The world health organization has joined a host of other scientists to raise the alarm that drinking hot beverages, tea, cocoa, coffee and the like, can increase your risk of developing throat cancer. Beverages consumed at temperatures higher than 65 degrees Celsius have been described as carcinogenic to human beings.
Cancer of the esophagus (throat) kills more than half a million people every year. Apart from hot beverages, it is also caused by smoking and alcohol use. It is fair to say that smoking and alcohol also ‘burn’ the throat.
Downing hot beverages is perhaps a cultural thing. The Golestan Province in Iran is known for drinking hot tea. In fact, they are famous for that. It is therefore not a surprise that they have the highest number of throat cancer in both men and women in the world.
Hot tea drinking is also popular in China and parts of South America.
Interestingly, studies done in Iran, China and South America suggests that these hot beverages do damage to the cells in the lining of the esophagus (the tube that conducts food from the mouth to the stomach) making them vulnerable to carcinogenic changes.
I need to emphasize that the problem is not with the beverage or the amount of the beverage drank, rather it has everything to do with the temperature at which you down it.
Compared with drinking warm beverages (i.e. at less than 65 degrees Celsius), studies have argued that people who drank hot tea (i.e. at 65-69 degrees Celsius) doubled their risk of developing throat cancer. Those who drank very hot tea (i.e. at higher than 69 degrees Celsius) had their risk of developing esophageal cancer increased eight times compared to those who drank beverage lukewarm.
Lesson for the day
Except you are in a competition to see who is able to down a hot beverage the quickest, it may be a good idea to be a good lover with your cup of hot beverage. Handle the cup with care. Be patient, pay attention to it, and don’t rush.
You don’t have to start drinking the moment the beverage is poured into your cup. Wait for at least two minutes. You may even consider waiting longer than that if you are not adding cold milk. Take small sips at a time.
I love the way the English sip tea. No rush. You might want to take a hint from that.
