Everyone is a fan of a hot cup of tea or coffee in winter.
Some people prefer to drink boiling hot drinks, which can endanger their health and even lead to esophageal cancer.
Coffee and tea are an integral part of our daily routine for many of us, but what happens when these drinks stay too hot?
Recent studies have found that it’s not just a matter of quantity but also of temperature, and that this may affect the risk of developing esophageal cancer in people who drink large quantities of boiling drinks over time.
Many researches carried out in different countries have shown that drinking coffee or tea at very high temperatures (over 65 degrees Celsius) can increase the risk of esophageal cancer.
This was a large-scale study involving thousands of participants, which found that those who drank very hot drinks were at greater risk of developing the disorder than those who drank them at a lower temperature.
One possible explanation is that high heat damages the delicate lining of the esophagus, leading to chronic inflammation and potentially damaging cells over time.
Although this link is not recognized as a definitive cause, the World Health Organization already classifies the consumption of very hot drinks as “potentially carcinogenic.”
Although the heat of the drink may pose a risk, other studies paint a more complex picture: Moderate consumption of tea and coffee, especially at moderate temperatures, has been associated in the scientific literature with some reduction in the risk of certain types of head and neck cancers, including parts of the throat.
However, these results are limited and require further research.
