Can Hot Drinks Increase Cancer Risk?
Key Takeaways:
- Research suggests regularly drinking very hot beverages may increase the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma because repeated heat exposure can damage the esophagus
- Allow coffee, tea and other beverages to cool below about 149° F and avoid drinking anything that feels scalding or burns your mouth or throat
- Hot beverages are only one potential risk factor. Smoking, heavy alcohol use, obesity and chronic acid reflux are established risk factors for esophageal cancer
For millions of people, a hot cup of coffee or tea is part of the daily routine. But new research suggests there may be a good reason to give that freshly brewed drink a few minutes to cool.
A recent study published in the International Journal of Cancer found an association between drinking very hot beverages and an increased risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, a type of cancer that develops in the cells lining the esophagus. Researchers found that people who reported drinking beverages at very hot temperatures had approximately three times the risk of developing the disease compared with those who drank their beverages warm.
But Sylvia Crowder, PhD, a dietary and nutrition expert in Moffitt’s Department of Health Outcomes and Behavior, warns that the findings should not send coffee drinkers rushing to abandon their morning cup.
“The concern is not coffee itself, it is the temperature at which coffee, or any beverage, is consumed,” Crowder said.
What Heat May Do to the Esophagus
The esophagus is the muscular tube that carries food and liquids from the mouth to the stomach. Drinking liquids at extremely high temperatures can cause thermal injury to its lining.
In the short term, a very hot beverage can burn or irritate the mouth, throat and esophagus. The greater concern is what could happen after repeated exposure over many years.
“Over time, repeated injury and inflammation may promote cellular damage and abnormal repair in the lining of the esophagus,” Crowder said.
That process could contribute to chronic inflammation, increased cell turnover and cellular changes that may increase the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
The study also points to the potential importance of how often people drink hot beverages. After accounting for temperature, researchers found that consuming six or more hot drinks per day was associated with a 71% higher risk of squamous cell carcinoma. The study did not find the same link with esophageal adenocarcinoma, another major type of esophageal cancer.
Crowder stressed that the research identifies an association. It does not prove that drinking a hot beverage directly causes cancer in an individual, nor does it suggest that an ordinary cup of coffee is inherently dangerous.
How Hot Is Too Hot?
“The strongest concern is with beverages consumed at or above approximately 140 to 149 degrees Fahrenheit, particularly when they are consumed frequently,” Crowder said.
That does not mean people need to pull out a thermometer every time they make coffee or tea. A simpler approach is to pay attention to how the beverage feels.
Crowder recommends allowing coffee, tea and other hot beverages to cool below 149 degrees before drinking them. Avoid drinking something immediately after it has been boiled or prepared if it feels scalding hot. Waiting several minutes, adding cool milk or water or taking a small test sip can help reduce exposure to very high temperatures.
A useful rule of thumb is simple: If a drink is hot enough to burn your lips, tongue or throat, give it more time to cool.
Keep the Risk in Perspective
Hot beverages are only one potential risk factor for esophageal cancer and may not be the most important one for most people.
Tobacco use and heavy alcohol consumption are well-established risk factors for esophageal cancer. Obesity is an important risk factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma, while chronic acid reflux can also increase a person's risk.
Rather than giving up coffee or tea, Crowder recommends focusing on a few practical steps: drink beverages warm or comfortably hot rather than scalding, allow freshly prepared drinks to cool before taking the first sip and address established cancer risks, particularly smoking and heavy alcohol use.
For coffee and tea drinkers, the message is less about changing what is in the cup and more about exercising patience before taking that first sip.
