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Are you craving to drink tea while expecting? Are you looking for a tea that contains less or no caffeine? If you said yes excitedly, you should go ahead and give this post a read.
Lipton tea offers many health benefits, but it is wise to check whether it is safe to drink Lipton tea while pregnant. Read our post to learn everything about drinking Lipton tea during pregnancy.
What Is Lipton Tea?
Lipton tea is an herbal tea containing natural ingredients. The tea has been highly popular globally for more than 100 years for its satisfying taste, quality, and health benefits. Lipton tea refreshes your mind and prevents the risk of development of various health disorders when you have it while expecting.
Health Benefits Of Having Lipton Tea During Pregnancy
Here are some health benefits of drinking Lipton tea while pregnant:
1. Boosts Your Immunity:
Lipton tea aids in boosting your immunity while expecting. The tea minimizes the risk of viral infections and ailments. You can enjoy a hot cup of Lipton tea to enjoy a healthy pregnancy.
2. Offers Anti-inflammatory Benefits:
Lipton tea has anti-inflammatory properties and helps treat several health problems, such as osteoporosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and other bone health related issues. It can help relieve the aches and pains related to pregnancy naturally (1).
3. Provides Essential Antioxidants:
Even though Lipton tea is no substitute for fruits and vegetables, it is a rich source of antioxidants like flavonoids. Its antioxidant properties are quite effective in neutralizing free radicals that cause cell damage and oxidative stress during pregnancy (2).
4. Enhances Cardiovascular Health:
Lipton tea is highly beneficial for your cardiovascular health during pregnancy. Antioxidants like polyphenols in the tea aid in preventing any heart-related ailment. Drinking Lipton tea helps in lowering LDL cholesterol of expecting mothers with high blood lipids. Regular intake of it prevents cardiovascular diseases due to oxidative stress and proinflammation. (3)
5. Helps Maintain Appropriate Weight:
Nutrients in Lipton tea are highly beneficial for weight management during pregnancy. Drinking the herbal tea helps you regulate your weight and prevents you from becoming obese while expecting.
Is Lipton Tea Safe During Pregnancy?
- Drinking too many cups of Lipton tea may prevent your body from absorbing folic acid appropriately. Folic acid is crucial during the initial 12 weeks of pregnancy. Excessive intake of Lipton tea can increase the risk of development of neural tube defects, such as spina bifida, in the unborn baby.
- You should ensure that your daily caffeine intake does not exceed 200 mg. Therefore, do not drink more than three to four cups of Lipton tea every day. Health experts advise against the excessive intake of tea as its caffeine content works as a diuretic. It can increase your frequency of urination, cause loss of essentials salts and minerals and lead to dehydration. Dehydration during pregnancy can prove dangerous for you and the little one in your womb. Hannah Whittaker, an expert pediatric and pregnancy dietitian from Liverpool, England, says, “Lipton tea contains caffeine which in moderate amounts has been shown in studies to lead to low-birth-weight babies or those small for gestational age.”
Remember to consult your physician regarding the quantity of Lipton tea you should have daily during pregnancy. Enjoy the refreshing beverage in moderation as an excess of anything during this delicate phase can prove dangerous for your health and your baby’s development.
Now you know all about the benefits of drinking Lipton tea. Why wait? Go ahead and spread the word!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. When to take Lipton in pregnancy?
You may take Lipton green tea whenever you like a hot beverage. The ideal time could be morning or mid-afternoon.
2. Can Lipton green tea cause miscarriage?
The safety of Lipton green tea during pregnancy is doubted for its caffeine intake. Currently, limited studies are showing an association between caffeine and miscarriage. Moderate caffeine consumption is considered safe during pregnancy (4). But, it is always advisable to consult a doctor about its intake. Also, check the ingredients of the tea and show the list to your doctor.
3. Can I take Lipton tea in early pregnancy?
You may take green tea any time during pregnancy, provided you consume it in moderation. A caffeine intake of less than 200mg is considered safe during pregnancy (4). However, green tea may hinder iron absorption (5). Therefore, consult your doctor to know if you may consume green tea when pregnant and what amount you can consume.
4. Does Lipton tea induce labor?
“Due to the caffeine content of Lipton tea, it may induce labor if consumed in large amounts,” opines Whittaker.
Herbal beverages are widely popular for their therapeutic benefits, and Lipton tea is no different. Sip on some Lipton tea during pregnancy to soak in its various benefits, such as increased immunity, pain relief, and maintenance of good heart health. However, consult your OB/GYN before consuming Lipton tea during pregnancy, as excess amounts may cause adverse reactions. It is safe to take in proper amounts during pregnancy and is considered an ideal beverage.
References:
MomJunction’s articles are written after analyzing the research works of expert authors and institutions. Our references consist of resources established by authorities in their respective fields. You can learn more about the authenticity of the information we present in our editorial policy
- Evaluation Of Anti-Inflammatory Effects Of Green Tea And Black Tea: A Comparative In Vitro Study.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3401676/ - Evaluation Of The Antioxidant Properties Of Fruit And Flavoured Black Teas.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3215868/ - Green Tea Polyphenols As An Anti-Oxidant And Anti-Inflammatory Agent For Cardiovascular Protection.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17584048/ - Moderate caffeine consumption during pregnancy.
https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2010/08/moderate-caffeine-consumption-during-pregnancy - Frank S. Fan; Iron deficiency anemia due to excessive green tea drinking.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5093162/
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Dr. Irene (Eirini) Orfanoudaki
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Dr. Irene (Eirini) Orfanoudaki is a gynecologist-obstetrician, having a private practice in Heraklion, Crete, and collaborating with private health clinic ‘MITERA’ – Euromeda in Heraklion. With more than two decades of experience as a gynecologist-obstetrician, she specializes in ultrasound, colposcopy, minimal and advance gynecologic surgery, aesthetic gynecology, fertility consulting, menopause consulting, operative obstetrics, high-risk pregnancy, normal deliveries, antenatal, intra-parum, postnatal…
Ria Saha
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Ria is a techie-turned-writer and writes articles on health, with special emphasis on nutrition. She did her B.Tech from West Bengal University of Technology and was previously associated with IBM as SAP ABAP technical consultant. She moved into freelance content writing in 2013 and worked for various websites including MomJunction, Brainpulse Technologies, and Emarketz India.
