Lots of artichokes & decaffeinated tea and coffee - safe in first pregnancy trimester?

(May 10, 2010)

During a pregnancy you need to ensure that the diet you follow provides you with the required energy and nutrients. These allow your baby to grow and develop and it also helps your body handle the changes that take place. You have to be very aware of what you eat as certain foods can make you sick and be harmful to your baby.

Artichokes and its extracts are used to cure a variety of problems such as upset stomachs, stones, hangover, and cholesterol. It’s used for a variety of natural remedies but this does mean it is safe to use during a pregnancy. Not many studies have been conducted on the artichoke and its extract relating to pregnancy so it is better to be safe so avoid having too much of this till more studies have been conducted as this is not a time for you to be experimenting with food. It is always advisable to check with your doctor if you are not sure of a certain food type or medicine when you are pregnant.

A lot of studies conducted prove that if caffeine is had in moderation it does not cause any harm to the baby, while there are a few that say that it can lead to miscarriages. It is advisable to avoid caffeine especially during the first trimester. Many doctors insist that you should not consume anything more than 300 mg of caffeine in a day during your pregnancy. It works as a diuretic so it eliminates body fluids thus you lose water and calcium. Instead of drinking caffeinated beverages it is advisable to have plenty of fruit juices, water and milk. Many studies conducted also link miscarriages, withdrawal symptoms, low birth weight and premature babies to mothers who consumed a lot of caffeine. So the safest thing to do is avoid it.

There is not a lot of research conducted on decaffeinated tea and coffee relating to pregnancy. You don’t have to avoid caffeine altogether but it should be limited to nothing more than two to three cups a day. Most doctors suggest that if a pregnant woman has to have caffeine then decaf is a better option. An eight ounce serving of decaf has only 5 mg of caffeine compared to twenty times that in a regular cup of coffee. So it is okay to drink decaffeinated teas and coffee as long as you don’t overdo it and end up having ten or more cups in a day.

Submitted by P T on May 10, 2010 at 05:19

Related Blogs