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Let a cuppa cool down before drinking to avoid increasing risk of cancer, major UK study warns
Confirmed
In Short: Regularly drinking very hot beverages like tea and coffee increases the risk of oesophageal cancer, according to a major UK study.
A new UK study, involving nearly a million people, warns that regularly drinking very hot beverages like tea and coffee can increase the risk of oesophageal cancer, a major health concern.
The research, conducted by Oxford University and published in the International Journal of Cancer, found that people who drank their beverages 'very hot' had a three times higher risk of developing the cancer compared to those who drank them at a 'warm' temperature.
Experts advise waiting a few minutes for drinks to cool to a safer temperature, as consuming six or more hot drinks per day also raises the risk.
Cancer Research UK suggests waiting until a drink is comfortable to drink, rather than consuming it while still very hot, to reduce the risk of developing oesophageal cancer.
What's still developing
- Researchers say the findings, external, from a study of nearly a million people, make this the largest to date to establish the link.
- Steaming hot liquid can damage the cell lining of the food pipe on the way down to the stomach.
- Although adding milk can cool drinks down slightly, a milky tea or coffee may still be far too hot, researchers say.
- Cancer Research UK says it's difficult to put an exact time on how long a hot drink should be left to cool.
- In a study of 2,266 workers in Finland, evening-type people, or night owls, were up to three times more likely to be treated for depression or anxiety than morning types, with poor work-life balance identified as a key contributing factor.
- “Evening-types are at higher risk not only for mental health problems but also for impaired work ability,” said Dr. Ilona Merikanto from the University of Eastern Helsinki and her colleagues.
- “Yet, it is not known why these risks accumulate to evening-types rather than other circadian types and whether issues related to work-life balance have a role in these associations.” The researchers analyzed data from Finland’s population-based Healthy Finland Study, examining working adults ages 20 to 65.