Last Updated on September 24, 2022
Lipton tea is a classic choice for those looking for a nice cup of tea, whether black or green, hot or iced. However, is it safe to consume during pregnancy?
Lipton teas are safe to drink during pregnancy in moderation. However, you should limit your caffeine content to no more than 200 milligrams daily. Lipton’s green tea and decaf black tea have the least amount of caffeine per cup.
From black tea versus green tea, hot tea versus iced tea, with milk or without, there is much information to unpack about Lipton tea during pregnancy. So let’s dive into it!
Is Lipton Tea Safe During Pregnancy?
The original Lipton tea is a caffeinated black tea, typically brewed for 3-5 minutes and served hot. Any type of black tea contains caffeine and needs to be limited during pregnancy, and that includes Lipton.
According to the Lipton Tea website, here are the common caffeine levels per eight fluid ounce serving in each of their popular teas.
- Black Tea: 55 milligrams
- Iced Black Tea (Sweet variety): 40 milligrams
- Decaf Black Tea: Less than 5 milligrams
- Green Tea: 28-38 milligrams
Keep in mind that the longer you brew your tea, the more caffeine it will contain (source: Pharmacognosy Magazine). Therefore, avoid brewing for more than 5 minutes, based on the Lipton website.
Additionally, if you typically add milk or cream to your Lipton tea, there are a few precautions to make it safer for your pregnancy. First, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that pregnant women only consume pasteurized milk.
Pasteurization is the process of heating to high temperatures that kill any potential bacteria that may be present in the milk. While unpasteurized milk is unlikely to cause harm, consume pasteurized milk and juices during pregnancy to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses like listeria.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant women consume no more than 200 milligrams of caffeine daily. At this amount, caffeine intake is unlikely to increase the risk of premature birth or miscarriage.
Lipton tea is safe to consume during pregnancy when consumed within the recommended amounts based on caffeine content.
Can I Drink Decaf Lipton Tea During Pregnancy?
Lipton’s website states that their decaf black tea bags are caffeine-free, but they may still contain some residual caffeine – typically less than 5 grams.
Therefore, consuming decaf Lipton tea can be a great way to lower your caffeine consumption during pregnancy.
Can Pregnant Women Drink Lipton Iced Tea? Is It Safe?
Lipton also commercially produces bottled iced teas in flavors like citrus, lemon, raspberry, and peach.
Lipton iced tea is safe for pregnant women, if you keep an eye on caffeine content, and also check the added ingredients like sugar – which should be consumed in moderation when pregnant.
The caffeine content is dependent on the type of tea (black or green), and is slightly lower than the tea bag variety, based on the caffeine values given on the Lipton website.
Additionally, many varieties of Lipton iced tea sold in bottles are sugar-sweetened. According to the Nutrients journal, consuming excessive added sugar during pregnancy can contribute to the development of adverse health effects, such as gestational diabetes mellitus or gestational hypertension.
Lipton also sells “diet” versions of these iced teas that replace the regular sugar sweetener with an artificial sweetener, such as aspartame. Aspartame is considered safe for pregnancy but should be consumed in moderation.
Lipton also offers tea bags, powdered mixes, and K-cups if you want homemade iced tea. Whether to consume your tea iced or hot simply depends on personal preferences, as the caffeine content is not significantly different.
Many people also enjoy adding a slice of fresh lemon to their iced tea. Just make sure your lemon has been washed thoroughly under running water (source: FDA). Use a clean brush to scrub the surface if it has tough skin.
Can I Drink Lipton Green Tea During Pregnancy?
As mentioned previously, Lipton green tea contains 28-38 milligrams of caffeine per eight fluid ounces. This is only slightly lower than the caffeine content of black tea.
This means that Lipton green tea is safe during pregnancy, but you’ll still have to moderate your intake due to the caffeine content.
However, green tea also offers many beneficial health effects due to its antioxidant content – specifically, an antioxidant called catechin. Research has demonstrated that green tea consumption can help treat metabolic syndrome, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (source: Chinese Medicine).
Black tea also contains antioxidants, including theaflavins, which protect the body’s cells from harmful compounds called free radicals. Free radicals are naturally produced by processes, such as metabolism (source: Preventative Medicine).
Ultimately, deciding to consume Lipton green tea or black tea when pregnant comes down to personal preferences, as caffeine content and potential health benefits are very similar.
Can Lipton Tea Cause Miscarriage?
Many myths exist about Lipton tea and the potential to cause a miscarriage. Lipton black and green tea varieties do not contain herbs or spices that increase the risk of complications during pregnancy.
In other words, it is improbable that Lipton tea can cause miscarriage or abort a pregnancy.
Can Lipton Tea Help Prevent Pregnancy or Boost Fertility?
While studies have not investigated this relationship with Lipton tea specifically, research has shown no association between caffeine consumption and fertility when consumed under 200 milligrams (source: Mayo Clinic). There is, therefore, no scientific evidence that Lipton can either prevent pregnancy or help fertility.
I hope you found this article helpful in breaking down the facts and myths regarding drinking Lipton tea during pregnancy.
This article has been reviewed and approved for publication in line with our editorial policy.
