Should You Drink Ginger Tea During Pregnancy?

Nowadays, there are many discussions on the web as well in the media about the benefits and risks of herbal tea while you are pregnant. In fact, there are certain kinds of tea that you should avoid drinking too much since it contains a significant amount of caffeine. In general, it is a good idea to limit caffeine intake during pregnancy. Some health care providers advise their patients to completely eliminate coffee from their diet during pregnancy. But recent research suggests that having a cup of coffee once a day may not have as much harm as we initially thought and coffee is slowly being reintroduced in low quantities into the diet of pregnant women. 

Ginger tea, in most of its forms, contains little to no caffeine and is well regarded as a great substitute for coffee in your morning menu. In fact, ginger has almost magical properties that we will discuss below, which are certainly a positive addition to your diet. Of course, just like anything, ginger tea is only good when it is consumed in moderation.

Portion control and proper research, of course, is key to the safe consumption of foods and beverages during pregnancy. Herbal teas, while eliminating the tea leaves in their most popular forms, and therefore caffeine can be perceived as safe. But they too should be considered with care especially during pregnancy. These teas are not regulated and are not obligated to adhere to certain standards set by different government drug administration agencies around the world. However, many of them do have a lot of plants that are precursors to some of the most potent drugs out there. Therefore, not all herbal teas are to be consumed under simply an assumption that they are safe because they are natural. In some cases, herbal blends contain certain plant chemicals. Before drinking any tea, find out what each of the plants does and how it can affect you and your developing baby. Even if everything checks out, you should aim to alternate between different kinds of plants in order to limit your intake of one certain chemical compound. 

You should still avoid drinking high amounts of herbal teas. Some experts are anxious that drinking excess amounts of herbal tea can raise the risk of miscarriage. This is again due to the fact that many of the ingredients are not well studied with pregnancies.

Is Ginger Tea safe during pregnancy?

Ginger tea is good for pregnant women, especially in their first trimester since it significantly helps to relieve morning sickness and as well as nausea. As long as your intake is in moderation, it is safe to drink ginger tea during pregnancy. When buying the tea, make sure that you are aware of the blend. Many companies mix the ginger with some other herbs to add flavor or effect. If you are not sure about the brands, it is always a better idea to make it yourself. Simply boil or steep some ginger and add a lemon slice for flavor and added benefits of lemon. Make it your own by adding things you love to the tea.

What are the benefits of ginger tea for pregnant women?

• Ginger tea relieves morning sickness

  For centuries, ginger has been known all over the world for its ability to eliminate morning sickness and nausea. You can try drinking some ginger tea in the mornings to see its immediate benefits.

• Helps to treat sore throat
  Traditionally, ginger tea is always thought to be a good reliever for a cold and sore throat. The ingredients in the tea have anti-inflammatory properties that fight the cold and flu causing germs. In addition, with its diaphoretic feature, ginger tea helps to warm you up from the inside which, in turn, makes you flush out toxins and improve blood circulation.

• Ginger tea improves the digestion process
  When you are pregnant, your body exerts a hormone called relaxin which slows down all the processes in your body and causes constipation and indigestion. Historically, ginger tea is used by many people to overcome difficulties caused by digestive issues. According to BBC Good Food, the carminative substance in ginger tea helps eliminate the excessive gas from your digestive system which, in turn, relieves and soothes the intestinal tract.

• Muscle  recovery following a workout
  Due to its anti-inflammatory feature, drinking ginger tea following a workout can help accelerate the repair process in muscles damaged by intense exercise.

• Helps to control blood sugar
  Healthline states, that over a long period of time, ginger has been proven to support the decrease of blood sugar levels and to control insulin resistance in individuals with diabetes. Some women experience gestational diabetes during their pregnancy, and drinking ginger tea can help improve their condition.

• Relieves symptoms of anxiety
  In addition to being delicious and having a particular taste, ginger tea can help pregnant women relieve stress and anxiety. In fact, there are a lot of things that ginger is capable of doing. For instance, having dozens of unique compounds and antioxidants within, ginger can boost cognitive performance and protect your brain against stress. Furthermore, research reveals that ginger tea can also influence serotonin levels in your body, helping to reduce anxiety.

• Effect on nutrient uptake and absorption
  Ginger has many vitamins and minerals which are important for the well-being of your body.  With the help of all these vitamins and minerals, your body absorbs nutrients very efficiently. The balance of vitamins can be retained thanks to ginger which, in turn, significantly increases the absorption of nutrients. 

How much ginger tea should you consume during pregnancy?

In general, ginger is one of the superfoods available, however, the intake of excessive amounts will more likely harm you other than helping. In fact, many doctors recommend that pregnant women should not consume more than a gram of ginger daily.

What Is The Best Tea For Pregnancy?

Is Green Tea Safe To Drink?

There is no official study claiming that you should stop drinking green tea while pregnant. Therefore, there is no risk in enjoying a cup or two. However, you still need to drink green tea in moderation, since it still contains caffeine based on how you brew it.

Pregnant women should limit their caffeine intake 200mg daily, which means nearly 4 cups of green tea. Besides, 200mg caffeine means the total amount of caffeine you regularly consume from all other sources combined such as coffee, soft drinks, cola, energy drinks and etc.

Chamomile Tea During Pregnancy

While drinking a cup of chamomile tea before you sleep is relaxing, drinking large quantities is not advised. According to some research, chamomile tea may stimulate the uterus which can result in circulation issues in your unborn baby.

Peppermint Tea While Pregnant

Supporting your health while pregnant, peppermint tea is one of the healthy and refreshing beverage. In addition, it helps to fight stomach irritation and boost digestion due to its methanol content.

Furthermore, its aromatic flavor makes your body and mind to relax and keep calm.

Many pregnant women use peppermint tea as their favorite herbal medicine. There is no study claiming that it has any potential risks to you and your baby, however, since it can promote menstruation you should avoid overconsumption.

Drinking Rooibos Tea During Pregnancy

Rooibos is one of the safest tea which you can drink while pregnant while considering the overall advised limit of herbal tea intake.

According to most sources, drinking 1-3 cups of rooibos daily is considered perfectly safe.

While rooibos tea does not contain any caffeine, it is also low in tannins. This means that your body will absorb way less iron compared to regular tea. Besides, rooibos is also rich with antioxidants.

You can find more useful information on our website which regularly publishes useful blog posts regarding pregnancy health.