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When you finally get pregnant, you suddenly think about your baby's well-being 24/7.
And quickly you realize... about youcouldDo things in your daily life that you shouldn't do anymore!
As a latte lover, you may be wondering:Can I drink a Starbucks Chai Tea Latte while pregnant?
Is it okay for pregnant women to drink?anythingde Starbucks?
We talked to a doctor, a licensed nutritionist, and a toxicologist to be sure!
How much caffeine is in a Starbucks Chai Tea Latte?
This is pretty common knowledgeCaffeine should be limited during pregnancy.
So first things first: Is Starbucks chai tea high in caffeine?
According to the nutritional informationprovided by Starbucksthe caffeine content is between 50 milligrams and 120 milligrams per latte (depending on size).
This corresponds to the caffeine content of a cup of black tea of the same size.
Do you prefer cold drinks? We also. Unfortunately, the Iced Chai Tea Latte has it.furtherCaffeine per serving, with an estimate145 milligrams for Venti.
Can I drink Starbucks chai tea when pregnant?
Starbucks Chai Tea Latte flavors have their roots in Indian chai, known for its healing properties.
Enriched with various spices, sweetened and flavored with vanilla, it is one of the most popular beverages offered at Starbucks.
We reached out to several medical professionals with this information (along with the caffeine content) and asked them about the safety of a Starbucks chai milk tea during pregnancy.
How much caffeine can you drink during pregnancy?
Melissa Wasserman Baker, registered dietitian and nutritionist and founder ofquestions about foodgave us the official answer.
“The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant women limit their caffeine intake to200 mg pro Label.“
Is it safe to drink the daily limit of caffeine in a drink?
Our expert doctor, Dr. Z. Afzal fromWelzo, doesn't think you should max out your caffeine first thing in the morning.
“In general, it is recommended that pregnant women spread their caffeine intake throughout the day rather than consuming it all at once. This can help avoid the potential side effects of caffeine, such as anxiety and insomnia,” she says.
Melissa agrees, adding that the side effects are notSoloabout you.
"It is best to spread out your caffeine intake [...] to minimize the risk of any possible negative effects that caffeine may have on you."you baby.“
Does this mean that Starbucks Chai Tea Latte is safe for pregnant women?
Kelly Johnson-Arbor, a medical toxicologist atpoison controlShe is very reassuring with her response. "It is probably safe for most people to have an occasional Starbucks chai latte during pregnancy [...] as long as the drink is not adapted to include additional coffee and as long as there are no other sources of caffeine (chocolate, tea, lemonade, etc.) .) are consumed.”
The key here is to monitor yourstotalCaffeine content, even in sources you wouldn't normally think of as chocolate bars.
Melissa agrees, but urges him to seek the personal advice of his doctor. "When consumed in moderation, a Starbucks chai milk tea may be a safe beverage option during pregnancy.
"However, it's always best to consult with your doctor about your individual needs and any concerns you may have," she says.
Why is caffeine dangerous during pregnancy?
People drink caffeine every day. What makes pregnancy suddenly such a big problem?
"Healthy adults can safely consume up to 400 mg of caffeine per day without increased risk of side effects," says Kelly, our toxicologist. "However, due to individual differences in metabolism, some people may be more susceptible to the effects of caffeine than others."
But that is not all. She adds: “[C]affeine can cross the placenta and affect the fetus. Neither the fetus nor the placenta can metabolize (break down) caffeine effectively, so fetal exposure to caffeine can be prolonged regardless of the trimester of pregnancy.
"Pregnancy also reduces the rate at which pregnant women metabolize caffeine: caffeine is broken down more slowly by the body in the [third trimester], leading to potentially greater caffeine exposure in the fetus as pregnancy progresses." pregnancy".
Kelly cites other concerns related tofetal growth restriction. “Caffeine consumption during pregnancy is associated with fetal death and reduced fetal weightstudiesalso found an association between caffeine consumption and miscarriage."
dr. Afzal confirms the dangers of caffeine during the nine months. “There is evidence that the safe amount of caffeine can vary during pregnancy.
Some studies suggest that caffeine may be most harmful in the first trimester, when the baby's organs are developing. However, more research is needed to confirm this,” she clarifies.
Our RDN, Melissa, agrees. “Some studies suggest that caffeine may have a more significant impact on a developing fetus thanduring the first trimester, since it is a critical moment for the growth and development of the baby.
"So it's especially important to monitor your caffeine intake during this time," she says.
Are there dangerous ingredients in a Starbucks Chai Tea Latte?
Our toxicologist looked at the drink and gave us her opinion on it. “According to the Starbucks website, this drink contains black tea, cinnamon, cloves, milk foam, and foam.
“While cinnamon can cause lung irritation and coughing when inhaled, this is unlikely when consumed as a beverage.
"The rest of the ingredients are probably safe to consume during pregnancy," says Kelly.
"Some people may be sensitive or allergic to certain spices used in chai tea," adds Melissa. Therefore, she should consider her personal allergy history if she has never ordered a chai latte from Starbucks.
In addition to spices, there is another ingredient that, while obvious, is not immediately obvious as a risk to your pregnancy.
“Pregnant women should be carefulsugar contentin Starbucks Chai Tea Latte, as consuming too much sugar can lead to gestational diabetes and other health problems," warns dr. afzal
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Are Homemade Chai Tea Lattes Healthier Than Starbucks?
Can you drink chai milk tea that you made yourself while pregnant?
