea is generally safe to consume, there were reports of liver problem after drinking a large amount of rooibos tea. For expecting mothers with known liver problems, you might want to consult your doctor before you start drinking rooibos tea.
Peppermint Tea
Morning sickness is one of the biggest troubles for mothers-to-be. While some might experience milder morning sickness, some pregnant women experience morning sickness so serious that affect their day to day life.
Peppermint tea has been a popular natural remedy for treating stomach illness and nausea in different places around the world.
Pregnant women might also experience a wide variety of stomach illnesses and digestive problems, which could also be relieved by drinking peppermint tea. Peppermint tea is found useful in treating several common digestive system illnesses, including irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, stomach ache and diarrhea.
Moreover, the menthol in peppermint tea creates its signature minty flavor which can soothe nervousness and mild headache. However, to those with known allergies, you might have to be cautious when using peppermint tea because it may cause flushing, headache and mouth sores.
Ginger Tea
Ginger tea is a popular tea remedy in the Eastern world, particularly in Chinese medicine, it is commonly believed that ginger tea is beneficial to the female reproductive system because it can help to “warm the womb”.
In general, the spicy flavor of ginger tea can help to soothe digestive problems like morning sickness and nausea during pregnancy. For expecting mothers who suffer from a loss of appetite, ginger tea can also help to solve this issue.
There are no known serious side effects from drinking ginger tea, but pregnant ladies should always drink ginger tea in a moderate amount and always seek professional medical help if they experience any discomfort.
There are many ways to enjoy ginger tea. If you are not into the spicy feeling of it, you can add a splash of honey or some fresh lemon juice to neutralize the taste. You can also be creative and combine it with other herbal teas and herbs like chamomile tea and cinnamon.
Raspberry Leaf Tea
Raspberry leaf tea is very popular among women as the “Tea for pregnancy”. Most of the midwives and pregnancy experts recommend raspberry leaf tea during pregnancy.
Although similar, raspberry leaf tea should not be confused with raspberry tea for raspberry leaf tea is made from the leaves of raspberry bushes. Its prominent benefit would be to the female reproductive system and to strengthen the uterus.
The high level of mineral consists in raspberry leaf tea including calcium and magnesium is also essential to the birth-giving process. Some suggest drinking raspberry leaf tea after six months of pregnancy can help to tone the uterus and thus, shorten labor time. It can also prevent hemorrhage after the child birth. To some, raspberry leaf tea might have a mild laxative and diuretic effect, so remember to consult a medical professional if you experience such rare side effects.
Matcha Green Tea
Japanese matcha green tea is one of the most popular tea drinks around the world. Its lovely shade of green and rich flavor certainly captures the heart of many people. Although it contains a small amount of caffeine, it is still safe to drink at a moderate amount during pregnancy. It can help to calm your mind for some pregnancy woman might experience restlessness during pregnancy.
Match agree tea is traditionally used by Buddhist monks to assist them in their meditation practice, and it is scientifically proved that it can help to clear one’s mind. Despite its massive benefits, drinking too much matcha green tea might cause miscarriage and premature birth, therefore, expecting mothers should only drink matcha green tea moderately and cautiously.
Points to note when choosing tea to enjoy during pregnancy
There are many ways you can enjoy tea during pregnancy. One point to note would be caffeine content of the tea your drink. Most herbal teas are naturally caffeine free, unlike green tea and black tea. It is recommended by medical professionals that pregnant women should not consume too much caffeine. However, even when you are choosing herbal teas, do check out its ingredient list to ensure it is harmless to your body.
Also, no matter which type of tea you choose, moderation is always the key to enjoy tea. If in doubt, always consult a medical professional before you proceed to enjoy your tea.
While some teas could be useful to some women, it may cause unpleasant side effects to some because pregnancy is different for everyone. However, make sure to be aware to changes of your body when drinking tea during pregnancies and consult a medical professional if necessary.
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