Does drinking hot tea cause cancer? Scientifically explained

Prof. Dr. Atilla Eroğlu, Head of the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Atatürk University Faculty of Medicine, initiated a study with 4 academics from different universities on esophageal cancer, which is frequently encountered in Eastern Anatolia. As part of the study, data from 742 men and 720 women diagnosed with esophageal cancer over 25 years were collected, and it was found that 85 percent of these patients drank tea very hot.

This study, which also investigated factors such as genetic predisposition, a diet poor in vegetables and fruits, smoking, and alcohol alongside hot tea in relation to esophageal cancer, was published in the Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences.

HOT TEA CONSUMPTION IS THE REASON FOR THE HIGH PREVALENCE OF ESOPHAGEAL CANCER IN THESE REGIONS

Prof. Dr. Atilla Eroğlu stated that in addition to its various benefits, tea also has some harmful effects on the body.

Expressing that water boils at 94-95 degrees in Erzurum, and that this temperature drops to 83-85 degrees when poured into a glass and mixed with sugar, Eroğlu said, "Even tea at this temperature burns the hand. Our recommendation, as supported by literature, is to drink 5-6 glasses of slightly cooled tea a day, but do not drink hot tea. Hot tea causes cancer. The reason why mouth, pharynx, and esophageal cancers are most common in the region is specifically hot tea consumption."

Eroğlu stated that tea consumed at 85 degrees causes serious burns and cellular changes in the sensitive digestive system, such as the mucosa, and continued as follows:

"Hot tea destroys the barrier in the digestive system and causes cancer. Tea should be consumed below 65 degrees. Let's wait 3-4 minutes after pouring it into the glass. In our 25-year scientific study, we investigated the effects of tea and the high prevalence of esophageal cancer in our region; we determined as a scientific fact that the most important cause is hot tea consumption, and that tea consumed above 85 degrees increases the risk of esophageal cancer 8 times compared to tea consumed below 65 degrees. Please drink your tea slightly cooled."

THERE ARE THOSE WHO DRINK MORE THAN 7-8 GLASSES OF TEA A DAY

Explaining that they also investigated the frequency and intensity of tea consumption among the people they compared in two groups during the study, Eroğlu noted the following:

"Our study revealed that the most important cause of esophageal cancer, which is more common in surrounding provinces, especially Erzurum, Van, Ağrı, Muş, Bitlis, Bayburt, and Erzincan, is hot tea consumption. We compared those who drink less than 1 liter, approximately 7-8 glasses of tea a day, with those who drink more, and we determined that esophageal cancer is seen at a high rate in the group that drinks 15-20 glasses of tea a day."

Stating that the most important causes of esophageal cancer in the USA and Europe are obesity and reflux, while in Turkey, especially in Eastern Anatolia, it is hot tea and dietary habits, Eroğlu said that in China, the consumption of hot tea, coffee, soup, and food was investigated in 500,000 people followed for 9.5 years, and that esophageal and pharyngeal cancers were seen very frequently, especially in those who drank hot tea, and that the same result was obtained in similar studies conducted in the USA and England.

IT IS NECESSARY TO WAIT FOR IT TO COOL DOWN A LITTLE

Yener Temelli, who has been a tea house operator in Erzurum for many years, also stated that tea drunk very hot burns the throat and said, "You cannot even taste it. We should wait 2 minutes after filling the tea into the glass. We tell our customers who want very hot tea to wait for it to cool down a little."

Tea enthusiast Mehmet Akif Ersoy explained that cold tea is not consumed much in Erzurum; on the contrary, both hot and a lot of tea are consumed. Kadir Özgün expressed that as people from Erzurum, they love tea very much and usually drink it hot, saying, "Tea is our day and night; because Erzurum is cold, hot tea is enjoyable. I drink an average of 15-20 glasses a day."