Absolutely, and if you do it right, it can be a much healthier option for you.
Of course, it won't taste exactly like the magic formula they seem to be using at Starbucks. But being able to adjust it yourself is the best way to make sure it's as safe as possible for your baby.
The base of a chai milk tea is actually extremely simple (as you will see in the next section).
Then you can decide what to season it with! You can use the same spices and flavorings as Starbucks, including:
- cardamom
- Black pepper
- Ginger
- cinnamon
- cloves
- star anise
- Vainilla
You can also choose what kind of sweetener you want to use and how much. Starbucks uses sugarYHoney in your latte, making it quite sweet (and addictive).
During pregnancy, you should opt for a natural, zero-calorie sweetener like stevia.
My favorite way to use stevia is in liquid form.of pyrure. take thethe smallestSqueeze to really sweeten my hot drinks! You also cantake it vanilla flavored, perfect for your lattes.
How to make a chai latte
The simplest form of chai tea is latte.supersimply. It will be your chosen spices and added flavors that spice it up to warm, sweet perfection.
All you need is:
- 1 or 2 cups of milk
- 1chai tea bags
- Pure, honey or your favorite sweetener
The process is just like making regular tea, but with milk.
Heat the milk in a saucepan over low heat, watching closely and stirring to prevent burning.
Once it is bubbling and foaming, remove it from the heat and allow the tea bag to steep.
Remove the sachet after three to five minutes (longer means stronger and more caffeinated). Use a spoon to drain the milk that is still in the bag if you want an even stronger flavor.
Add your favorite spices and sweeteners and serve immediately!
Starbucks safe tea during pregnancy
While there are studies linking certain ingredients to higher rates of miscarriage or low birth weight, more research is needed to understand this.Because.
Until we know more, it's in the best interest of all pregnant women to avoid these dangerous ingredients altogether.
So what tea can you drink at Starbucks while pregnant?
We know that chai milk tea is safe as long as you don't do anything to add more caffeine and don't take more than a venti or two tall swallows a day.
Here are other safe teas to look for on the menu!
Decaffeinated tea
There are a handful of Starbucks tea drinks that have no caffeine nutritional value.
safe hot teas
Hot decaffeinated tea drinks include:
- mint majesty
- peach break
These two also have no added sugar.
Starbucks also has several low-caffeine hot tea drinks. some of them have onetonof added sugar, but not these varieties:
- Kaiser Clouds and Fog
- Jade Citrus Mint Tea
- Camiseta Earl Grey
- Royal English Breakfast Tea (nodie Latte-Version)
These flavors contain between 16mg and 40mg of caffeine in a venti, making them great low-caffeine and unsweetened tea options at Starbucks.
Safe Iced Teas
There are also some low-coffee, sugar-free options with 40 mg of caffeine or less per venti:
- Bottle of Teavana Unsweetened Peach & Nectarine Sparkling Green Tea
- iced black tea
- iced green tea
fruit tea
Starbucks has several iced fruity teas that are safe to enjoy during pregnancy.
The list includes:
- Iced Passion Tango T-shirt
- Iced Passion Mango Lemonade T-shirt
- Iced Black Tea Lemonade
- Iced Green Tea Lemonade
- Peach Iced Green Tea
All of these are low in caffeine and have less than 20 grams of sugar per venti, making them great options.
The Passion Tango Tea (version without lemonade) is the only one that is decafYSugarfree.
green tea latte
Both the hot and cold versions of the Green Matcha Tea Latte are on the higher end for caffeine content.YZucker.
That means they actually have a littleany lessCaffeine and sugar than Chai Tea Latte.
So consider switching from chai to matcha to still enjoy the great taste while cutting back on some sugar and caffeine.
However, it should be limited to a maximum of one per day.
But of all the safe Starbucks beverages listed, I recommend choosing the healthiest options from those listed under "Safe Hot Teas" and "Safe Iced Teas" during your pregnancy.
Starbucks drinks to AVOID during pregnancy
Of course, you want to protect your unborn child by avoiding teas that cause miscarriages.
The good news is that there are no Starbucks teas that contain dangerous herbal ingredients, so they are all safe to consume during pregnancy.
But as mentioned above, you should avoid adding extra caffeine or excess sugar to your purchases.
And make sure you don't drink alcohol either. Starbucks doesn't add to their drinks, but some people like to add their own after ordering.
Don't do this during pregnancy!
Personalized ways to order Starbucks while pregnant
There are ways to order your chai latte (and most other beverages) from Starbucks to cut back on calories, sugar, and sometimes even caffeine.
For example, the standard chai latte is 2% milk. You can swap them for skim milk, soy milk, or almond milk to reduce the fat content.
You can also remove the foam to save some calories (but where's the fun?).
If you want a little more flavor, Starbucks offers a sugar-free vanilla syrup. Sometimes they have other seasonal sugar free flavors too!
Skip the additional ingredients and espresso. If you need an additional sweetener, opt for Stevia in the Raw. it is free of caloriesYall natural, making it by far the best option.
It's nice to know that you can still drink your Starbucks Chai Tea Latte during pregnancy, right?
Do not overdo it and limit yourself to one a day maximum.
Or, if possible, split it into two small drinks throughout the day.
To ensure the health of your baby, be sure to take thisbest prenatal vitaminsfor your personal needs!
While you're here, check out our review of thethe best cream for stretch marksand buy for thembest sustainable maternity clothesThe land.