Teas That Are Safe for Pregnancy

I was recently asked what teas are appropriate to drink while pregnant and nursing. There was a four-year period during which I was trying to become pregnant, so I had a lot of time to research this. Throughout that whole portion of my life, I lived as though I were pregnant – just in case. *smiles*

I’ll begin with the things one shouldn’t drink so we can end on a positive. *grin*

The big thing to avoid in beverages while pregnant is caffeine. That eliminates all black, oolong, and green teas – you know, real tea that comes from the Camellia sinensis bush. Also, steer clear of anything from the cocoa plant and any tea with maté (yerba maté). Both of these contain a lot of caffeine.

There are a few herbs not recommended during pregnancy that should be avoided in both teas and as rubs or flavorings in cooking.

• chamomile
• ephedra
• licorice root
• raspberry leaf
• anise
• sage
• rosemary
• hibiscus
• lemongrass
• sassafras
• nettle leaf
• fennel

Fret not. There are oodles of wonderful teas and herbs you can drink with impunity. I often made my own chai tea blends with peppermint, ginger, lemon zest, peppercorns, and finished with a shot of almond milk. The peppermint and ginger might even help with nausea in the first trimester. Just be sure to read the labels of any blended or bagged tea you may buy.

Another whole group of safe herbal drinks are the Rooibos teas, also known as African Red Bush tea or Honeybush tea. It is naturally decaffeinated, full of Vitamin C and anti-oxidants, and naturally sweet. If you buy a flavored variety of Rooibos, just make sure it doesn’t contain any of the herbs on the Not Recommended list. I was thrilled with the Orange Blossom Rooibos, myself.

As with everything in life, extremes are less than optimal. I understand that caffeine is not advised while pregnant, and I intentionally avoided it when I could yet, given the amount of water I drink, I felt that small amount of caffeine was negligible. Caffeine, and any other stimulants, raise the heart rate and could possibly stunt fetal development, so they are best avoided, yet I refused to panic over small amounts. Just remember to keep off the espresso and chocolate as best you are able. The same applies to the other herbs on the No-no list. If someone cooks an amazing dinner with a tablespoon of rosemary flavoring all the stew, I wouldn’t panic.

The best and most important beverage anyone can consider during pregnancy and breast feeding is an excellent quality water – and plenty of it. When someone is properly hydrated, it goes a long way toward washing the system of anything less than optimal. The best idea is to drink no more than 2-3 cups of tea or juice per day and let the rest be water.

Does anyone have any tips or tricks they’d like to contribute? I’d love to hear what you drank during your pregnancy!

Breathe deeply,
Laugh with abandon,
Love wholly,
Eat well.

MiLady Carol
www.GreenTeaLady.com
http://miladycarol.com
Dazzling jewelry that reflects sparkling personalities!