Hot Drinks Can Cause Cancer
The World Health Organisation has published research which says that very hot drinks can cause cancer of the oesophagus. The definition of hot is anything over 65 degrees and the beverage itself can be tea, coffee, water. The theory is that the cancer can be triggered by the constant irritation of the lining of the mouth and throat by the heat.
Temperature
The key thing to bear in mind however is that it is the temperature that is crucial here not the drink itself. What is suggested is that you wait at least 4 minutes before drinking a hot drink before you try and swallow it.
Cancer of the Oesophagus
Oesophageal cancer is the 8th most common cause of cancer with approx. 400,000 deaths per year. It is not known how many are caused by drinking hot drinks but the link is there. Other causes are smoking and drinking alcohol. Hot drinks consumed in Asia, South America and East Africa, where drinking hot beverages are very common, has been linked to cancer there particularly the popular South American herbal infusion mate which is consumed through a metal straw delivering the drink directly to the throat.
There is some good news for coffee drinkers however. It was confirmed that coffee can help fight against certain types of cancer including the womb and the liver. This is in line with a number of studies published lately which has highlighted the health benefits of coffee. These publications include the assertion that coffee drinkers have a lower risk of dying early from heart disease, diabetes and brain conditions.
The key thing to take from the latest research is whatever you drink watch the temperature so that you are not consistently drinking very hot beverages.