Contents:
- Medical Video: Pregnancy Myth Buster
- Drinking energy drinks while pregnant can have adverse effects
- Calories in energy drinks
- Caffeine in energy drinks
- Sugar in energy drinks
- Sodium in energy drinks
Medical Video: Pregnancy Myth Buster
Pregnancy may make you feel tired and thirsty quickly. This might make you want to drink energy drinks while pregnant to make your body more refreshed. However, do not arbitrarily drink energy drinks while pregnant. This drink may cause a greater risk than the benefits you can receive.
Drinking energy drinks while pregnant can have adverse effects
Drinking energy drinks usually contain high calories, high sugar, caffeine, and sodium. These four things can cause harm to you if you get into your body in excessive amounts. Pregnant women also do not need energy drinks while pregnant. So, you better avoid it. Instead of drinking energy drinks while pregnant, you should drink more water and occasionally you can drink coconut water to reduce fatigue during pregnancy.
The following are the adverse effects of energy drinks during pregnancy.
Calories in energy drinks
Pregnant women do need a lot of calorie intake during pregnancy to support fetal growth and development. However, the excess calories obtained from energy drinks are also not good for pregnant women. This can actually make pregnant women overweight, thus increasing their risk of experiencing pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. Instead of getting extra calories from energy drinks that are zero nutrition, it is better for pregnant women to get additional calories from nutritious food.
Caffeine in energy drinks
Energy drinks contain caffeine up to 242 mg per serving. This is a higher amount compared to coffee in general. Of course this is not a good thing. Too much caffeine in the body of pregnant women can interfere with the baby's sleep patterns in the womb, it can even cause limitations in baby's growth and miscarriage. Caffeine can pass through the baby's placenta and enter the baby's body. In fact, the baby's body cannot fully digest caffeine.
Pregnant women may consume caffeinated drinks, but in very small amounts. Consumption of caffeinated drinks is limited to only 150-300 mg per day for pregnant women. Avoiding caffeinated drinks, such as energy drinks while pregnant, is certainly safer for pregnant women and their fetuses.
Sugar in energy drinks
Energy drinks also contain high sugar levels. Additional sugar intake is certainly not good. Although pregnant women need a lot of energy from sugar, but additional sugar will only make pregnant women experience excessive weight gain. Additional sugar is also not good for pregnant women with gestational diabetes, where they must maintain their blood sugar levels. This drink can actually make the condition of pregnant women with gestational diabetes worse.
Sodium in energy drinks
Energy drinks contain enough sodium. One can of energy drink usually contains more than 300 mg of sodium (a fairly high amount). Meanwhile, pregnant women may have to limit sodium or salt intake. Excess sodium intake can cause fluid buildup in the mother's body, making the legs and arms of pregnant women easily swollen. So, it's important for you to reduce or even avoid drinking energy drinks while pregnant.
