Published on
Updated
Reading 2 mins.
According to a study, too hot a drink in contact with the cells of the food pipe can increase the risk of cancer of the esophagus.
Bad news for still steaming coffee lovers. Research published August 25 in the journal Clinical Nutrition demonstrates a link between increased coffee consumption and an increased risk of cancer, specifically targeting esophageal cancer. A harmful effect linked more to the heat of the liquid, more than to any carcinogenic effect of caffeine. Genetic predispositions also come into play.
The risk of esophageal cancer multiplied by three
To uncover this causal link, a team led by researchers from the University of Cambridge and the Karolinska Institutet studied data from more than 580,000 volunteers from the UK and Finland in a technique known as “Mendelian randomization”. “. That is to say, the participants were compared not according to their coffee consumption, but according to their genetic predispositions to consume more caffeine, for a more fine-grained approach. The study was then to assess the risk in these subjects of developing 22 types of cancer over a period of 11 years.
According to the study, people found to be genetically more likely to drink coffee were nearly three times more likely to develop esophageal cancer, but no others. And the risk would be more related to the lesions caused by the liquid that is too hot, rather than to a taste that is too strong for the coffee. “The good news is that drinking coffee does not increase your chances of getting most types of cancer. “, describes Dr. Burgess, one of the authors of the study.
NO to diets, YES to WW!
Drinks that are too hot pointed out
If the study was conducted on coffee, it could be valid for other liquids. The study confirms that too hot liquid in the throat can actually burn food tract cells and alter genes, whether your cup contains coffee, tea or herbal tea. “ The most likely reason for the association between coffee consumption and esophageal cancer is damage from hot liquid poured down the throat.“confirms Dr. Burgess, along the lines of the Telegram. According to established measures, people who wait a little and prefer a lukewarm drink are 2.7 times more likely than non-drinkers to develop esophageal cancer. Those who drink their drinks “hot” have a 5.5 times higher risk. Those who opt for “very hot” drinks have 4.1 times more. A good reason to wait a bit before bringing your cup or tumbler to your lips.
Remember also that dysphagia, or difficulty swallowing, related to hot drinks or other, should lead you to consult quickly.