It’s official! In just a few months, you’re welcoming a new member to the family! Along with the excitement, pregnancy brings a fresh look at diet choices. While we all know to avoid things like alcohol and certain cheeses, where does your daily chai fit in? Good news: chai tea can still be a comforting part of your day during pregnancy! Let’s look at why chai is generally safe for expectant mothers.
Is Chai Tea Safe During Pregnancy: Caffeine
Chai tea is generally safe during pregnancy in moderation! With lower caffeine than coffee and beneficial spices like ginger and cinnamon, a daily cup can be both comforting and health-supportive. Just keep intake moderate and consult your doctor if you have specific health concerns.
A lot of things are going to change when you find out you are pregnant. There will be a list of foods and drinks you can’t consume for nine months, but chai doesn’t have to be a sacrifice. The official stats for caffeine during pregnancy say not to exceed 200 milligrams daily, which equals one 12-ounce cup of coffee. Are you curious how this compares to the world of tea? From steeped and brewed beverages to exquisite chai curators, we find out exactly how much chai you can consume during pregnancy.
Caffeine in chai or tea is lower amount compared to coffee. On average, one eight oz. cup of coffee has 95 mg of caffeine. Black tea, on average, has a range of 14-70 milligrams of caffeine. Since doctors agree that 200 milligrams daily during pregnancy is not dangerous, you can comfortably drink two cups of chai (1). We recommend brewing at home to control the mixture more than drinking at different cafes. You can learn more about how to make a cup of tea at home here.
Our team tested six chai brews to discover that the strongest tested registered only a third of the amount of caffeine allowed during pregnancy. To control the strength of caffeine, don’t forget that a shorter steep time decreases the caffeine content up to 80%. Out of the six chai’s we brewed, even the weakest only registered the same amount of caffeine as a medium decaf coffee.
We dive deeper into our blog’s highs and lows of chai caffeine content, but our non-medical opinion is that keeping one daily cup of chai will not harm or distress during pregnancy. We always recommend consulting your family doctor and OBGYN for a medically verified answer.
See more: The health benefits of chai tea
Chai Tea And Pregnancy: The Ingredients
Does Chai Tea Have Ingredients That Make It Unsafe During Pregnancy? Let’s review the most common ingredients and spice blends found in chai.
We take a deeper look at the chai history and origins of our favorite beverage on our blog. Let's take a look at our compilation of scientific research, and here are the scientific-backed facts on what you can and cannot drink with your chai during pregnancy
Is Chai Tea Safe During Pregnancy: Star Anise
Star Anise is a fragrant leading herb in a chai brew. When you are not pregnant, the health benefits of star anise are great! It is great to work against indigestion and helps ease bloating, constipation, and abdominal cramps.
While your body undergoes several changes during pregnancy, one big one involves your hormones. Studies have shown a link to star anise contributing to your hormones feeling jumbled and impacting blood thinner or the medications, Warfarin or Coumadin. We recommend consulting your family doctor for the best advice if you take either of these medications, find out that your pregnancy will be high-risk, or have diabetes.
Is Chai Tea Safe During Pregnancy: Cinnamon
Cinnamon has several health benefits, making it an all-star ingredient in chai. Cinnamon can help lower blood sugar levels and blood pressure (2). Cinnamon is especially great for managing swelling and inflamed joints - a key benefit during pregnancy when you lose sight of your ankles! (3) When taken in controlled amounts, its benefits always outweigh the negatives.
It becomes a tricky measuring scale if you also take cinnamon supplements or indulge in sugary-cinnamon delights like cereals or buns. Cinnamon will lower your platelet count and result in more bleeding during delivery, specifically if you have scheduled a caesarean.
Can You Have Chai While Pregnant? : Fennel
Fennel is an active ingredient in several varieties of chai, but it can also brew as a solitude tea. While science doesn’t point out any adverse effects to consuming fennel as an active ingredient, you risk inducing labour if you ingest or drink pure fennel beverages.
Fennel contains levels of oestrogen that may trigger your body to go into labour (4). Midwives and obstetricians can prescribe it to assist with late pregnancy, but pregnant persons should not drink before consulting their physician.
See more Monk's Chai ingredients of chai.
Can You Drink Chai Latte When Breastfeeding?
Yes, a chai latte is typically safe while breastfeeding in moderation. It does contain caffeine, which can pass into breast milk (5), so limiting intake to one cup a day is generally best to avoid potential sleep disturbances in your baby. Chai spices like cinnamon, cardamom, and ginger are usually safe and even beneficial for digestion and inflammation (6), (7), Watch for any signs of sensitivity in your baby, and if concerns arise, consult your healthcare provider to ensure both you and your little one are comfortable.
Can You Drink A Chai Latte During Pregnancy?
If you are a chai drinker who prefers it served with hot milk and beautiful latte art from your local coffee shop, breathe a sigh of relief. You can continue to drink a chai latte during pregnancy and even use the opportunity for dairy intake.
As previously mentioned, doctors recommend only having 200 milligrams daily during pregnancy. A large chai tea latte will max out at 120 milligrams. Once again, we encourage you to consult with your family doctor, midwife, or obstetricians if you are facing a high-risk pregnancy or have pre-existing conditions to consider.
The Verdict: YES! Chai Tea Is Safe During Pregnancy
Finding out about your pregnancy will put you on high alert and make you reconsider several diet options or daily drinks. Stepping into this new chapter doesn’t mean eliminating your daily chai, but we urge you to brew at home and control the amount of caffeine per cup.
It’s an exciting time, and while you must stop with certain things in your diet, chai is a great addition. Drinking chai can make your pregnancy more comfortable with the several healthy ingredients and super foods in every cup. It is also a proven drink that can help with inflammation and nausea, two symptoms you’ll want to relieve during pregnancy.
At Monk’s Chai, our mission is simple. We want to continue creating the perfect chai that honours freshness, taste, and provenance in every cup. With our premium chai blends and accessories, you can worry-free brew the perfect chai every day for the next nine months.
See more: Is chai tea safe for kid?
FAQ: Can pregnant women drink tea?
Can you drink chai latte during pregnancy?
As previously mentioned, doctors recommend only having 200 milligrams daily during pregnancy. A large chai tea latte will max out at 120 milligrams. Once again, we encourage you to consult with your family doctor, midwife, or obstetricians if you are facing a high-risk pregnancy or have pre-existing conditions to consider.
IS chai safe during pregnancy?
YES! Chai Tea Is Safe During Pregnancy. Drinking chai can make your pregnancy more comfortable with the several healthy ingredients and super foods in every cup.
How much caffeine should pregnant women take a day?
The World Health Organization and European Food Safety Authority recommend that daily caffeine consumption remain below 200–300 mg as a safe dosage for pregnant health.
Read our post about caffeine in chai