Starting the morning with a cup of strong tea or a sip of hot coffee is a part of the daily routine of millions of people around the world. Many people have such a habit of drinking steaming, boiling tea that even if the cup gets a little cold, they get it heated again. If you are also included among these people, then be careful. Reputable health institutions and cancer researchers around the world have made it clear that tea or coffee leaves or beans are not harmful, but their excessively high temperature can prove fatal for the food pipe connecting your throat and stomach. WHO and IARC report: Drinks above 65 degrees 'potentially carcinogenic' In a global study conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer research arm of the World Health Organization (WHO), it was found that regular consumption of extremely hot beverages increases the risk of esophageal cancer manifold. The researchers clarified that the danger lies not in the chemical components of tea, coffee or 'mate' drunk in South America, but in the temperature of that liquid. When any liquid at a temperature of 65 °C (149 °F) or higher is inserted directly down the throat, it burns the inner soft mucosa membrane of the food pipe. In medical language it is called thermal injury. Mutations in the DNA of cells due to repeated thermal injury. The inner layers of the esophagus of the human body are made of extremely sensitive and delicate tissues. When a person drinks boiling tea or coffee daily for several years, the cells in the tube leading from the throat to the stomach are repeatedly burned. The body continuously creates new cells to repair these burned tissues. During this endless process of repeated burning and repeated reconstruction of cells (cell division), the possibility of error (genetic mutation) occurring in the DNA of the cells increases greatly. This chronic inflammation that persists for a long time gradually turns into carcinoma i.e. a deadly cancerous lump. The risk doubles for those who smoke cigarettes and alcohol. According to a large study published in the medical journal Annals of Internal Medicine, people who drink boiling hot tea and also consume cigarettes or tobacco or drink alcohol, the risk of esophageal cancer increases up to five times compared to normal people. Scientists believe that the extremely hot fluid peels away the natural protective layer of the food pipe. Due to this, the carcinogens present in tobacco smoke, nicotine and alcohol get directly and rapidly absorbed into the deep tissues of the food pipe, due to which the process of cancer becomes extremely intense. Early symptoms of esophageal cancer that should not be ignored: Esophageal cancer is often caught when it reaches the advanced stage. Therefore, if you feel these symptoms in the body along with your habits, you should be immediately alert: Constant difficulty or pain in swallowing food (Dysphagia). Persistent heaviness in the middle of the chest, burning sensation or indigestion. Rapid weight loss without any reason. Persistent dry cough or hoarseness in voice. A feeling of getting stuck in the food pipe while eating hot or solid things. Easy rules to enjoy tea and coffee safely: Tea and coffee contain abundant amounts of antioxidants which are beneficial for health, provided they are drunk at the right temperature. Doctors and experts recommend that: After pouring tea or coffee in a cup or mug, let it cool for at least 3 to 5 minutes. Sip the drink only when its temperature becomes lukewarm or bearable (about 50 to 55 degrees Celsius). If you feel a burning sensation in your tongue or lips while taking the first sip, then understand that this temperature is very dangerous for your internal food pipe. Never make the mistake of pouring tea or coffee directly from the thermos into your mouth.
