Once you are pregnant, you have to be very careful as to what you eat or drink. You cannot indulge in anything without giving it a second thought. Your diet undergoes a lot of changes and you are forever scrutinized for what you eat and drink. Having said that, there are a lot of foods and beverages that you should avoid during pregnancy. Is iced tea one of them? Is it safe to drink iced tea during pregnancy?
Tea, be it hot or cold, contains caffeine. Caffeine intake is not encouraged during pregnancy. So moderation is the key here. Read on to find out more on this.
In This Article
- How Much Caffeine is Present in Ice Tea?
- Is it Safe to Drink Iced Tea During Pregnancy?
- Top 5 Benefits of Drinking Iced Tea During Pregnancy
- Side Effects of Drinking Iced Tea During Pregnancy
- Other Considerations for Iced Tea During Pregnancy
- Iced Tea Recipe
- FAQ’s
How Much Caffeine is Present in Iced Tea?
When it comes to iced tea, the caffeine content varies with flavors and brands. Generally, iced tea contains a similar amount of caffeine as plain tea. Moreover, an 8-ounce cup of iced tea contains 15-70 mg of caffeine depending on the variety. Black iced tea contains 40-70 mg of caffeine whereas green iced tea has 20–45 mg of caffeine. During pregnancy the daily caffeine intake should not exceed 200 mg per day. So as long as you don’t exceed 200 mg of your daily caffeine intake, you should be okay. Tea is generally better than coffee as tea contains less caffeine than coffee.
Is it Safe to Drink Iced Tea During Pregnancy?
If you are an iced tea lover, pregnancy may increase your urge to have it more frequently. Drinking packaged or bottled iced tea is not recommended during pregnancy as it contains a high amount of sugar. On the other hand, having a couple of cups of homemade iced tea (with less sugar or you can add honey instead of sugar) will not do any harm to your pregnancy or your baby. Over consumption may risk your pregnancy (1).Remember, moderation is the key here.
[Read : Are Herbal Teas Safe During Pregnancy?]
Top 5 Benefits of Drinking Iced Tea During Pregnancy
Iced tea is considered to be one of the healthiest drinks out there. Why? Just check out the list of benefits it has to offer:
1. Very Refreshing
If morning sickness is bothering you or if you are pregnant during the hot summer and the unbearable heat is killing you, all you need is a glass of Iced Tea. You can add flavors like ginger, mint, and lemon to your iced tea.
These fresh flavors and the taste will not only beat the heat, but also help to keep morning sickness at bay. It can be an instant energy booster too, thanks to the caffeine content in it.
2. Contains Antioxidants
Tea, be it hot or iced, contains good quantities of antioxidants so it helps to keep away the free radicals in your body which may increase due to a lot of hormonal changes happening in your body once you are pregnant (2). It also helps to prevent DNA damage.
3. Keeps the Brain Healthy
Being forgetful or clumsy are common signs of pregnancy. Tea helps to keep your brain active and healthy and this is something you really need while you are pregnant.
4. Prevents Cavities
Surprised, isn’t it?? While you are pregnant, your oral health can go for a toss. So Iced teas can help to prevent cavities.
5. Women With Gestational Diabetes Can Have it Too
If you have gestational diabetes, it may be better to have tea than coffee as unlike coffee, tea does not increase the risk of gestational diabetes during pregnancy. But make sure you have homemade iced tea only as store-bought iced teas are loaded with sugar and may not be for you.
Side Effects of Drinking Iced Tea During Pregnancy
As we mentioned earlier, tea does contain caffeine and too much caffeine can have harmful effects on you and your unborn baby. Some of the adverse effects of having excessive iced tea are:
1. Increases the Complications During Pregnancy
Excess consumption of iced tea increases your chances of miscarriage before 20 weeks of pregnancy. Your caffeine intake is increased caffeine with your iced tea addictions. Caffeine is known to cause miscarriages during pregnancy . In addition, excess caffeine can lead to low birth weight (baby weight less than 8 ounces) in babies. Furthermore, excess caffeine in the mother’s body is also responsible for premature delivery ( delivery before 37 weeks), and stillbirth.
2. Increases the Risk of Insomnia in Pregnancy
One of the problems associated with excess iced tea intake is directly related to loss of sleep or insomnia. Pregnant women should maintain proper sleeping patterns to avoid other complications during pregnancy. Thus, if you have a cup of iced tea before going off to sleep then it will surely trigger your insomnia. Hope you understand that it is not acceptable for your health.
