Very hot drinks linked to higher esophageal cancer risk; aim for 58C

Recent research and health assessments emphasize a simple but important point for hot-drink lovers: the temperature at which you drink may matter as much as what you drink. Evidence indicates that repeatedly consuming very hot beverages, typically above 65C, is associated with a higher risk of esophageal cancer, with the risk increasing markedly for those who drink large amounts daily. Health experts say the issue is the heat damaging the lining of the esophagus, not the beverage itself, and they stress practical steps to reduce exposure without giving up valued daily rituals.

A large UK study, involving nearly half a million adults, found that consuming eight or more cups per day of very hot tea or coffee was associated with a substantially higher likelihood of developing esophageal cancer compared with those who do not drink hot beverages. The data reinforce a longstanding warning from the International Agency for Research on Cancer, which in 2016 categorized drinking beverages hotter than 65C as probably carcinogenic to humans. The classification reflects heat as the risk factor, with the temperature believed to cause cellular damage in the esophagus over time, rather than...