What Is The Caffeine Content of Green Tea?
Should caffeine be avoided during pregnancy?
The caffeine content of green tea is important to consumers, especially pregnant women. Should caffeine be avoided during pregnancy ?
Research is inconclusive where green tea is concerned... while there is not enough scientific evidence to pinpoint caffeine as the cause in many cases of miscarriage, there is enough evidence to have obstetricians advising their patients to avoid it.
The facts are that it does cross the placenta and daily doses of above 200 milligrams (about 2.5 cups of coffee or 4 cups of ordinary tea) have the potential to cause miscarriage. The drug has also been linked to low birth weight.
It is a psychoactive stimulant and when taken in moderation, the caffeine content of green tea can produce the desirable effects of increasing your alertness, boosting energy levels and increasing concentration ability.
This is why coffee is consumed by people wanting to overcome irregular sleep pattern effects (shiftworkers, students studying for exams, travellers etc.).
However, research has found that coffee consumed in large amounts causes anxiety, restlessness, tachycardia and insomnia in normal individuals.
A look at the caffeine levels in these popular drinks...
Coca-Cola Classic - 35 mg
Diet Pepsi - 35mg
Tab 47mg
Mountain Dew - 54mg
Caribou Cappuccino, 12oz. - 160-200mg
Decaffeinated Instant - 2mg
Espresso 1 fluid oz. - 64mg
Starbucks Caffe Latte 16oz. - 150mg
Starbucks Coffee Grande, 16oz. - 330mg
Black tea , brewed 8oz. - 47mg
Lipton Brisk Iced Tea, lemon flavored, 12oz. - 10mg
Nestea, sweetened or unsweetened, 12oz. - 17mg
Decaffeinated black tea, 8 oz. - 2mg
Green tea, brewed - 30-50mg
So while you can see that green tea has a relatively low caffeine level, this isn't the main reason why green tea should be avoided during pregnancy.
Women who drink green tea immediately before, or during pregnancy, may increase the risk of their baby being born with spina bifida or other neural tube disorders associated with folic acid deficiency.
Studies have shown that green tea has the ability to absorb folic acid and if only for that sole reason, should be avoided while pregnant.
So even if green tea contains so many healthy ingredients, opinion right now seems to be that it is best undrunk until after the baby is born.
Then - drink as much as you like - you'll be providing your body with lots of important benefits!
|
