Hot drinks might be dangerous.
The World Health Organization’s cancer agency has recently established that drinking coffee does not lead to cancer. Furthermore, after previously putting coffee in the 2B category of cancer danger alongside chloroform and many other chemical substances, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) found that coffee was not a possible carcinogenic. However, hot drinks might be.
More precisely, recent research has shown that if we drink beverages such as tea, coffee, and water of 65 degrees Celsius or above, we could have a higher risk of developing esophageal cancer.
Last year, the IARC made a research on over 1,000 scientific studies in animals and humans. Based on the results, the agency established that processed meat might lead to cancer. Regarding coffee, the IARC did not have enough evidence to decide whether coffee is carcinogenic or not.
It was a great relief for coffee drinkers, in particular for the United States National Coffee Association. However, based on the research regarding hot beverages, scientists discovered that hot beverages with drinking temperatures of at least 65 degrees Celsius might have a carcinogenic effect on humans.
Worse, after doing some experiments on mice and rats, researchers learned that drinking hot liquids increased to the risk of tumors development. It is also worth mentioning that esophageal cancer is the eighth most common cause of cancer throughout the world and one of the leading causes of deaths occurring from cancer.
Unfortunately, the statistics showed that 400,000 people died because of esophageal cancer in 2012. According to Gregory Hartl, official spokesman of the World Health Organization, the results of this study came from limited findings in animals and humans.
Therefore, further research is needed in order to establish if there is a real connection between hot drinks and the risk of esophageal cancer development. On the other hand, WHO officials advise people to let their drinks cool down before drinking them to avoid any possible health threat.
Cancer has always been a reason for concern. That is why whenever such a study is developed scientists raise awareness for people to understand that they need to take some precautions. Experts suggest people enjoy their drinks but warm not hot.
Hopefully, scientists will soon establish whether hot drinks are dangerous for our health or not.
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