Green Tea Pregnant
Can I drink green tea pregnant women ask?
Should I drink green tea pregnant women need to know the answer. Why is green tea thought to be harmful for the unborn baby?
Folic Acid
Some doctors are concerned that green tea may affect the body's folic acid (also called folate) levels. Folic acid is an important nutrient during pregnancy. One study linked neural tube defects in babies, such as spina bifida, to women drinking a large amount of green tea during the time of conception.
Spina bifida is a serious condition, which occurs when the tube around the central nervous system - the neural tube - fails to close completely. Neural tube defects such as spina bifida are usually associated with folic acid deficiency.
The data for this study is not robust, so it is too soon to say that avoiding green tea during pregnancy will reduce the risk of neural tube defects, - more research is needed.
Caffeine
It needs to be remembered that green tea, like other teas, contains some caffeine, which it is agreed, should be limited in pregnancy. Although green tea is relatively low in caffeine it would be unwise to drink vast quantities of it during pregnancy.
Caffeine crosses the placenta and is absorbed by the fetus. Adults are able to break down caffeine fairly quickly, but the developing baby can't do this as efficiently. This means that caffeine will be stored for longer periods of time, and could reach dangerously high levels.
Caffeine also increases the fetus heart rate and movement in utero. Because caffeine is a diuretic, it can also affect the nutrition your fetus receives. Caffeine intake may cause you to absorb less iron and calcium from foods, a possible detriment to your baby's overall fetal development.
The medical community suggests that about three or four cups of green tea a day would probably be a sensible limit.
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