A BMJ research paper reports that drinking hot tea is strongly linked with an increased risk of developing oesophageal cancer. The study was conducted in the Golestan province, northern Iran, where there is a high incidence of the disease. The BBC wrote that, ‘the finding could explain the increased oesophageal cancer risk in some non-Western populations. Adding milk, as most tea drinkers in Western countries do, cools the drink enough to eliminate the risk’. The Times agreed adding that, ‘Britons may also take comfort from the fact that most of us prefer our tea at between 56 and 60C’. The Daily Telegraph suggested that we should, ‘Follow Mrs Beeton’s advice and drink tea five to ten minutes after making’. As well as reading the research paper, you can also watch a video where the authors of the paper talk about their findings.
BMJ in the news:
- Steaming hot tea linked to cancer – BBC News, UK
- Drinking scalding tea increases the risk of throat cancer – Daily Telegraph, UK
- Very hot tea and coffee linked to raised oesophagus cancer – The Times, UK
- Another thing you love that probably causes cancer – Los Angeles Times, USA
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- No need for ban on eating during labour – guardian.co.uk
- Awareness: Calculator Gives Risk of Type 2 Diabetes – New York Times, UK
- Pregnant women urged to give up smoking before too late – InTheNews.co.uk
- Smokers who quit early in pregnancy aid baby – Reuters, USA
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- Drinking Hot Tea Could Lead to Throat Cancer « Medical Front Page
- Beware all you hot Chai Drinkers | SikhNet
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Juliet Walker is the Editorial Intern, BMJ