Coffee is one of the favorite drinks of many people around the world. Coffee has caffeine, but its decaffeinated version is also available. There are plants such as coffee, cocoa, guarana, and many others that contain caffeine. Caffeine improves disease conditions for people with neurological problems, liver and heart diseases, diabetes, and several cancers. In the following, you will learn more about the benefits and harms of decaffeinated coffee.
Decaffeinated coffee at a glance
The taste of regular coffee and decaffeinated coffee is the same, but decaffeinated coffee has very small amounts of caffeine, which does not cause any danger even in people who are sensitive to caffeine, so decaffeinated coffee can be considered a good alternative to regular coffee. Pregnant women should limit caffeine consumption during pregnancy to protect the mother and fetus from its side effects.
Is decaffeinated coffee allowed during pregnancy?
In cases where a pregnant woman has a desire to eat coffee, consuming decaffeinated coffee can be the right decision because it has a lower dose of caffeine than regular coffee, but this very low dose can cause caffeine to accumulate in the body if consumed in excess. During pregnancy, the rate of metabolism of caffeine in the body decreases significantly, this substance is not excreted from the body and will cause dangerous complications for the pregnant woman, so even decaffeinated coffee should be consumed in moderation.
What is the right amount to consume decaffeinated coffee during pregnancy?
As mentioned above, decaffeinated coffee also contains small amounts of caffeine, so excessive consumption is definitely harmful. But to determine the exact amount that a pregnant woman can consume during the day, comprehensive information is not available and studies are still being conducted in this field. Of course, this amount can be different in pregnant women and depends on the daily diet of the person. For example, a person who has used soft drinks, chocolate, tea, energy drinks and other foods containing caffeine during the day should completely eliminate even caffeine-free drinks during that day.
In a 1997 study, the results showed that women who consumed decaffeinated coffee during the first months of pregnancy had a higher risk of miscarriage than women who did not drink caffeinated beverages at all, but there is still no scientifically proven reason for this. In any case, if a pregnant woman wants to avoid the side effects of caffeine consumption, it is better to use herbal tea, fruit juice, hot water with honey and lemon, golden milk, etc. instead of caffeinated drinks.
In types of decaffeinated coffees, the amount of caffeine is also different, for example, the amount of caffeine in commercial decaffeinated coffees is more than other types. So, if the amount of caffeine is important to you, be sure to read the relevant labels completely when buying.
What Are The Side Effects Of Excess Decaf Coffee Consumption During Pregnancy?
- Heartache and stomach problems.
- Dizziness or lightheadedness.
- Sleep disturbance.
- Frequent urination and loss of body water.
- Increase in heart rate and blood pressure.
Moderate consumption of caffeine will cause low birth weight, premature birth, sometimes stillbirth and abortion.
In case of excessive consumption of any type of coffee, especially decaffeinated coffee, dependence will be created. If you intend to quit coffee, you will experience symptoms such as nausea, stress and anxiety, abdominal pain and diarrhea, and insomnia, which you should be careful about.
The amount of complications caused by the consumption of decaffeinated coffees is affected by factors such as the type of coffee, the brand, the method of decaffeination, the method of brewing, and the threshold of caffeine tolerance by the individual.
According to the results of some studies conducted by researchers, excessive caffeine consumption causes caffeine to pass through the placenta and because the fetus does not have the ability to metabolize caffeine. Complications include low birth weight, growth disorders, miscarriage, and the possibility of being overweight in childhood.
Conclusion
Caffeine is dangerous for pregnant women and has serious side effects, so if you are interested in consuming coffee during pregnancy, you can use decaffeinated coffee that has a very small dose of caffeine. If you eat too much decaffeinated coffee, it threatens the health of the fetus and the mother, so it is better not to consume caffeine at all or to use herbal teas, hot water with honey and lemon, golden milk and other things instead.
