Always proceed with caution and ask your doctor if they drink
herbal tea.
Walking past any
grocery store, you'll find a variety of teas for sale. However, if you're
pregnant, not all teas are safe to drink.
Chamomile is an herbal
tea. You may want to enjoy a soothing cup of chamomile tea once in a while. However,
some doctors recommend limiting your herbal tea consumption during pregnancy. Below
is an introduction to the health benefits and risks.
Is
it safe to drink chamomile tea during pregnancy?
There are two main
types of tea: herbal and non-herbal. Non-herbal teas are made from the leaves
of the tea tree. They contain caffeine. Even the decaffeinated form contains
some caffeine.
Pregnant and lactating
women are generally advised to stay away from or at least limit the amount of
caffeine they consume each day. This is because developing babies cannot
process caffeine in their systems the same way that adults do.
This recommendation
includes any kind of caffeine, not just the caffeine in tea. Food and drinks
contain caffeine, including chocolate, coffee, and soda. If you consume more
than one source of caffeine per day during pregnancy, you increase the caffeine
content in your system.
Therefore, it is
important to know all the sources of caffeine.
The following categories
include teas that are not herbal and contain a lot of caffeine:
·
black
·
green
·
oolong
Green tea can be a
good choice. Pay attention to caffeine intake when pregnant and keep the
intake in moderation.
What is herbal tea?
Herbal tea is made
from various parts of the plant. They are made from the roots, berries and
seeds of plants. Real herbal tea is naturally caffeine-free. Read the label to
find out about any tea you're not sure about.
The U.S. food and drug
administration (FDA) considers not all herbal teas to be safe for pregnant
women. This is largely because of the type of herbs used and the number of
studies the FDA was able to conduct on pregnant women.
What
are the benefits of drinking chamomile tea?
Chamomile tea looks
similar to and is associated with daisies. There are German or roman chamomile.
It has been used since ancient Egyptian times. One of the most commonly used is
German chamomile.
For most people,
drinking chamomile tea is good for health. These include a dose of
antioxidants, sleep aids, and anti-inflammatory properties.
It is well known that
chamomile tea has a calming effect and helps prevent colds and other diseases. In
addition, drinking any kind of tea helps to keep your body hydrated.
Still, many doctors
are wary of pregnant women drinking herbal teas, including chamomile. This is
simply because not enough research has been done to ensure their safety.
Risks
of drinking chamomile tea during pregnancy
Chamomile tea contains
anti-inflammatory agents. These can be dangerous during pregnancy. It depends
on your medical history, intake, and other factors.
It is important to
remember that not all herbal teas are the same, and doctors will tell pregnant
patients to stay away from these herbal
As with anything in
your diet during pregnancy, discuss drinking chamomile tea with your doctor. Some
doctors may recommend limiting the amount of alcohol you drink, while others
may prefer that you not drink at all.
If you choose to drink
it during pregnancy, you will also want to make sure to use commercially
prepared chamomile tea. Commercially processed herbal teas use herbs from safe
sources.
Can
chamomile tea help induce labour?
You may have heard
that chamomile tea can induce labor. However, there is currently no medical
evidence to support this.
There are some herbal
teas that doctors warn against using early in pregnancy. These include blue
cohosh tea and black cohosh tea.
Is
any herbal tea safe to drink during pregnancy?
For pregnant women,
some herbal teas are considered safer than others. Nettle tea is used in many
herbal teas and is generally considered pregnancy safe. While some midwives may
recommend drinking red raspberry leaf tea, there is no strong evidence that it
is beneficial for pregnant women, and 2019 learning suggests it may adversely
affect pregnancy outcomes.
During pregnancy, you
should stay away from any herbal teas used for weight loss or dieting, or
herbal teas that can be used as laxatives. Also, do not drink beverages that
contain any type of nutritional supplement. This is because supplementation can
lead to complications or interactions with other medications.
Keep in mind that even
herbal teas labeled "pregnancy teas" have not been studied enough and
are therefore considered completely safe during pregnancy. Consult your doctor
before trying a new type of tea.
Summary
To date, there has not
been enough research on herbal teas and pregnancy. This means that whether it
is safe to drink chamomile tea during pregnancy is still in the final word.
Always proceed with
caution and ask your doctor if they drink herbal tea. Many common teas can be a
bad choice when pregnant. Your doctor can recommend a drink that is safe for
pregnancy to keep you hydrated for the next nine months.