Some people enjoy drinking very hot tea or coffee, preferring to do so while steam is rising from the beverage. However, if you drink beverages so hot that they burn your tongue or mouth, you might want to change this habit. A recent study revealed a link between consuming excessively hot tea or coffee and the development of esophageal cancer.
This scientific work was published in the International Journal of Cancer. It included data from about 970,000 people in Great Britain. The researchers focused on establishing a relationship between the habit of drinking hot tea or coffee and the risk of developing esophageal cancer.
People who drank tea or coffee at very high temperatures showed a higher incidence of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, which is one type of esophageal cancer, compared to those who consumed the beverages at normal temperatures. This risk increased by approximately three times. Experts explain that the cause is not some specific component in tea or coffee, but rather damage occurring in the mouth or esophagus due to high temperature.
The esophagus, which transports food from the mouth to the stomach, is called the esophagus. When very hot drinks are consumed repeatedly, they pass through this organ. Repeated exposure leads to damage to this tube, causing cell damage. In some cases, cells can begin to multiply rapidly, which becomes the cause of cancer. Nevertheless, this does not mean that everyone who drinks hot tea will necessarily get cancer.
The study also found that people who consume six or more hot beverages per day have an increased risk of developing cancer. To determine the optimal temperature for tea in the study, a simple principle was proposed: do not drink tea or coffee immediately after brewing. Let it cool down a bit, and then drink it in small sips. If you feel burning on your lips or tongue while drinking, feel intense heat in your mouth, or cannot take a sip without discomfort, you should refrain from such hot tea or coffee, as this may increase the risk of cancer.