Can You Have Sweet Tea While Pregnant?
Many expectant mothers look for comfort foods to help them get through pregnancy. Often, these include warm or cold drinks with sweetener, like tea. But can you have sweet tea while pregnant?
Benefits of Tea During Pregnancy
Teas, including herbal and decaffeinated black teas, have many nutritious benefits for pregnant women, such as:
- Help regulate blood sugar levels
- May reduce nausea and morning sickness
- Provide stress relief
- Soothe sore throats and coughs
Risks of Sweet Tea During Pregnancy
Expectant mothers should be wary of how much sweet tea they drink during pregnancy. Sweet tea contains high amounts of sugar and caffeine that can cause potential harm to their baby and themselves. Some of these risks include:
- Dehydration
- Trouble sleeping
- Difficulty gaining healthy weight during pregnancy
- Increased likelihood of having a large baby (which can complicate delivery)
Conclusion
Sweet tea, while containing many beneficial nutrients for expectant mothers, should be consumed with caution. Too much tea can lead to unwanted and potentially dangerous side effects. Consider drinking unsweetened, decaffeinated tea, or if you must have sweet tea, try to limit consumption to one cup per day. Talk to your doctor about an intake plan that works best for you.
