Can I drink green tea during pregnancy?
Limit Yes, 1 to 2 cups a day
Yes, in moderation. Green tea contains caffeine, roughly 30 to 50 mg a cup, which counts towards your 200 mg daily limit. One or two cups a day is fine; avoid green tea extract supplements.
Is green tea safe in pregnancy?
Green tea is often seen as a healthy drink, and in normal amounts it is. But it still contains caffeine, and its antioxidants (catechins) may slightly reduce how well your body uses folic acid when drunk in large amounts. That matters most in early pregnancy. Concentrated green tea extracts and weight-loss products containing it are not recommended.
Benefits
- Less caffeine than coffee
- Counts towards your daily fluids
- A lighter alternative to sweetened drinks
Risks to know about
- Caffeine counts towards the 200 mg daily limit
- Large amounts may affect folic acid absorption
- Drunk with meals, it reduces iron absorption
How to drink it safely
- Keep to one or two cups a day
- Drink it between meals rather than with them
- Avoid green tea capsules, extracts and slimming teas
- Keep taking folic acid in the first trimester
Questions about green tea in pregnancy
Is green tea good for pregnancy?
It's fine in moderation, but it isn't a special pregnancy drink. Water, milk and caffeine-free drinks are better choices for most of your fluids.
Can green tea cause miscarriage?
Normal amounts haven't been shown to. As with all caffeine, staying under 200 mg a day is the safe approach.
Is matcha safe in pregnancy?
Matcha contains more caffeine than ordinary green tea, around 60 to 70 mg per serving or more, so count it carefully.
General information, not medical advice. If you have a condition such as gestational diabetes or an allergy, ask your doctor or midwife what's right for you.