Thai Iced Tea during Pregnancy: Can I Drink It & How Safe is it?

Are you wondering what may happen if you drink Thai iced tea during pregnancy? Are you wondering if it’s ok for you and your growing baby? Well, this article will help clarify your doubts.

Pregnancy comes with a lot of manual, ranging from the things not to do, what to eat and avoid, how to sleep, and even what to wear, to mention but a few.

Many people love drinking Thai iced tea because the drink is refreshing and energizing.

This article answers your question about what happens if you drink Thai iced tea during pregnancy and other related questions about Thai iced tea during pregnancy. Read On

Drinking Thai Iced Tea During Pregnancy

Industrial packaged or bottled ice tea has a lot of sugar and caffeine content which is usually not recommended for pregnant women.

We all know pregnancy comes with different episodes, including cravings such as Thai iced tea, especially if you have been a fan of this drink.

When Thai iced tea is taken in excess, it could result in miscarriage and increase the risks of neural tube defects.

Also, since Thai tea contains caffeine, excessive consumption can result in insomnia during pregnancy, reduced iron absorption, and dehydration.

The best recommendation is to drink in moderation to reduce pregnancy complications.

What is Thai Tea Made Of?

Thai Tea is usually made with strong black tea and sometimes added spices such as tamarind, cardamom, star anise, and others, making it a favorite of masala chai tea lovers.

Sweetened milk and sugar are added to this brew and served over ice.

Health Benefits of Drinking Ice Tea during Pregnancy

When taken in moderation, tea is a nutritious beverage that benefits almost everyone, including pregnant women. Some of the health benefits of drinking iced teas are:

It helps refresh your body, especially during summertime. Dealing with pregnancy during summer is not an easy task. Drinking ice tea also can help relieve morning sickness; its caffeine content help boosts your energy level almost instantly.
The tea also contains antioxidants from the plant herbs and spices added. These antioxidants help eliminate free radicals, prevent DNA damage, and help pregnant women cope with hormonal changes during pregnancy.
It helps keep the brain active. Usually, some common symptoms of pregnancy are being listless and forgetful.
Iced teas help with cavities. This is good during pregnancy because there is a risk of dental issues during this period.
Homemade iced tea is perfect for pregnant women, especially those with gestational diabetes. Iced teas sold at local stores are loaded with sugar which can worsen this condition.

Harmful Effects of Drinking Excessive Amount of Thai Iced Tea

As mentioned earlier, pregnant women should drink Thai iced tea in moderation. Excessive consumption is not advised because of the high sugar and caffeine content.

Too much sugar and caffeine consumption can affect the development and health of the fetus and even risk your health.

Some of the harmful effects of consuming too much amount of Thai iced tea during pregnancy are:

High caffeine consumption can increase the risks of neural tube defects like spina bifida by interfering with folate absorption.
High consumption of caffeine during pregnancy can cause miscarriage.
Getting enough sleep is very important for both you and the baby. High consumption of caffeine during pregnancy can cause low birth weight. Excessive consumption of caffeine during pregnancy can cause insomnia. If you must drink Thai iced tea during pregnancy, it’s best advised to drink it in the morning and not towards the end of your day.
High caffeine consumption reduces iron absorption in the body, which is not good for pregnant women who need iron. Drinking an excess amount of Thai iced tea during pregnancy can result in iron deficiency and anemia.
Excessive drinking of tea can cause dehydration. Usually, when you drink tea, you’ll notice a frequency in the urge to urinate because it acts as a diuretic. This makes you lose the healthy minerals and salt needed during pregnancy.
High consumption of drinks and beverages with high caffeine content during pregnancy can cause stillbirth.

It’s best advised to consume Thai iced tea within the prescribed limit when pregnant, especially if you can’t avoid it, to help prevent all these side effects.

How Much Caffeine Content is in Thai Iced Tea?

Usually, Thai iced tea has high caffeine content; however, the levels of caffeine in each brand and flavor may differ. One full serving of Thai iced tea is known to have about 12 to 18 mg of caffeine.

It has been recommended for pregnant women not to consume more than 200 mg of caffeine in a day. So moderate consumption of your Thai tea during pregnancy (For example, one cup daily) will cause no harm to you or your baby.

