Green tea in pregnancy?

[naturelover]

Has anyone been told to avoid green tea while pregnant? I used to drink a couple of cups a day, then when I was six weeks pregnant I did some searching on the Internet and found several sites where it said pregnant women should avoid it (allegedly because it inhibits folic acid absorption). I always thought green tea was a healthy, low-caffeine alternative to tea, coffee etc. But I gave it up immediately. I'm bored with other herbal teas (and not entirely sure I should be drinking them anyway) and am starting to think the occasional normal coffee is not so bad. After all, decaff supposedly contains nasty chemicals too.

Part of me thinks all these dietary rules are ridiculous (our mothers didn't have these guidelines) and also millions of Japanese women surely drink green tea throughout pregnancy without any problems. At the same time, I'm happy to go without one or two things I like for such a short period of time, if indeed it's for the baby's benefit. None of my pregnancy books mention green tea, not even the ultra-strict Patrick Holford (my food bible - I'm a health freak).

How strictly are you sticking to all these food rules?

Everything in moderation I reckon, check out what the nhs says on green tea and ignore websites on the internet which spread fear!

I'm pregnant and I've been having green tea. Not all the time but whenever I fancy. I never knew it isn't recommended. Even then, I don't think I would have cared really. Agree with you that Japanese women probably drink it all the time, as with French women and cheese. My Japanese friend said she continued to eat sushi/sashimi during her pregnancy. Too many rules in this modern world, I reckon.

I totally agree. My Japanese friend continued to eat sushi/sashimi all the way through pregnancy (although she did say that it was the freshest stuff and that makes a difference?). Green tea is fine from the book I've been reading. x

No idea, but keep in mind that some green teas are actually quite high in caffine!

having read/asked about it think it is the caffeine you need to be careful about rather than green tea itself

I was advised not to drink it, though can't recall the details of why. M/w wasn't too sure about which herbal teas were ok, so advised me to stick to fruit based ones instead.

I've drunk green tea through 2 pregnancies with no problems and am now on my 3rd - and will continue to do so. Also admit to the occasional sashimi! Too many rules imo