Drinking tea is a ritual that has been around for thousands of years. Tea is considered to be the most popular breakfast beverage around the world. It is arguably the most readily available and also the cheapest beverage out there. Apart from the availability, tea has continued to gain popularity due to its great taste and refreshing qualities. Over the years, tea has undergone numerous transformations. From a simple recipe of leaves boiled in the water you now have variations of hot and iced teas with different ingredients and flavors.
Tea contains antioxidants and other nutrients that help to boost the immune system. This makes it a healthy drink even during pregnancy. Most pregnant women will admit that a cup of tea first thing in the morning helps to ward off morning sickness. However, it is important to realize that not all teas are healthy for pregnant women. If you enjoy your bubble tea, you may be wondering whether you should continue to drink it now that you’re pregnant. It is important to find out whether the tea is safe to drink during pregnancy.
Understanding Bubble Tea
Those who love bubble tea like to consider this a “health tea” mainly due to the presence of green tea. However, more people correctly argue that bubble tea is more of a dessert than a drink. This is because of the ingredients that go into the creation of this tea. Bubble teas contain the basic tea base mixed with other ingredients like milk, fruit flavor, and small tapioca balls. While the tea itself might be low calorie, all the other added ingredients can pack a huge calorie punch! The teas usually contain flavored syrups and fruit juices that contain a high amount of sugar. There are many bubble tea recipes containing different ingredients including ice cream.
Benefits of Drinking Tea
On the whole, tea is a healthy and refreshing drink that contains important nutrients and antioxidants. Drinking tea can help to lower the risk of cancer, heart conditions, and other diseases. Green tea is especially healthy as it contains more disease-fighting compounds. The natural plant chemicals may help to protect the cells from damage and they also help to reduce inflammation. Herbal teas can help to keep the body hydrated and some contain iron, calcium, and magnesium. Within certain boundaries, drinking tea is beneficial to everyone.
Cons of Drinking Bubble Tea
The fact is that bubble tea may be delicious but it is not very nutritious. The tapioca balls used in creating the “bubbles” come from a starch that comes from the cassava root. Some of the bubbles are made from different ingredients such as jelly, potato powder, or sweet potato powder. There has been talk about some of the tapioca balls containing chemicals but these are unconfirmed rumors. Sugar and sweetened condensed milk are usually added to give the tea its sweetness. If you must drink bubble tea, it is a good idea to choose your ingredients to make it healthier. Opt for regular milk instead of sweetened milk, and less sugar or syrup.
Bubble Tea During Pregnancy
Is bubble tea safe during pregnancy? It is important to realize that research on the safety of most teas is very limited. Therefore, while there is not much evidence of extreme or negative side effects, this is not proof that the tea is safe during pregnancy. It is advisable for pregnant women to avoid drinking any tea that may not be safe. While remaining cautious, it should be noted that preparing the tea yourself can be much safer. This is because you can determine the ingredients that go into the tea. Tea can help to ease morning sickness and it has plenty of benefits including relieving stress. However, bubble tea is one drink that pregnant women should definitely avoid.
The caffeine content in tea may be low, but this will depend on different factors such as the origin and the brewing process. There might be benefits of drinking tea, but not all teas are safe especially during pregnancy. So, while tea, especially herbal tea may be healthy, bubble tea cannot be considered to be healthy. Drinking bubble tea once or twice a month may not be harmful but there are other teas that can help to satisfy your craving. If you are pregnant, choose safe tea options such as nettle tea, ginger tea, chamomile, rooibos, dandelion leaf tea, and peppermint and spearmint teas. Choose the best tea depending on your mood and requirement.
Sources: momjunction.com, webmd.com, parents.com, healthline.com, parentinghealthybabies.com.