Green Tea and Pregnancy: Is It Safe?

Green tea and pregnancy are not a good mix. Green tea has some components that can be detrimental to the health of an unborn fetus. These components are caffeine and epigallocatechin gallate, or EGCG. We all know that caffeine has adverse affects on the heart, stress levels and blood pressure, which is why it is often off limits for pregnant women. EGCG is something entirely new.

Dangers of EGCG in Pregnancy
EGCG is an active ingredient in green tea. Because EGCG binds with an enzyme in the body called dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), and changes the way folate is used by the developing embryo. Since folate helps prevent birth defects, it is a necessary building block essential to the well being and proper development of the fetus.

It is known that EGCG disrupts folate absorption during pregnancy. There is more EGCG in green tea than in any other food or drink. It is unclear how much green tea or how much EGCG must be present for folate levels to be disrupted enough to cause birth defects. It is best for pregnant women to avoid green tea and other sources of EGCG until after delivery.

While green tea, black tea and oolong tea are all harvested from the same tree, green tea leaves are steamed while the other teas use fermented leaves. Steaming prevents the EGCG compound from becoming oxidized and destroyed.

What You Should Know About EGCG

• It should not be consumed by pregnant women.
• It disrupts folate absorption.
• The highest levels are found in green tea.
• It is a powerful antioxidant.
• It is helpful in losing weight.
• It may help prevent certain types of cancer, including breast and esophagus cancer.
• It is helpful in preventing heart disease and can lower cholesterol.
   

What You Should Know About Caffeine
While there is not enough scientific evidence to pinpoint caffeine as the main cause in many cases of miscarriage or low birth weight, there is enough evidence to have obstetricians concerned enough to advise their patients to avoid caffeine.

• Caffeine crosses the placenta.
• An average cup of green tea contains about 50 milligrams of caffeine.
• Daily doses of around 200 milligrams of caffeine, around 2.5 cups of coffee or 4 cups of tea, have the potential to cause miscarriage.
• Caffeine has also been linked with low birth weight.