3. Causes Dehydration During Pregnancy
All kinds of tea acts as a diuretic, increasing the frequency of urination. Therefore, frequent urination in pregnancy can result in dehydration and unnecessary loss of certain minerals and salt from the body. The condition can make pregnant women weak and low which is not satisfactory.
4. Triggers Anaemia in Pregnant Women
Excess consumption of tea can interfere with iron absorption in the body. Pregnant women require more iron for the growth and development of their foetus. Thus, if you take iced tea in excess amounts then you may develop iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy which may lead to low birth weight or stillbirth.
5. Increases Blood Pressure in Pregnant Women
The surplus of caffeine in a mother’s body can increase her heart rate and blood pressure during pregnancy. This condition may cause risky pregnancy (3). To avoid such an unpleasant situation you need to check your daily iced tea consumption.
6. Causes Gastro-Intestinal Disturbance
It’s a common scenario in which a pregnant woman is suffering from indigestion, vomiting, nausea and loss of appetite. Pregnancy causes huge hormonal and physical changes in women which are responsible for such conditions. Thus, your physical condition will worsen if you have uncontrolled iced tea during your pregnancy. It can trigger gastrointestinal problems.
7. Increase the Chances of Neural Tube Defects
It can hinder folic acid absorption, thereby, increasing the chances of neural tube defects like spina bifida.
[Read : What Causes Anencephaly During Pregnancy?]
Other Considerations For Iced Tea During Pregnancy
Iced tea during pregnancy can make you feel better and refreshed. However, try to avoid instant or packaged iced tea as they are high in sugar content and caffeine levels can vary. Instead of that you can make your homemade iced tea with tea, ice, fruits and honey. As a pregnant woman, your health is come first than anything else. Too cold or too hot foods are not recommended during pregnancy.
Thus, if you are adding excess ice in your tea make sure that you do not feel the brain freeze or cold stimulus headache. It is not that serious but still need to avoid it for your better health. Make your tea as per your tolerance and liking. You also add some fresh lemon to the tea, as it can enhance the flavor and also add some vitamins to your tea. You can also add other fruits like berries, pears, and limes. Just ensure that tea is prepared with hygiene to overrule the risk of infections. You can add ginger, mint, and lemongrass to enhance the flavour of your tea. Remind the fact that iced tea is safe for 8 hours after preparing it. So, it is better to refrigerate it properly and take it within 8 hours of making it.
Iced Tea Recipe
Citrus fruits such as lemons, limes, oranges, and even berries can be used to make iced tea. On a hot summer day, ice teas are the best way to quench your thirst.
- Make a cup of your favorite black tea. Loose tea will be good. Bagged tea is acceptable as well. Allow it to cool. You can add ice cubes or chill them in the refrigerator.
- After you’ve made your simple syrup, all that’s left to do is stir it into the chilled black tea. In any case, the main flavor here will be that of the syrup you used, but the quality of the tea will be preserved.
Hope you understand How Safe Is Iced Tea During Pregnancy? Surely, you can take iced tea during your pregnancy but need to limit your consumption for a safe pregnancy. It is okay to have a couple of iced teas during pregnancy but avoid addiction. Moderation is the key to safety during pregnancy.
[Read : Drinking Green Tea In Pregnancy]
FAQ’s
1. Can Drinking Iced Tea During Pregnancy Cause a Miscarriage?
No it cannot unless you over load on iced teas. Iced teas have caffeine in them. An overload of caffeine can cause trouble during pregnancy.
2. Can I Drink Iced Tea at Night?
We would not recommend it. It has caffeine in it. This can keep you up at nights.
3. Can Drinking Iced Tea During Pregnancy Harm my Baby?
It is generally safe. Sometimes, over consumption of this can interfere with the body’s absorption of folic acid. Low folic acid might cause defects in the baby.
4. What Flavor Iced Tea Can I Drink When Pregnant?
You can have any flavor. The flavoring agent used is very little and can’t cause any harm. If you are allergic to some flavor, please avoid it.
Read Also: 10 Foods To Definitely Avoid During Pregnancy
References:
- 1. Impacts of Caffeine during Pregnancy
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7035149/ - Dietary sources, health benefits, and risks of caffeine
https://doi.org/10.1080/10408398.2022.2074362 - Maternal caffeine consumption and pregnancy outcomes: a narrative review with implications for advice to mothers and mothers-to-be
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8165152/
