A new study suggests drinking hot tea increases your risk of cancer – but it’s not the tea that seems to be the problem.
The study found that drinking two large cups of tea a day at more than 140 degrees Fahrenheit almost doubles your chance of esophageal cancer.
Researchers say that exact temperature is the key. Previous studies have linked hot tea and cancer, but this study is the first to determine a specific temperature. Scientists pinpointed 140 degrees by observing 50,000 people in Iran.
Researchers believe the heat may damage the esophagus, creating repeated injuries that lead to cancer in the same way smoke, alcohol and acid reflux do. An expert from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine says consuming anything hot enough to injure your esophagus will likely lead to increased cancer risk.
Hot drinks, in general, are an established risk factor for cancer, according to the University College of London. That means you can likely keep drinking your coffee, tea and hot cocoa safely as long as you keep the heat down.
