Final answer:
Green tea is considered a teratogen due to compounds that inhibit folic acid, and it should be avoided during pregnancy to reduce the risk of birth defects such as neural tube defects.
Step-by-step explanation:
Green tea, which contains a compound that inhibits folic acid, is an example of a teratogen and should be avoided during pregnancy. A teratogen is any substance that can harm the development of an embryo or fetus. Folic acid is crucial for healthy prenatal development, particularly in reducing the risk of neurological defects like spina bifida, which results from the failure of the neural tube to close properly. The Food and Nutrition Board recommends that women who might become pregnant consume at least 400 µg/day of folate from supplements or fortified foods to prevent these kinds of birth defects.
Exposure to teratogens like certain prescription drugs, chemical compounds such as methyl iodide or bisphenol A, excessive alcohol consumption, and even some components in green tea can lead to adverse effects on fetal development. Since folic acid plays a critical role in dna synthesis and cell growth, its deficiency during pregnancy can have significant implications, including anemia and neural tube defects like anencephaly and spina bifida.