Which herbal teas can I drink when trying to get pregnant?
Herbal teas?
Who does not love a hot cup of tea on a cold winter’s day. But when you are trying to conceive it can be difficult to know which tea’s one can drink and which one’s to avoid. Herbal teas can -
Aid digestion and support digestive health
Hydrate the body
Support detoxification process
Include nutrients and medicinal properties which can be easily absorbed by the body.
Dandelion tea - rich in vitamin A, calcium, iron, can help relieve mild odema and nourish the liver
Peppermint - can aid morning sickness (only small amounts in early pregnancy)
Chamomile and Valerian - safe in small amounts and can aid sleep.
Ginger - can increase circulation and blood flow to uterus, aid digestion and help with morning sickness.
Rosehip - good source of vitamin C and beneficial for immune health.
Red raspberry leaf- high levels or iron thought to be helpful for nourishing uterine lining (not in first trimester if have a history of recurrent miscarriage)
Green tea - in moderation, high caffeine content still. Research published in 2008 showed increased consumption of green tea could potentially lower the body’s ability to absorb folic acid which is important for women when trying to conceive for proper development of the neural tube.
Herbal teas have medicinal properties so still be careful about not drinking in large quantities and vary the types. Avoid cleansing, diet and detoxification teas during treatment.
So like many things enjoy a cuppa in moderation.
Alemdarouglu et al (2008). Influence of green and black tea on folic acid pharmacokinetics in healthy volunteers:potential risk of diminished folic acid bioavailability. Biopharmaceutics and Drug disposition, 29 (6), 335-348. Retrieved from https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com