If you’re strongly addicted to Thai iced tea, we recommend you go for the low-sugar version or the homemade iced teas with less sugar.

How Much Sugar is in Thai Iced Tea?

A January 2017 Food Science & Nutrition study reported that a 16-ounce serving of Thai milk tea contains 263 calories and 38 grams of sugar.

According to the study, adding boba and other ingredients to your tea can increase the calorie content.

How To Make Healthy Iced Tea Recipes

1. Lemongrass Mint Iced Tea

This drink is refreshing, delicious, and also relatively easy to prepare.

Ingredients Needed:

Tea Bags- 2
Lemongrass stalk- 1
Mint- 2 sprigs
Water- 4 cups

How to Prepare:

Firstly, boil the water and add the rest of the ingredients.
Then take out the tea bags after some minutes (5 minutes), pour the mixture into a bottle or jug, and put it in the fridge.
Then bring it out after it’s chilled, pour it into a clean glass, add two ice cubes and enjoy.

2. Lemon Pomegranate Iced Tea

This is another nice iced tea recipe to try. It’s quite a refreshing pick-me-up, especially during the day.

Ingredients:

Tea Bags- 2
Water- 5 cups
Pomegranate Pearls- 1 cup

How to Prepare:

Firstly, bring the water to a boil and add the ingredients (tea bags and pomegranate pearls).
Then take out the tea bags, pour the mixture into a jug or bottle, and put it in the fridge overnight.
When it’s time to serve, strain the mixture into a clean glass, top off with a few pomegranate pearls, and enjoy your tea.

Remember, when you drink tea in the right amount and resist the urge to consume iced tea in large amounts, iced tea cannot harm you. While a refreshing chilled glass of iced tea can help with your fluctuating moods, try not to overdo it.

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FAQs

Can I drink Thai iced tea while breastfeeding?

Drinking coffee, tea, and caffeinated sodas in moderation is ok when breastfeeding, according to HealthyChildren.org. Breast milk usually contains less than 1 percent of the caffeine consumed by the mother.

Can babies drink Thai iced tea?

This is a general question. Safe teas are an excellent alternative to juice, even if they are sweetened with honey (for children over 1-year-old). However, with some exceptions, little ones can drink tea.

Thai iced tea contains how many calories?

Thai Iced Tea (240 mL) has 31g total carbohydrates, 31g net carbohydrates, 5g fat, 5g protein, and 184 calories.

Why is Thai iced tea orange?

Thai Iced Tea’s unique color is produced by adding food coloring to black tea in the Thai Tea Mix. This results in a deep red brewed tea. The tea turns orange when you stir in sweetened condensed milk (or another type).

What is the difference between Thai tea and Thai green tea?

There are two types of Thai green milk tea: Thai Green Milk Tea, which is tea mixed with jasmine and other flavors, and Thai Cha Yen, which has been powdered into black tea leaves o,r more commonly Assam tea powder, and is flavored.

Does Thai tea have more caffeine than green tea?

There is no doubt that Thai tea contains caffeine. Thai milk tea has more caffeine than soft drinks or energy drinks, but it is still less than pure tea or coffee.

Why is Thai tea dyed?

After the tea was brewed and served to the master, the domestic workers rewed the same tea leaves rather than discarding them.

As the color and taste of the tea faded, orange food dye and flavorings (spice mix, tamarind) were added to prolong its life and enhance its appeal.

What is Thai tea boba made of?

Boba is made from refined tapioca starch extracted from cassava root. Boba is gluten-free and tasteless in its natural state.

Boba, a chewy texture, is a delicious addition to hot or cold drinks, such as tea or smoothies.

Take-Home

We hope this article has given in-depth knowledge to answer your question about what happens if you drink Thai iced tea during pregnancy.

Once taken in the right amount, drinking tea is one of any pregnant woman’s healthiest beverages.

If Thai iced tea or iced tea has been your favorite, it’s best advised to reduce your intake to the barest minimum during pregnancy.

Alternatively, you can go for homemade iced tea. Finally, remember that Thai iced tea offers some health benefits to pregnant women when taken in the right proportion.