There is no evidence of a relationship between hot drinks and throat cancer, and the connection with the stomach cancer is unfolded. But there is an association between hot drinks and esophagus cancer, explains a gastroenterologist.
Whether you prefer tea, coffee or other drink, hot drinks are a comforting and often quite personal ritual. The right temperature to prepare tea or serving coffee to get the best flavor is the subject of lit debate.
But there is something more than perhaps is not considering: your healthhe explains Vincent HoGastroenterologist at Western Sydney University, in an article in.
Yes, hot drinks may be too hot – and are even associated with cancer. Let’s look at the evidence.
What is the connection?
There is no evidence of a relationship between hot drinks and throat cancer, and the connection with the stomach cancer is unfolded. But there is an association between hot drinks and esophagus cancer.
In a released in 2016, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified the consumption of very hot drinks, ie, Above 65 ° Cas “probably cancer for humans”.
This is the same category risk of wood smoking emissions in closed environments or excessive consumption of red meat.
The agency’s report concluded that It is the temperature, not the drink itself, the risk responsible for the risk.
Much of this evidence originates in South America, where several studies [, ] found a relationship between the frequent consumption of mattera traditional infusion, usually drink about 70 ° C, and a Highest cancer risk from the esophagus.
Similar studies in, and also supported the connection between the consumption of Very hot drinks and the development of esophageal cancer.
However, until recently, there were no major investigations into this connection in Europe and in other Western populations.
This year, one large -scale with almost half a million adults in the UK confirmed that the high consumption of very hot drinks (tea and coffee) was associated with esophagus cancer.
Investigators concluded that a person who drinks eight or more cups per day of tea or very hot coffee It is almost six times more likely to develop esophagus cancer than someone who did not consume hot drinks.
How do they cause cancer?
Drinking large quantities of very hot liquids can damage of the esophagus coating, and it is believed that, over time, this damage can lead to the development of cancer-a connection proposed by scientists Almost 90 years ago.
What we know about the damage caused by hot drinks in the esophagus comes mainly from animal studies.
Very hot water It can accelerate the growth of cancer cells. One from 2016 with prone rats to develop cancer showed that the animals that received water at 70 ° C were more likely to develop Pre-Cancer Injuries in the Esófago – And sooner – than those who drank water at lower temperatures.
Another hypothesis is that The heat damages the natural barrier of the esophagus coating, making it more vulnerable to the reflux of gastric acid. Over time, this chronic aggression may increase the risk of esophageal cancer.
Does quantity make a difference?
The risk may depend on How hot liquid is drink at once and the speed you drink. Eating large quantities immediately seems to be more harmful to the esophagus, causing a “thermal injury.”
In an originally published in 1972, scientists measured the temperature inside the esophagus of people who drank hot coffee at different temperatures.
Found that The size of the sip had more impact than the temperature of the drink. A large sip (20 milliliters) of coffee to 65 ° C increases the temperature of the esophagus by up to 12 ° C. Over time, Large sips can cause injuries Repeated by heat, capable of damaging the cells.
A small occasional sip from coffee to 65 ° C will hardly cause long -term problems. But, over the yearsDrinking large amounts of very hot drinks can significantly increase the risk of esophagus cancer.
What is the safe temperature?
Beverage preparation temperatures like coffee are very high – often close to the boiling point of water.
For example, drinks bought to take can be served at very high temperatures (about 90 ° C), in order to allow them to cool until the moment they are consumed at work or at home.
A study by the United States calculated the Ideal coffee temperatureconsidering the risk of thermal injury in the esophagus without compromising the taste. The recommended value was 57,8 °C.
What to do
There are some practices that can follow to consume hot drinks safely. First of all, Keep calm, drink slowly and enjoy your drink.
Letting the drink cool is critical: Studies show that the temperature can download 10–15 ° C in just five minutes.
There are some ways to accelerate the cooling of your drink, such as moving and blowing on the drink, or Remove the cover from the glass In drinks to carry: No lid, cool up to twice faster.
Can also Add some cold water or milk.
Finally, Give little goals It is always a good idea to test the temperature, as, as we have seen, ingesting large quantities has a significant impact on increasing the internal temperature of the esophagus and the possible damage to its coating.
