Research finds that this drink
spikes the likelihood of Lung and Digestive Cancers.
Choosing what to drink throughout the day might be about more than
just staying hydrated for most people. We use beverages as a morning
pick-me-up, an afternoon energy boost, and even as a way to relax in the
evening. However, recent research suggests that one popular beverage may
significantly increase your risk of developing multiple types of cancer. Check
out the list to see which drinks you should avoid.
Drinking yerba mate tea can triple your risk of esophageal cancer.
Yerba mate is a popular drink worldwide due to its claimed health
benefits. Proponents of the herbal tea say it can aid fatigue, weight loss,
headache relief, and depression, but the Mayo Clinic says there is "little
evidence" to back up that claim.
However, studies have shown that drinking a popular herbal
beverage can have adverse effects. In an April 2019 meta-analysis, experts
looked at data from ten original studies on the dangers of drinking yerba mate
tea. According to The New York Post, a 2008 study found that drinking tea
frequently raised the risk of lung cancer and a variety of digestive cancers,
including esophageal cancer, liver cancer, bowel cancer, and stomach cancer. In
particular, a review of research found that yerba mate could increase the risk
of esophageal cancer.
The researchers wrote, "Drinking mate, an infusion of the
herb Ilex paraguariensis, is very common in several South American countries
and has been linked to an increased risk of esophageal cancer." "This
increased risk may be attributed to drinking mate very hot, or to mate's
potentially carcinogenic contaminants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs)."
Other studies have found that yerba mate could contain high
carcinogen levels.
Other studies have found that popular tea may contain harmful carcinogens. Traditional yerba mate preparations, which use about 6 ounces of
liquid in a cup filled over half full with roasted tea leaves, had
exceptionally high levels of the carcinogen when tested, according to a 2012
study.
The authors said, "These findings support previous findings
of very high total and carcinogenic PAH concentrations in yerba mate,
potentially contributing to the high incidence of [esophageal squamous cell
carcinoma] ESCC in southern South America." They did acknowledge, however,
that PAH levels were far lower in commercial teabag preparations. They stated
that "further careful studies of transfer rates in situations that mimic
real-life drinking of mate are recommended."
Drinking the tea at a very high temperature could also create a
health risk.
One of the most comforting parts of daily tea time is having a
nice, warm mug to hold. Besides the presence of carcinogens, experts also
advise that sipping your tea too hot might harm your health. The Mayo Clinic
writes, "Drinking very hot yerba mate—149 F (65 C) or hotter—is associated
with a higher risk of cancer than drinking yerba mate at cooler
temperatures."
This risk isn't limited to yerba mate, however. According to
Healthline, growing research shows that drinking tea while it's still too hot
increases the risk of esophageal cancer. The scalding effect of black or green
tea served between 140 and 149 degrees Fahrenheit has been shown to harm the
cells that line the throat, making them more susceptible to other
cancer-causing substances, such as alcohol.
Researchers say that more studies on the link between cancer risk
and yerba mate are needed.
Ultimately, the meta-analysis authors concluded that their
findings warranted further research on drinking yerba mate and cancer should be
conducted, especially studies that mimic "real life" preparation of
the beverage. Other experts advise that drinking herbal tea at high
temperatures must be studied further.
"While some studies have found an association, there isn't enough evidence to know for sure if drinking very hot yerba or mate tea can cause cancer," Nicola Smith, senior health information manager at Cancer Research U.K., told The Sun. "Most hot drinks in the U.K. are typically drunk at lower temperatures," she added. "There is no reason to fear if you let your tea or coffee cool a little before drinking or add milk."