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Do you love your tea, coffee or porridge steaming hot? Be careful you could be sipping away your life after recent studies found that very hot tea and coffee can cause cancer.
Scientists have warned that there is evidence that consuming hot drinks is linked to throat cancer, one of the most common forms of cancer in Kenya.
The experts said drinking anything beyond 65 degrees centigrade, is classified as a red line for this type of lethal cancer. Many Kenyans could fall in this “red zone” given our belief that tea and coffee must be taken hot.
The advisory was released yesterday following a review of over 1,000 previous research studies by scientists brought together by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the cancer agency of the World Health Organisation (WHO).
“The results suggest that drinking very hot beverages is one probable cause of oesophageal cancer and that it is the temperature, rather than the drinks themselves, that appear to be responsible, “ said IARC Director Christopher Wild.
Experiments with lab rats and mice also revealed that very hot liquids can promote the development of cancer tumours in the food pipe.
Areas of the world where hot beverages are consumed regularly like China, Iran, Turkey and South America, were found to have higher incidences of this type of cancer.
But Nicholas Othieno-Abinya, a top cancer specialist and lecturer at the University of Nairobi, said Kenyans should not be alarmed.
No evidence
Prof Abinya said there was no direct evidence that Kenyans who have throat cancer got it from taking hot drinks or hot foods.
“We have cases of this type of cancer in the country but we need more local research studies to provide more evidence on the link between hot drinks and cancer of the oesophagus. There are many other risk factors like smoking and consuming alcohol which could also be responsible,” he said.
“It is difficult to issue a blanket condemnation of hot drinks at this stage until proper studies are done locally. But there is no harm in putting yourself on the safe side by avoiding very hot drinks.”
Muthoni Kirimi, a cancer specialist who diagnoses cancer at Pathologists Lancet laboratories in Nairobi, said doctors have long suspected hot drinks played a role in this type of cancer.
“The WHO experts have reviewed many research studies and noticed a level of evidence that confirms what many of us previously suspected. It is not the coffee or tea itself that is the problem rather it is the temperature,” she said.
She added: “This means with the new advisory, Kenyans should let the beverage cool down a bit before consuming them to reduce their risk of getting this type of cancer. It is good to be on the safe side.”
Ahmed Kalebi, an Honorary Lecturer in the University of Nairobi who is among the authors of the Ministry of Health cancer guidelines, said it is not absolutely clear why hot drinks can cause throat cancer.
He said it may be heat itself that is causing thermal injury to the tissue in the oesophagus and accelerating development of cancer tumours.
“The temperature cut-off that has been specified is 65 degrees centigrade, meaning even drinking water regularly when it is hotter than 65 degrees can fall in this category,” said Dr Kalebi.
“However, we know most Kenyans have the habit of drinking their tea and coffee when it is very hot, thus this new confirmation is very relevant to our people especially those from cold highland areas.”
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