{
  "id": 8138473,
  "title": "Love your drinks piping hot? It might be best to let them cool",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/love-your-drinks-piping-hot-it-might-be-best-to-let-them-cool",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-09-18T00:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/leisure/2026/09/18/love-your-drinks-piping-hot-it-might-be-best-to-let-them-cool"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Sipping on a hot beverage can be a satisfying experience, but research suggests that consistently consuming drinks at very high temperatures may increase the likelihood of oesophageal cancer. A comprehensive UK study revealed that individuals who favoured \"very hot\" beverages had approximately three times the risk of developing oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) compared to those who preferred their drinks at a warm temperature. The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Oxford and published in the International Journal of Cancer, examined data from nearly 980,000 adults and monitored their health for over a decade. It is crucial to note that the hot beverages themselves were not the culprit; rather, the researchers suspect that frequent exposure to high temperatures could potentially harm the cells lining the oesophagus, the muscular tube connecting the mouth to the stomach. While the study did not specify the exact temperature for each participant, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), a part of the World Health Organization, has previously classified beverages consumed above 65°C as \"probably carcinogenic to humans.\" This classification is based on evidence from various regions indicating a connection between very hot drinks and oesophageal cancer. Interestingly, the study found that the frequency of consumption also played a role. After adjusting for temperature, individuals who drank six or more hot beverages daily had a 71% higher risk of SCC than those who drank fewer than six. This association specifically pertained to squamous cell carcinoma, one of the two primary forms of oesophageal cancer, and was not observed for adenocarcinoma. The mechanism behind this increased risk is believed to involve repeated thermal injuries to the oesophageal lining caused by high temperatures, leading to chronic inflammation and changes that could potentially contribute to cancer development. However, the researchers emphasize that further investigation is needed to fully understand this process. One limitation of the study is that participants self-reported their preferred beverage temperatures rather than having accurate temperature measurements taken. Despite these uncertainties, the findings suggest that while occasional overly hot drinks are unlikely to be harmful, a frequent habit of consuming beverages at very high temperatures may pose a risk, particularly when coupled with other known risk factors such as smoking and alcohol consumption. For tea and coffee enthusiasts, the practical advice remains straightforward: there is no need to abandon these beloved beverages entirely. Instead, it is recommended to allow drinks to cool to a more moderate temperature before consumption.",
  "summary": "A new study links very hot drinks with higher risk of oesophageal cancer, adding to evidence that temperature matters more than the beverage itself.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Love your drinks piping hot? It might be best to let them cool",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/18/love-your-drinks-piping-hot-it-might-be-best-to-let-them-cool-8139726",
        "published": "2026-09-18T00:30:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}