Can I Drink Iced Tea While Pregnant? When the heat of summer rolls around, many people reach for an iced tea to help them cool down. However, pregnant women might wonder if they can drink this popular beverage while pregnant. After all, it contains a lot of sugar and there isn’t much information regarding whether it is safe or not. Read on to learn more about whether you can drink iced tea while pregnant or not.
Is Iced Tea Bad For Pregnant Women?
While we don’t know exactly what iced tea does to a baby in the womb, we do know that the risks associated with drinking iced tea while pregnant are low. So, the best advice is to “let your conscience be your guide.” That said, many pregnant women enjoy tea and caffeine is not considered a risk factor in pregnancy. However, you should always be mindful of the total amount of caffeine you consume while pregnant to ensure you don’t go over the recommended amount.
The Good Stuff In Iced Tea
Tea is known for its many health benefits. It is a particularly good source of antioxidants. These can help you maintain a healthy immune system and may protect you against certain diseases including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. Iced tea also contains a small amount of caffeine. This can help you stay alert and focused. It can also help you metabolize fat more efficiently. Iced tea also has a small amount of fluoride. Fluoride is a mineral that is known to protect teeth against cavities. In fact, many dentists recommend that people consume a small amount of fluoride while pregnant to protect the developing teeth in their babies’ mouths.
The Not-So-Good Stuff In Iced Tea
Iced tea also contains a lot of sugar. We recommend that pregnant women limit the amount of added sugar they consume while pregnant since it can increase your risk of gestational diabetes and other health issues. One can of iced tea can contain as much as 18 teaspoons of sugar. To put that in perspective, the American Heart Association recommends that women consume no more than 6 teaspoons of sugar per day. Iced tea also contains a small amount of iron. But it also contains a small amount of copper. While both iron and copper are important minerals, too much copper can cause health issues like anemia and low iron levels.
How Much Sugar Is In Iced Tea?
One can of iced tea can contain as much as 18 teaspoons of sugar. Unfortunately, many people drink more than one can of iced tea per day. If you are concerned about the amount of sugar you consume each day, iced tea will be a major concern. When you are pregnant, you should try to limit the amount of sugar you consume each day. You should do this even when you aren’t pregnant. This can help reduce your risk of weight gain, gestational diabetes, and other health issues.
Is Hot Tea Safer Than Iced Tea For Pregnant Women?
While hot tea also contains a lot of sugar, it also contains more caffeine than iced tea. This means that consuming hot tea while you are pregnant may increase your risk of many health issues. Hot tea also contains more iron and copper than iced tea. But consuming too much iron and copper can put you at risk of low iron and anemia. So, you should be mindful of the amount of hot tea you drink.
Bottom line
Iced tea is generally safe to drink while pregnant. However, it is also high in sugar and caffeine. You should be mindful of the amount you drink while pregnant since consuming too much sugar and caffeine may increase your risk of health issues. You should also be mindful of the amount of iron and copper you consume while pregnant since consuming too much can put you at risk of low iron and anemia. That said, we don’t know exactly what iced tea does to a baby in the womb. So, the best advice is to “let your conscience be your guide.”
