Hot drinks and cancer. Is there a link?

Back in 1991, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) did a review evaluating the effects of coffee consumption and concluded that it is “possibly carcinogenic to humans” as it identified “limited evidence” of a link between coffee consumption and bladder cancer. The IARC has noted, however, that in the last 25 years there has been a lot of research done on coffee which has prompted a new review.

The new review included more than 1000 studies that looked at how consumption of hot beverages including coffee, tea and yerba mate influence the risk of developing various cancers.

Based on cumulative analysis of the studies, the researchers concluded that there is “inadequate evidence” to conclude that coffee consumption increases the risk of cancer.

Based on cumulative analysis of the studies, the researchers concluded that there is “inadequate evidence” to conclude that coffee consumption increases the risk of cancer. The majority of studies showed coffee drinking does not increase the risk of cancers of the pancreas, breast or prostate. The link between coffee drinking and 20 other cancers was found to be inconclusive. Additionally the review found that drinking a cup of coffee a day may reduce the risk of liver cancer by around 15 per cent.

However, while coffee as an ingredient came out relatively well there was concern raised about hot drinks in general. The review found that drinking any beverage at a temperature of 65 degrees Celsius (149 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher is “probably carcinogenic to humans” as it raises the risk of cancer of the oesophagus by damaging the cells that line that tube.

If you love your coffee and tea, it seems you can continue to do so, you just need to be cool about it.