We all are tea enthusiasts and love to sip our regular hot drinks like matcha on a daily basis which usually gives us a blast of caffeine and energy to complete our day with activity. But a lot of women who are pregnant or conceiving have questions related to this concern and they wonder whether it is risky or healthy for them during this crucial time. So, to assist in the true way possible, we made a complete guide answering some questions like “What is matcha”, “Can you drink matcha while pregnant”, “What are its benefits”, “How much matcha can you consume”, and more so that you get all the required knowledge of this topic and put your health on priority. Without any further delay, let’s begin!
What is matcha?
Matcha is a type of green tea which originally came from Japan. It is generally available in powdered form and gives a deep green color to the tea. Matcha is not something new as it is actually made up of the same tea leaves that we use on regular days.
Its manufacturing process includes steeping the fresh green tea leaves in hot water and then making its fine textured powder by grinding gently. The best thing about matcha is that it gives the traditional look, strong flavor, and tons of nutrients to the individual who is consuming it.
Last but not least, matcha tea is also very easy to make as for this, all you need to do is mix the matcha powder with hot water and whisk well. You can also make matcha latte just by adding one more ingredient i.e. milk and you are good to go.
Can you drink matcha while pregnant?
The straight one-liner answer to this question is yes, you can drink matcha during your pregnancy period as well. It has lesser caffeine content as compared to coffee and also gives other health benefits like antioxidants to the individual who consumes it.
But, pregnancy is one of the most crucial periods of life which demands proper consideration and attention on your diet for the health concerns of you and your growing baby. Not only this but everybody has a different immune system which responds differently to what they eat, drink, or consume and that is why consulting your dietician in this phase is very important.
A particular and dedicated diet chart per your body can help you understand better what you should eat, what should be the amount you can consume of any eatable, what you should eliminate from your diet, and so on other aspects.
Pros and Cons of Drinking Matcha
Matcha is not a wholesome drink or meal and consuming it during your pregnancy phase may give you both advantages and disadvantages at the same time. To know about them specifically and keep your health on priority, read the below shared dedicated sections available in brief:
Pros
The benefits of drinking matcha in moderation during your pregnancy time are mentioned below:
1. Loaded with essential nutrients
Consuming matcha during your pregnancy time can give you a shot of various nutrients including calcium, iron, fiber, Vitamin C, and so on. These valuable nutrients also help in the proper development and growth of the baby’s organs like teeth, muscles, bones, and more.
2. Decrease the amount of stress
A lot of pregnant ladies experience high stress, panic, and anxiety situation during their pregnancy phase which is not good for the health of either the mother or the baby and sipping matcha during that time can truly help them as it has a type of amino acid named “I-theanine” in it which promotes relaxation and makes the individual calmer.
3. Give a surge of energy
Matcha helps give a blast of energy to the body which makes the pregnant women more focused, attentive, awakened, and stress-free as well. The best thing about consuming it is that there is no risk of dehydration, and it is completely natural.
Cons
It’s high time to know about the disadvantages of consuming matcha more than the moderate level or advised amount. Read about them below:
1. Negative effect on the medication
There can be times when your matcha tea may affect the result or positive impact of the medications you are taking. Not only that but it also prohibits the absorption of some specific mineral and vitamins in the body which may result in bad health. And that is why consulting a doctor is a must in this case.
2. Increase the caffeine content in the body
It is true that matcha has less caffeine as compared to coffee but sipping it way too much can lead to serious negative impacts of excessive caffeine consumption. This includes minor to major issues like fast heart rate, insomnia, anxiety, addiction, and more. It is advised to pregnant ladies that they should not consume more than 200mg of caffeine in a day.
Tips for consuming matcha while pregnant
Below are a few tips and tricks that a pregnant woman should follow or consider if she has thought of consuming matcha in her pregnancy phase.
- Only use organic and pesticide-free matcha.
- Do not consume more than one cup of matcha a day and rush to your doctor in case of the visibility of any side effects.
- Make sure that your matcha has no additive flavors.
- Ensure that the texture of your matcha is very rich, fine, and lump-free.
- Consult your doctor and ask for the advised frequency and amount of consuming matcha.
Conclusion
Above we shared a brief guide answering “Can you drink matcha while pregnant” along with its other aspects like pros, cons, tips, and more which might have helped you in giving more attention, consideration, and focus to your diet during this crucial phase.
Matcha is not something to avoid in pregnancy, but its frequency and amount of consumption is something to be concerned about. Following a good diet is a must in pregnancy because of the health perspectives of you and your baby which eventually leads to proper growth and development. Last but not least, if you have any other queries or want us to help you with other matters then do let us know about the same in the comment box mentioned below. Till then, thank you for reading!
FAQs
1. How much matcha a pregnant woman can consume?
It is advised to pregnant ladies that they should not consume more than 200mg of caffeine in a day. However, a regular cup of matcha contains around 50 mg to 70 mg of caffeine only.
2. What are the side effects of drinking matcha while pregnant?
The side effects can be minor to major anything including insomnia, anxiety, addiction, fast heart rate, and so on which can be controlled by moderating the level of matcha consumption.
3. What are the advantages of drinking matcha while pregnant?
Matcha is loaded with nutrients, antioxidants, I-theanine, energy, and more which make sure that the health of mother and baby stays good throughout that phase.
4. What is matcha?
Matcha is a powdered form of green tea which was introduced in Japan and has a rich green color as well as texture. It is healthy and has less caffeine than coffee.
5. Can you drink matcha while pregnant?
Yes, you can drink matcha while pregnant as it is organic, has less caffeine than coffee, carries antioxidants, gives nutrients, and so on.