Doctor's reminder: boiled water is comparable to chronic poison! Drinking water at 65°C often may cause cancer, don't be careless!
Imagine that every morning, you habitually pour a glass of hot boiled water and feel the warm smell permeate. Such a habit may seem like a good health hazard, but scientific research warns that drinking too hot water for a long time, especially at temperatures above 65°C, can be a potential health threat. Recent studies have shown that such drinking habits are associated with the risk of esophageal cancer.
Plain water is undoubtedly the most common beverage choice in our daily life, and its simplicity and purity make many people consider it an ideal healthy drink. But do we really know enough about the health problems that hot water can cause? As the science continues to explore the potential dangers of hot beverages, it's time to revisit our drinking habits to ensure that every sip of water we take is safe and wholesome.
Hot Water Drinking Alert: An Invisible Threat to Esophageal Health
Health risks of drinking too much hot water for a long time
Drinking too hot water, especially hot water at a temperature of more than 65°C, has been shown in scientific studies to cause damage to the esophagus. When the temperature of drinking water is too high, it can cause direct thermal damage to esophageal epithelial cells, which may lead to cytopathy and increase the risk of esophageal cancer in the long term.
Several studies have shown that people who regularly drink hot water have a higher incidence of esophageal cancer compared to those who drink milder, warm water. For example, a multi-country epidemiological study found a significant association between drinking hot water at temperatures above 65°C and esophageal cancer. This pathological change is due to the continuous irritation of the esophageal mucosa by high-temperature liquids, causing cell damage and poor regeneration, which may lead to carcinogenesis.
In addition to the increased risk of esophageal cancer, long-term intake of too hot water may also lead to other digestive problems, such as chronic esophagitis, which can cause symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, retrosternal pain, etc.
Drink water in moderation, too: Establish healthy drinking habits
Proper drinking habits are essential for maintaining a healthy digestive tract. Here are a few tips to help you build healthy drinking habits:
Ideal drinking water temperature: The recommended drinking water temperature should be between 40°C and 60°C, which is both comfortable to drink and reduces thermal damage to the esophagus.
Easy way to test temperature: In the absence of a thermometer, you can roughly judge the temperature of the water by touching the test. In general, if you can submerge your hand in water for a few seconds without pain, the temperature is generally safe.
Drink water regularly and avoid overabundance: Set a daily water plan to hydrate on time and avoid excessive thirst and excessive intake of too much hot or cold water at once.
Precautions when using a thermos cup: When using a thermos cup, be careful not to store overheated water for a long time to prevent the water temperature from being too high when drinking.
Through the above suggestions, readers can adjust their drinking habits more scientifically, so as to protect the health of the esophagus and reduce the health risks caused by hot water consumption. These recommendations are not only based on scientific research, but also take into account the convenience and effectiveness of daily practical operations. By implementing these simple steps, we can effectively improve our drinking behavior, further promoting overall health.