Drinking Very Hot Tea Nearly Doubles Risk Of Cancer: Study

The temperature danger zone was above 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

If you like to drink a piping hot cup of tea every morning, you’re at risk for doubling your chances of developing throat cancer, research shows.

A new study found that people who drink about two teas a day (about 700ml of liquid) warmer than 140 degrees Fahrenheit had about a 90% higher risk for esophageal cancer compared to people who drank less tea at cooler temps, CNN reports.

“Many people enjoy drinking tea, coffee, or other hot beverages. However, according to our report, drinking very hot tea can increase the risk of esophageal cancer, and it is therefore advisable to wait until hot beverages cool down before drinking,” study author Dr. Farhad Islami, of the American Cancer Society, said.

Although previous research found a link between hot beverages and esophageal cancer, this new study, which was published in the International Journal of Cancer, is the first to announce a specific temperature to avoid.

According to Stephen Evans, a professor at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine who wasn’t involved in the study, hot tea might not be the only hot food or drink you should avoid: “In fact, it is probably anything hot: Microwaved jam has been known to cause esophageal injury. It is possible that the trauma leads to cell changes and hence to cancer.”

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