The question is: Can pregnant women drink bubble tea?

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Milk tea is a popular drink among women, with many even addicted to it. Milk tea is a special combination of the fragrant tea and the creamy richness of milk. So, can pregnant women drink milk tea?

Can Pregnant Women Drink Boba Tea?

Doctors from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) state that moderate caffeine consumption (under 200mg per day) is not associated with an increased risk of miscarriage or premature birth in women.

Can pregnant women drink milk tea? The answer is yes, pregnant women can drink milk tea. A 500ml cup of milk tea contains an average of 130mg to 140mg of caffeine. If you don’t drink too much or avoid other caffeinated beverages, drinking milk tea shouldn’t harm the health of the mother or baby.

One important consideration is that milk tea contains extremely high levels of sugar. The sugar, syrup, and tapioca pearls in milk tea provide a lot of calories for pregnant women. However, this drink contains very little or no essential nutrients for pregnancy.

Furthermore, the ingredients in milk tea, such as tapioca pearls and syrup, must be sourced from reputable suppliers. Unclear origins can be harmful to the consumer’s health.

A cup of milk tea (including tea, milk, and tapioca pearls) provides approximately 340 calories. Therefore, pregnant women should not drink too much milk tea to control their calorie intake and weight. Excessive sugar consumption can also negatively affect the baby’s memory and cognitive abilities.

Milk tea provides many calories for pregnant women but contains very few nutrients. Image: Freepik

Milk tea provides many calories for pregnant women but contains very few nutrients. Image: Freepik

Drinking Milk Tea During Pregnancy – To Drink or Not to Drink?

The Vietnam Nutrition Association reports that tea and milk are two healthy drinks. However, when combined with added sweeteners, the benefits of tea and milk are diminished.

In reality, the delicious taste of milk tea comes from food flavorings or the use of teas of unknown origin. Frequent consumption can negatively affect the health of the pregnant woman and the development of the fetus.

Although milk tea provides abundant energy, its nutritional value is extremely low. The creamer in sweetened condensed milk contains many minerals beneficial to pregnant women, but it also contains hydrogenated vegetable oil, which has negative health effects. In addition, tapioca pearls are very low in fiber and protein.

Therefore, it’s best for pregnant women not to drink milk tea. Instead, pregnant women should opt for healthy drinks rich in vitamins, such as fruit juice, ginger tea, fresh milk, and maternal milk, to maintain good health.

Tapioca pearls in milk tea are very low in fiber and protein. Image: Freepik

Tapioca pearls in milk tea are very low in fiber and protein. Image: Freepik

What are the Risks of Drinking Too Much Milk Tea During Pregnancy?

Milk tea is not a healthy drink for pregnant women. Therefore, drinking too much milk tea during pregnancy can endanger health. Specifically:

High Sugar Intake Can Cause Gestational Diabetes and Obesity

According to the American Heart Association, pregnant women should not consume more than 25g of sugar per day. A 473ml cup of milk tea contains 34g to 45g of sugar depending on the type. Thus, the amount of sugar in one cup of milk tea is 2 to 3 times the recommended daily intake.

In addition, when the body absorbs a lot of sugar, the pancreas secretes a large amount of insulin to stimulate the body to store energy as excess fat. This can lead to obesity, cardiovascular disease, gestational diabetes, and negatively impact fetal health.

Furthermore, high sugar intake can accelerate aging in pregnant women’s skin. Sugar binds to proteins in the body, damaging collagen and elastin in the skin, causing premature aging, wrinkles, and sagging.

Reduced Water Intake

During pregnancy, pregnant women often experience increased body heat and need to consume much more water than usual. If a pregnant woman drinks about two cups of milk tea, nearly 1000ml of milk tea is ingested, leaving only about 1000ml for plain water.

Pregnant women should remember that milk tea cannot replace plain water. To ensure smooth bodily functions and ample enzyme storage in the stomach, pregnant women need to drink plenty of plain water and minimize milk tea consumption. Plain water is the best type of water for the body.

Drinking plenty of plain water helps boost metabolism. Freepik

Drinking plenty of plain water helps boost metabolism. Image: Freepik

Increased Risk of Iron Deficiency

Drinking a lot of milk tea during pregnancy can lead to iron deficiency. The fatty acids in milk tea inhibit the activity of stomach acids, affecting the body’s nutrient absorption, especially iron. Frequent milk tea consumption can also cause fatigue and weakness. Mothers should also note the proper way to supplement iron for pregnant women.

The above information provides basic details on the question of “Can pregnant women drink milk tea?” that mothers need to remember. It’s best for pregnant women to avoid milk tea as it can negatively impact their health. Choose other nutritious drinks and maintain a balanced diet to ensure good health for both mother and fetus.

This AVAKids article is for informational purposes only and does not replace medical diagnosis or treatment.

References

1. https://www.marrybaby.vn/mang-thai/cham-soc-me-bau/ba-bau-co-duoc-uong-tra-sua-khong