Drinking Very Hot Tea or Coffee Increases Esophageal Cancer Risk, Study Finds

A major study conducted at the University of Oxford in the UK reveals that drinking very hot tea or coffee significantly increases the risk of developing esophageal cancer. Research involving 977,282 middle-aged participants showed that individuals who consume "very hot" beverages have a three times higher risk compared to those who drink cooler liquids. Drinks served at or above 65 degrees Celsius fall into the high-risk category, as extreme heat damages cells along the digestive tract. Consuming six or more cups of hot drinks a day further elevates the likelihood of cellular damage. While adding milk slightly cools hot drinks, researchers noted that hot milk tea or coffee still carries similar health risks. Experts advise waiting a few minutes for hot beverages to cool down before drinking. Despite the tripled relative risk, lead researcher Karen Papier and other experts emphasized that overall instances of esophageal cancer remain low, accounting for only about 1% of cancer cases in the UK. Preventive cooling of drinks could potentially avoid one to two out of ten esophageal cancer cases.