Very hot drinks may damage the food pipe and increase cancer risk
Regularly drinking beverages like tea and coffee at very hot temperatures increases the risk of cancer of the food pipe or gullet, known as oesophageal cancer, UK research suggests. Researchers say the findings, from a study of nearly a million people, make this the largest to date to establish the link. In the study, people who […] The post Very hot drinks may damage the food pipe and increase…
Drinking very hot beverages, such as tea and coffee, may raise the risk of oesophageal cancer, according to UK research involving nearly a million people. Consuming drinks at 65 degrees Celsius or above, which is considered "very hot," increases the likelihood of developing this cancer by around three times compared to those who drink warm beverages.
However, researchers emphasize that the overall risk of developing this specific cancer remains low. Steaming hot liquids can burn the lining of the food pipe on their way to the stomach. The study, conducted by Oxford University, defines "very hot" as any drink at 65 degrees Celsius or higher. Drinking six or more hot beverages per day also raises the risk.
Although adding milk can slightly cool the drink, a milky tea or coffee may still be excessively hot. Experts advise waiting a few minutes for beverages to cool to a safer temperature before consumption. The researchers note that more research is needed to determine the exact drink temperatures linked to increased cancer risk.
Written by urgent.news from The Chronicle Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
