Drinking ‘Very’ Hot Tea or Coffee Could Triple Your Risk of This Cancer, Huge Study Finds

Hot Beverages: A Hidden Risk for Esophageal Cancer Revealed

Your daily ritual of sipping hot tea or coffee might be more hazardous than you think. A groundbreaking study suggests that drinking very hot beverages significantly increases the risk of esophageal cancer.

The Hidden Dangers

Inspired by earlier research linking high temperatures of mate—a South American herbal tea—to cancer, researchers analyzed nearly a million UK participants' habits. They discovered those who consume beverages deemed 'very hot' faced over triple the risk of developing esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) compared to those who preferred 'warm' drinks.

Beneath the Surface

These findings echo warnings from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which classified drinks above 65°C as potentially carcinogenic. The study, however, highlights that risks persist even at lower temperatures common in Western diets but was limited to self-reported temperatures rather than exact measurements.

The Ripple Effect

Reducing drink temperatures could prevent around 440 cancer cases yearly in the UK alone. Such a simple change underscores the vital role of beverage heat in cancer risk, independent of content like coffee or tea. Future studies aim to better define safe temperature thresholds to safeguard public health.