Green tea drinkers reportedly reap many health benefits, including weight loss and the prevention of cancer and heart disease. But if you're pregnant, don't brew yourself a pot of Lipton green tea (or grab a six-pack of Lipton green iced tea from a store shelf) before weighing the risks green tea may pose to the health of your unborn child.
Caffeine's Effects
Green tea, like traditional black tea, contains caffeine. Doctors generally urge women to limit their caffeine intake during pregnancy, and a report by the British Medical Journal specifically links caffeine consumption by pregnant women with low birth weights for their children. The study of 2,600 women who gave birth at two British hospitals between 2003 and 2006, focused on fetal growth restriction, found women who consumed 100 to 300 mg of caffeine per day had a 20 to 50 percent higher chance of having a low birth baby than women who consumed less than 100 mg.
Calculating Caffeine Intake
A cup of standard drip coffee has about 85 to 100 mg of caffeine. Ounce for ounce, soda and tea contain about half as much--and Lipton green iced tea contains only 11 mg of caffeine per 8 ozs. Based on the British study, pregnant women could safely consume two cups of home-brewed Lipton green tea or several bottles of green iced tea without worry. But your own doctor might advise differently, and to be an informed patient, consider both the benefits and risks.
Disease Prevention
Studies cited by WebMD illustrate links between green tea and the prevention of a half-dozen different forms of cancer, including stomach, esophageal, prostate, pancreatic and colorectal. Green tea was also associated with lower recurrence of breast cancer for women in a study of 500 women in Japan. And 22 studies have shown a correlation between high green tea consumption and a decrease by up to 18 percent of developing lung cancer. In addition, men and especially women who drink large quantities of green tea may be less likely to suffer from clogged arteries, according to a Dutch study of more than 3,000 men and women. In Japan, men in a study who drank at least four cups of green tea every day proved to be at less risk for serious coronary heart disease than their non-tea-drinking counterparts.
Other Benefits
The caffeine in green tea, though lower than in coffee, is similarly effective in reducing the post-lunch dip in concentration levels common in office workers and helping offset the negative effects of sleep deprivation. And in a Dutch study, people who drank green tea--including decaffeinated green tea--lost weight.
Side Effects
Most of the risks associated with green tea are related to caffeine. In addition to the potential harm to an unborn child, the caffeine in green tea may also present problems for people who have high blood pressure, kidney disease, an overactive thyroid, an anxiety disorder or clotting disorder. Green tea is associated with many health benefits, and the risks for pregnant women can be greatly reduced with moderate consumption.
References
- WebMD: Health Benefits of Green Tea
- WebMD: Quit Caffeine While Pregnant
- "British Medical Journal"; Maternal Caffeine Intake During Pregnancy and Risk of Fetal Growth Restriction: A Large Prospective Observational Study; Nov. 3, 2008
- "Neuropsychobiology"; Improved Alertness, Helping Relieve Mid-Afternoon Dip; A.P. Smith, J.M. Rusted, P. Eaton-Williams, M. Savory, P. Leathwood; 1990-91
- "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition"; Normal Caffeine Consumption: Influence on Thermogenesis and Daily Energy Expenditure in Lean and Postobese Human Volunteers; A.G. Dulloo, C.A. Geissler, T. Horton, A. Collins, D.S. Miller; 1989
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