China: Do you take hot tea? If so, avoid it. A study report claimed that taking hot tea increases the risk of getting oesophagal cancer 5 times.
According to the report published in Daily Mail, a study conducted by the scientists in China claimed that drinking tea which is heated more than 65 degree Celsius was found to increase the chances of getting cancer 5 times.
Reacting to the report, experts said that there is no need to panic as most people drink tea or coffee below 65 degree Celsius.
This cancer affects the food pipe from throat to stomach. The risk of this cancer is more in men than women.
It may be mentioned that in early stages of a tumour, no symptoms would be detected.
However, later, patients suffering from this cancer may complain of difficulties in swallowing, heartburn, losing appetite and weight loss etc.
Famous author Dr. Jun Lv at the Peking University Health Science Center said that tea is taken worldwide.
The existing evidence is not enough to prove the claim that there is a link between drinking hot tea and oesophagal cancer risk.
Recently, the International Agency for Research on Cancer termed taking beverages above 65 degree as ‘probably carcinogenic to humans.’
It may be mentioned that the new research study was conducted on 456,155 men and women of China in the age group 30- 79. They were under study for more than 9 years.
It may be noted that China has a high number of oesophagal cancer patients.
Smoking tobacco and consuming alcohol also increase cancer risk. Taking hot tea, smoking tobacco and consuming alcohol increase risk of getting cancer rapidly.
Participants of the research study who took hot tea consumed alcohol and smoked tobacco were found to be five times more at risk of getting oesophagal cancer than those who avoided all these.
Dr. Lv said that the study found a link between hot tea and increased oesophagal cancer risk. However, further research studies are needed to confirm it.
This study was published in the journal Annals of Internal Medicine.
In an editorial, Dr Farin Kamangar of the Morgan State University and Dr Neal Freedman of the National Cancer Institute wrote that the presumption of getting cancer due to taking hot tea has the roots in 1930’s.
As most people drink tea or coffee at temperatures around 60 degree Celsius, the chances of getting cancer due to this may not worry them.