Consume very hot beverages may raise cancer risk

The research department of the World Health Organization classification downgraded its coffee as a possible carcinogen, and stated that there is insufficient evidence pointing to a link with cancer.

However, the International Agency for Research on Cancer, IARC or by its acronym in English, also said in a report on Wednesday that consuming "hot" drinks of any kind may raise the risk of cancer.

In particular, the agency said countries like China, Iran and several South American states where drinks are consumed as infusion of yerba mate, which are usually taken at high -for temperatures above 65 or 70 degrees Celsius, well above the temperature at which coffee is usually served in North America and Europe.

The experts convened by the IARC concluded that there is insufficient evidence to suggest that coffee might cause cancer, according to a letter published in the journal Lancet Oncology.

"I'm not entirely sure why the coffee was in a higher category at first," said Owen Yang, an epidemiologist at the University of Oxford, who had previously studied the possible link between coffee and cancer. Yang was not part of the IARC panel. "The best available evidence suggests that coffee does not increase the risk of cancer," he said.

However, you may take hot drinks does have that effect.

Dana Loomis, assistant director of the IARC program that classifies carcinogens said the group had begun investigating a possible link after identifying higher rates than normal esophageal cancer in countries where it is common to consume very hot liquids. Even at temperatures below 60 degrees Celsius (140 degrees Fahrenheit), hot drinks can scald the skin, and drinking beverages at higher temperatures could be harmful.

Very hot drinks could cause a "thermal injury" in the throat that could lead to tumor growth, Loomis said, warning however, there is a limited amount of evidence in this regard. There is insufficient evidence pointing to the very hot food also pose a risk.

Other experts said people should focus on preventing the leading causes of cancer, including esophagus, and there are more important changes that people can do rather than wait for their drinks cool.

"Quitting smoking and reducing alcohol consumption is far more significant to reduce the risk of cancer temperature than a baby," said Dr. Otis Brawley, medical director of the American Cancer Society. Brawley said the risk of cancer that involves taking hot drinks is similar to eating pickled vegetables.

Still, he held the withdrawal of coffee as a possible carcinogen.

"As a big coffee drinker, I have always enjoyed my coffee without fault," he said. "But now there is scientific evidence to justify it."