When you’re pregnant, your diet can become a bit more complicated than it had been in the past. Suddenly, drinking something you’ve never thought twice about drinking, such as Thai tea, while pregnant suddenly becomes a concern.
In this post, we’ve set out to answer the question of “Can I drink Thai tea while pregnant?” in an effort to keep you and your little one safe during the duration of your pregnancy. If this is of interest to you, be sure to stick around. We’re getting started right now!
Can You Drink Thai Tea While Pregnant?
Can someone pregnant drink Thai milk tea? Yes, but with a few caveats.
When I was pregnant with my first child, I was surprised to know that the consumption of caffeine while pregnant was such a hotly debated issue. Once I found out that caffeine consumption, and even the consumption of certain herbs, were to be avoided, I grew increasingly paranoid about what I put in my body.
In the same way, the question of whether or not drinking Thai tea while pregnant is safe is a valid one.
Thankfully, Thai milk tea is deemed safe for pregnant women. But there are some things you’ll want to keep in mind before consuming this drink.
Can Pregnant Drink Thai Milk Tea? Caffeine Concerns
Yes, you can drink Thai tea while pregnant. But you should be careful when doing so because of the caffeine content.
Thai iced tea is a mixture of strong black tea and spices. And though this drink is delicious, you’ll need to take note of the amount of caffeine within the drink.
According to health experts, the consumption of caffeine during pregnancy should be limited to 200mg per day or less. If your average Thai tea contains about 47 mg of caffeine (compared to coffee’s 95 mg of caffeine) then you could see how consuming this beverage multiple times a day may have a negative impact on you and your baby during your pregnancy journey.
Common outcomes of having consumed too much caffeine while pregnant include:
- Miscarriage
- Low Birth Weight
- Insomnia (of the mother)
- Lowered Iron Absorption Abilities
- Dehydration
Thai Iced Tea Caffeine Pregnancy
Is Thai Tea Safe During Pregnancy?
Aside from caffeine consumption, there are other factors you’ll want to take into consideration. These help you in assessing whether or not is Thai iced tea safe for you during pregnancy.
One of those factors is the amount of sugar added to the drink. When it comes to drinks like Thai milk tea and Thai iced tea, chances are that loads of sugar are added to the drink. Sugar makes it taste more palatable and refreshing.
If you aren’t like me (I prefer my teas and coffees sweetened naturally with a teaspoon of honey or pure maple syrup) or you don’t like drinking tea without sweetener, then the consumption of too much Thai tea may lead to concerns about excessive sugar intake.
Similar to caffeine, you’ll want to watch your sugar intake on a regular basis when pregnant. Too much sugar can cause gestational diabetes. Along with other health risks.
In fact, even “diet” versions of formerly sweetened beverages aren’t necessarily good. They have been shown to potentially cause disruption to the function of your baby’s brain when drunk in excess.
Therefore, the recommended amount of sugar for pregnant women is no more than 30 grams of sugar per day.
Note: For reference, Thai tea and Thai milk tea will have varying amounts of sugar depending on your preference. The normal 16 ounce sweetened version of Thai milk tea can run as high as 38 grams of sugar. As such, you may need to size down your drink. Also, limit yourself to only one Thai tea a day if the type of drink you are choosing is high in sugar.
Yet another factor to consider when determining whether or not Thai tea or Thai milk tea is safe during pregnancy is the herbs used in the drink. Some herbs, like sage and parsley in large amounts, may cause unsavory consequences when consumed. These consequences often include low birthweight and even miscarriage.
Thai tea typically contains ingredients like star anise, tamarind, and cardamom. Most of these spices are considered safe to consume during pregnancy. As long as you don’t overdo it.
Thai Boba Tea While Pregnant
Is Thai Tea Boba Safe During Pregnancy?
Thai tea boba while pregnant may be safe. But when consuming this delicious and unique drink, you’ll want to be sure to watch for over-consumption of both sugar and caffeine as mentioned earlier.
Thai boba tea, otherwise known as Thai “bubble tea”, is a deliciously fun and colorful way to treat yourself during the day. Still, despite its harmless appearance, bubble tea really stands out in terms of caffeine content. It can have up to a whopping 170 mg per serving of tea, depending on the serving size chosen.
Because of this, it is of the utmost importance that you check the amount of caffeine in a bubble tea before consuming it. It is possible that even one large serving of Thai boba tea while pregnant may just put you at your daily allotment for caffeine intake.
Note: In addition to the high amount of caffeine in Thai boba tea, you will also want to pay attention to the high amount of sugar in the drink as well. The drink can contain up to 38 grams of sugar or more per serving. Thus, this drink not very recommended as a choice for pregnant women when consumed on a frequent basis.
Thai Tea While Pregnant: It’s Safe in Moderation
If you’re pregnant and wondering if Thai tea is actually safe during pregnancy, I’m here to tell you that it can be.
But you need to watch it.
Too much Thai tea or Thai boba while pregnant can have negative effects on both you and your unborn baby.
We hope you’ve found this informative and helpful!
More food you might want to check out before drinking when pregnant:
- Can I Drink Hot Chocolate While Pregnant
- Can Cinnamon Cause a Miscarriage
- Can You Eat Clam Chowder While Pregnant
FAQs
Yes, you can drink Thai tea while breastfeeding, however, know that while most studies indicate that only a small fraction of the caffeine makes it to your child through breastfeeding, some mothers have experienced disruptions to their baby’s sleep patterns after drinking caffeine right before breastfeeding their babies. Therefore, you should always proceed with caution and omit caffeine if you feel that it has been negatively affecting your baby.
It is clear that although Thai iced tea caffeine during pregnancy may be of some concern, it isn’t always, especially if you limit yourself to only 1-2 drinks per day. Still, this is something you’ll want to keep a close eye on as other foods in your diet, such as desserts and other sugary or caffeinated drinks, count to your daily consumption limits, and therefore, can add up quickly if you aren’t actively watching the amount of sugar and caffeine you regularly consume.
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