Green tea falls under the category of non-herbal tea. The other non-herbal teas are black tea and oolong tea. The first thing that comes to a person's mind when he/she thinks of green tea is that it is a healthy drink as it is processed less. Because of this, people in all countries of the world have made it a habit to consume it. But at this juncture you should realize the fact that tea is not free of caffeine. In fact, the caffeine content in equal measures of coffee and tea vary by half. So, while comparing green tea consumption with coffee consumption, it is obvious that green tea is better. If you are interested in reaping more benefits, it is better to reduce the amount of green tea consumed.
Those who consume caffeine are likely to experience some symptoms which will be more prevalent in women who are pregnant. The symptoms are: palpitations of the heart, difficulty in getting sleep, increase in blood pressure, feeling restless, and not feeling hungry. There are other symptoms too that the woman can experience. You can also feel symptoms associated with a troubled stomach. On the whole, it is better to limit the intake of green tea as it is known to trigger birth defects in unborn babies. While anything in moderation is considered to be fine, it applies to consuming green tea too.
Still, it is better to overcome the habit of including green tea consumption in your daily routine. The problem with green tea is its property to prevent nutrient absorption in the body. This poses a great concern for pregnant green tea drinkers as such nutrients play a great role in the proper development of the growing fetus. Loss of or reduction in the level of particular types of nutrients can stall the functions of a pregnant woman's body. Also there is another matter of concern here – all green tea that is available in the market cannot be said to have the prescribed quality.
It is not only the caffeine content of tea that is the cause of worry. Green tea contains epigallocatechins which affects nutrient absorption by the baby. This means that those who have developed the habit of drinking numerous cups of green tea must definitely think of reducing the intake. Problems start to surface and gain prominence when you exceed about a couple of cups of green tea. Some other beverages must find place instead of green tea in a pregnant woman's daily consumption.
Some other complaints that people report if they consume excessive green tea is the higher probability of developing some allergies. This is certainly not desirable when a woman is pregnant. So, inspite of green tea having anti-oxidant and anti-cancer properties, it is better to limit the consumption when you are pregnant so that you can prevent side effects. So, moderate consumption will bring in health benefits and prevent the onset of any type of side effects. You can also try the option of consuming decaffeinated tea as this eliminates the side effects of caffeine.