Liquid green tea extract is made from green tea leaves or leaf buds, and it can also be found in a powder or capsule form. The extract can be taken as packaged or made into a tea. Although green tea extract has many benefits, it is important to evaluate the safety of anything you put into your body if you are pregnant or trying to conceive.
Benefits
Green tea contains antioxidants called polyphenols, which attack free radicals that can cause cell damage. It also lowers cholesterol and helps to control blood sugar. According to the American Cancer Society, herbalists use the extract to relieve stomach problems and diarrhea. Green tea can also help to prevent some forms of cancer.
Dosing
One cup of green tea, prepared from extract or leaves, contains about 20mg of caffeine. Your daily limit of caffeine should not exceed 300 mg a day, according to Babycenter. Other forms of green tea extract, such as capsules and powder, have varying dose requirements depending on the product.
Getting Pregnant
According to reproductive endocrinologist Helen Kim, some studies suggest that green tea can improve fertility. However, she also states that there is not enough conclusive evidence to be sure. Too much green tea extract can cause fertility problems because of its levels of caffeine and tannic acid.
Warnings
In addition to causing fertility problems, too much caffeine can also cross into the placenta of a pregnant woman and cause a miscarriage or birth defects. Drugs.com states that green tea extract should not be taken on an empty stomach, because it can cause liver toxicity from its levels of epigallocatechin gallate.
Safety
Due to the caffeine in green tea extract and the potential side effects, it is not always safe to take during pregnancy. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends that pregnant women avoid it altogether to be safe. If you are trying to get pregnant, you should also avoid green tea extract due to the lack of evidence regarding its safety.
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