Last Updated on September 24, 2022
Lipton tea is a classic choice for those looking for a nice cup of tea, whether black or green, hot or iced. However, is it safe to consume during pregnancy?
Lipton teas are safe to drink during pregnancy in moderation. However, you should limit your caffeine content to no more than 200 milligrams daily. Lipton’s green tea and decaf black tea have the least amount of caffeine per cup.
From black tea versus green tea, hot tea versus iced tea, with milk or without, there is much information to unpack about Lipton tea during pregnancy. So let’s dive into it!
Is Lipton Tea Safe During Pregnancy?
The original Lipton tea is a caffeinated black tea, typically brewed for 3-5 minutes and served hot. Any type of black tea contains caffeine and needs to be limited during pregnancy, and that includes Lipton.
According to the Lipton Tea website, here are the common caffeine levels per eight fluid ounce serving in each of their popular teas.
- Black Tea: 55 milligrams
- Iced Black Tea (Sweet variety): 40 milligrams
- Decaf Black Tea: Less than 5 milligrams
- Green Tea: 28-38 milligrams
Keep in mind that the longer you brew your tea, the more caffeine it will contain (source: Pharmacognosy Magazine). Therefore, avoid brewing for more than 5 minutes, based on the Lipton website.
Additionally, if you typically add milk or cream to your Lipton tea, there are a few precautions to make it safer for your pregnancy. First, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends that pregnant women only consume pasteurized milk.
Pasteurization is the process of heating to high temperatures that kill any potential bacteria that may be present in the milk. While unpasteurized milk is unlikely to cause harm, consume pasteurized milk and juices during pregnancy to reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses like listeria.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant women consume no more than 200 milligrams of caffeine daily. At this amount, caffeine intake is unlikely to increase the risk of premature birth or miscarriage.
Lipton tea is safe to consume during pregnancy when consumed within the recommended amounts based on caffeine content.
Can I Drink Decaf Lipton Tea During Pregnancy?
Lipton’s website states that their decaf black tea bags are caffeine-free, but they may still contain some residual caffeine – typically less than 5 grams.
Therefore, consuming decaf Lipton tea can be a great way to lower your caffeine consumption during pregnancy.
Can Pregnant Women Drink Lipton Iced Tea? Is It Safe?
Lipton also commercially produces bottled iced teas in flavors like citrus, lemon, raspberry, and peach.
Lipton iced tea is safe for pregnant women, if you keep an eye on caffeine content, and also check the added ingredients like sugar – which should be consumed in moderation when pregnant.
The caffeine content is dependent on the type of tea (black or green), and is slightly lower than the tea bag variety, based on the caffeine values given on the Lipton website.
Additionally, many varieties of Lipton iced tea sold in bottles are sugar-sweetened. According to the Nutrients journal, consuming excessive added sugar during pregnancy can contribute to the development of adverse health effects, such as gestational diabetes mellitus or gestational hypertension.
Lipton also sells “diet” versions of these iced teas that replace the regular sugar sweetener with an artificial sweetener, such as aspartame. Aspartame is considered safe for pregnancy but should be consumed in moderation.
Lipton also offers tea bags, powdered mixes, and K-cups if you want homemade iced tea. Whether to consume your tea iced or hot simply depends on personal preferences, as the caffeine content is not significantly different.
Many people also enjoy adding a slice of fresh lemon to their iced tea. Just make sure your lemon has been washed thoroughly under running water (source: FDA). Use a clean brush to scrub the surface if it has tough skin.
Can I Drink Lipton Green Tea During Pregnancy?
As mentioned previously, Lipton green tea contains 28-38 milligrams of caffeine per eight fluid ounces. This is only slightly lower than the caffeine content of black tea.
This means that Lipton green tea is safe during pregnancy, but you’ll still have to moderate your intake due to the caffeine content.
However, green tea also offers many beneficial health effects due to its antioxidant content – specifically, an antioxidant called catechin. Research has demonstrated that green tea consumption can help treat metabolic syndrome, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (source: Chinese Medicine).
Black tea also contains antioxidants, including theaflavins, which protect the body’s cells from harmful compounds called free radicals. Free radicals are naturally produced by processes, such as metabolism (source: Preventative Medicine).
Ultimately, deciding to consume Lipton green tea or black tea when pregnant comes down to personal preferences, as caffeine content and potential health benefits are very similar.
Can Lipton Tea Cause Miscarriage?
Many myths exist about Lipton tea and the potential to cause a miscarriage. Lipton black and green tea varieties do not contain herbs or spices that increase the risk of complications during pregnancy.
In other words, it is improbable that Lipton tea can cause miscarriage or abort a pregnancy.
Can Lipton Tea Help Prevent Pregnancy or Boost Fertility?
While studies have not investigated this relationship with Lipton tea specifically, research has shown no association between caffeine consumption and fertility when consumed under 200 milligrams (source: Mayo Clinic). There is, therefore, no scientific evidence that Lipton can either prevent pregnancy or help fertility.
I hope you found this article helpful in breaking down the facts and myths regarding drinking Lipton tea during pregnancy.
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