1/11/22

Can you drink black tea while breastfeeding?

Tea
Can you drink black tea while breastfeeding

During breastfeeding, a mother must pay attention to her diet. What mum consumes, baby can benefit from. Certain foods or drinks can affect the quality and composition of breast milk. For this reason, breastfeeding mothers are often told to avoid certain medicines, such as antibiotics, alcohol or caffeine. However, it is easy to get lost in the list of foods and drinks that are allowed or to be avoided.

Kusmi Tea strongly recommends that you consult your doctor if you have any doubts or questions. As each case is different, the medical and professional answer is always the best.

So what about black tea when breastfeeding? Does its consumption affect the quality of the mother's milk? Although it contains much less caffeine than coffee and some soft drinks, is it still allowed without affecting your baby?

 

 

Black tea and breastfeeding: control your consumption

 

It is not forbidden to drink black tea while breastfeeding, but in moderation and with the advice of your doctor first. 

 

 

Theine and its effects on breast milk

 

What about interactions with breast milk and baby?

Rich in antioxidants, black tea also contains theine, the caffeine in tea. This is a stimulant which, if consumed in excessive quantities, can end up in your breast milk and be ingested by your baby.

Newborns' bodies do not eliminate caffeine as quickly as adults', so it will stay in their bodies longer.

But what happens if you drink a lot of black tea during the day? Your baby may become restless, have trouble sleeping, or even have problems with diarrhoea. We recommend that you consult your doctor before drinking any tea.

 

Did you know?

People often ask what the difference is between theine and caffeine. They are in fact derived from the same molecule but do not have the same effects on the body.

Indeed, the body does not assimilate them in the same way: theine is released gradually over time and provides an energised calm due to the presence of L-theanine, whereas caffeine is bioavailable and passes very quickly into the bloodstream. This is why coffee is said to be an excitant while tea is considered a stimulant.

 

 

How many cups of black tea are allowed per day while breastfeeding?

 

This question is difficult to answer because not all black teas contain the same amount of theine. In addition, each person reacts differently to the molecule.

You should also bear in mind that hot chocolate and some soft drinks contain caffeine. It is therefore important to take into account the other foods and beverages you consume during the day when counting your caffeine/theine levels.

Medical advice is always essential if you are in doubt about the amount you should be taking.

 

 

Does black tea reduce breast milk production during breastfeeding?

 

This question is often asked by mothers who are breastfeeding or wish to breastfeed their babies. There is no evidence to date on this subject.

On the other hand, tea reduces the body's absorption of iron from plant foods because of its high tannin content. It is therefore advisable to drink your cup of black tea outside of meals.

 

 

Infusions and herbal teas: alternatives to black tea

 

During your breastfeeding period, you can replace black tea or any other type of tea with natural herbal teas. There are many options to satisfy your cravings: rose, fruit, spices, etc.

Looking for a quality black tea or delicious herbal teas? Kusmi Tea offers you a selection of organic products, made in our workshops in France. There is something for everyone! As part of our commitment to sustainable agriculture and a healthy lifestyle, all our products are labelled organic. To discover our range of Kusmi Tea organic infusions and herbal teas!

 

 

Le rooibos

 

Rooibos is also recommended for pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers as it is free of theine. It is therefore the perfect drink during the breastfeeding period.

 

 

The option of decaffeinated black tea

Decaffeinating your black tea allows you to considerably reduce its theine content. To do this, simply brew your tea leaves once, then drain the water. The theine is released in the first few minutes of infusion. Then heat up some water and put your tea leaves in. Be aware that decaffeinated tea contains a residual amount of theine.

 

 

Choosing the right black tea during breastfeeding

 

A good black tea is above all a quality black tea. To achieve this, choose a tea with the organic label. The label guarantees numerous controls during the production and development of the product as well as respect for the environment. To discover our range of organic black teas made in Normandy, click here.

 

 

The health benefits of black tea

 

Like its cousins green and white teas, black tea has many benefits. Starting with its richness in antioxidants, which have multiple health benefits. They are said to help fight against the development of certain diseases and the premature ageing of cells. In addition, due to the presence of L-theanine, black tea is said to have a calming effect on the body as this amino acid reduces stress and anxiety levels.

There are no contraindications to drinking black tea while breastfeeding, but consumption should be controlled. Consuming black tea in moderation does not pose any risk to the baby. Herbal teas, infusions and rooibos are good alternatives for all mothers who want to reduce or stop drinking black tea. Any doubts or questions? Talk to your doctor!

 

 

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