If you are expecting to be a mum or you know a pregnant woman, you are well aware that some foods and beverages aren’t completely safe during pregnancy.
This includes coffee because of the high caffeine content. What about teas?
There is no novelty that some of them also contain caffeine. The amount depends on the type of tea you choose.
Not all teas are grown in the same way, and some are almost as strong as coffee.
Therefore, we can adhere to the general rule that applies both to coffee and tea.
Caffeine intake should be reduced to 200 mg per day during pregnancy.
In the case of coffee, you will drink as much caffeine with 2 large cups. Caffeine can affect blood pressure, so it is undoubtedly dangerous to exceed that amount of caffeine.
So, which tea is ok to drink during this delicate period? You will be safe drinking rooibos during pregnancy.
Rooibos tea and pregnancy
In South Africa rooibos means ‘red shrub’, but although it is red color tea, it is actually green before fermentation.
This drink has been used by African bushmen for centuries, but today scientists have recognized its healing power.
Antioxidants
They have found that it contains most of the antioxidants among all-natural sources, including aspalathin, which is found exclusively in this type of tea.
We can easily compare its powers on a human body with green tea.
Another advantage of the drink is that it doesn’t contain caffeine, so you can drink it as much as you want throughout the day.
It is also suitable for pregnant women, nursing mothers, older people and children as a non-caffeinated tea.
Because it contains substantially fewer tannins than green and black teas, it allows easy iron absorption.
Supplement for nursing mothers
It is also excellent as a supplement for nursing mothers. Many people call this tea as mother’s miracle due to the beneficial influence on mothers.
It calms both mother and the baby and at the same time soothes his intestinal cramps. You can drink as much rooibos tea as you want no matter if you are pregnant or not.
It alleviates stomach problems
It contains a high level of flavonoids; therefore it promotes healthy digestion and supports the entire digestive system.
It can help alleviate diarrhea and cramps, relieve nausea, gastrointestinal disorders, and reduce inflammation and allergic reactions in the body.
It improves sleep
Rooibos is a safe and effective natural solution for insomnia.
As many as 40% of adults suffer from insomnia during a certain period of their lives, which is attributed to stress, overuse of caffeine, and some diseases.
If you also have trouble sleeping, you can improve the quality of your sleep by drinking more of this tea.
Rooibos doesn’t contain caffeine but a very high value of minerals, including magnesium, calcium, manganese, zinc, and iron. It stimulates tranquility and relaxation.
Rich in magnesium and calcium
Studies have shown that the lack of magnesium can lead to chronic insomnia, among other things.
Magnesium, also known as a natural tranquilizer, has a calming effect on the nervous system, which contributes to better sleep.
With a cup of red tea before bedtime, you will provide your body with the necessary calcium and magnesium for a more peaceful night rest.
Magnesium in pregnancy
Magnesium helps to preserve and restore body tissues during pregnancy. It can reduce the constraint in fetal growth and prevents eclampsia.
It also increases the weight of the fetus. A severe lack of magnesium can lead to preeclampsia, congenital anomalies, and even higher infant mortality.
It protects the nerve cells and brain
Researchers at the Japanese University of Iwata claim that rooibos prevents the formation of lipid peroxidation or a process when harmful free radicals attack the nervous tissue and brain cells.
Such activity leads to the deterioration of the outer, protective layer of the brain cells over time.
Accumulated damage can show as degenerative brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
A research
Japanese researchers cooked rooibos tea for a group of elderly rats for 2 years and studied the activity of their brain.
To the surprise of all, they found that there are in fact no differences in the older rats brain functioning compared to baby rats as they develop.
On the contrary, the brain of the group who didn’t drink it had normal, aging-related changes (widespread devastation of the brain tissue).
Researchers have made it clear that preventing the collection of waste material in the brain can be attributed to the activity of the tea and the active ingredients in it.
Avoid processed food
Many people who enjoy industrially processed food suffer from a number of digestive disorders that people in other parts of the world don’t know due to healthy eating habits.
Processed foods aren’t good for your digestive system. Especially pregnant women should avoid them as the effects of this type of food will affect the fetus as well.
Safe and delicious
You have plenty of good reasons to enjoy rooibos tea during pregnancy and protect your baby at the same time.
It will provide you important minerals and antioxidants for the health of you and your baby so you can start enjoying it without worries.
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