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Which Teas Are Safe During Pregnancy

QUESTION

I would just like to know which teas in general are safe to consume during pregnancy (I am 22 weeks right now). I did a little research on this matter but am still not sure which teas I can drink. I have been drinking rooibos (redbush) tea lately (about a cup a day) with the impression that this is okay.

Is it in fact safe? I would really like to know as I live in a cold climate during winter and a warm drink is so very relaxing.

Thanks!

ANSWER

Yes, you can still enjoy a hot cup of tea while pregnant. It's safest to choose teas that do not have caffeine. Watch out for decaffinated tea (it still has caffeine in it). So the safest tea that ObGyn's recommend is rose hips (great for vitamin C too) or mint tea.

Aim to stay clear from teas with the following ingredients: Anise, catnip, chamomile, comfrey, ephedra (called ma huang in traditional Chinese medicine), European mistletoe, hibiscus, horehound, Labrador, lemongrass, licorice root, mugwort, pennyroyal, raspberry leaf, rosemary, sage, sassafras, stinging nettle leaf, vetiver, and yarrow.

Many of these herbs used for teas, when taken in large or medicinal amounts, can potentially stimulate the uterus and induce miscarriage.

Health and happiness to you,
Deborah Klein, MS, RD

Deborah Klein

Deborah Klein , MS, RD, is the world’s first Livitician™ coach, a term she coined beyond Dietician, counseling clients on nutrition and fitness for 17 years. Her mission is to educate others on achieving optimal wellness through balanced eating, intrinsic coaching and exercise.

At University of California, Davis, Deborah received a Bachelor of Science degree in Dietetics and a minor in Exercise Physiology and received her Registered Dietitian license in Georgia. She also completed her Master’s of Science degree in Foods and Nutrition with an emphasis in sports nutrition at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona and is a PhD candidate at Saybrook University Graduate College of Mind-Body Medicine. She is also a Certified Intrinsic Coach, which she incorporates into her nutrition counseling to delve into the core of ones’ experiences and thoughts, to identify any barriers to enable long-term health.

Her past career experiences include hosting a TV show in Georgia on Midday News Live, teaching “5 A Day - For Better Health,” working for CNN, Food & Health News and honored as “Registered Dietitian of the Year” by the Spectrum Health Club in Los Angeles. Recently, she was named “Young Dietitian of the Year,” by the American Dietetics Association and served as President of the Los Angeles Dietetics Association.

Currently, Deborah has a private practice where she specializes in weight loss, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, disease prevention, and long-term wellness. She is the author of “200 Superfoods That Will Save Your Life” published by McGraw-Hill, Inc. that details her “Livit” philosophy to achieve one’s wellness goals. Through education and discovering each individual’s full potential, Deborah provides individuals with “A Plan to LIVE for!” She resides in Los Angeles and relishes being a mother of 2 boys, Hayden (8 years) and Eitan (6 years).