If you’re like many Americans who enjoy a cup of Joe in the morning, you’ll be happy to know that the World Health Organization released its long-anticipated report on coffee, and its findings bode well for your health.
In reviewing the most recent scientific evidence over the past 25 years since its last analysis on the matter, the WHO concluded that coffee should no longer be considered a carcinogen and that it may actually have positive effects for your body when it comes to two types of cancers — liver and uterine cancers.
Now before you start ordering that second steaming cup, it’s important to know that the WHO report wasn’t all good news. There was another significant finding: “Very hot” beverages “probably” cause cancer. This is mostly based on studies related to the consumption of a traditional drink called mate or cimarron in South America where the tea can be taken at temperatures around 158 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s significantly hotter than people in North America or Europe usually consume their drinks.
The findings were published in The Lancet Oncology on Wednesday.
“These results suggest that drinking very hot beverages is one probable cause of esophageal cancer and that it is the temperature, rather than the drinks themselves, that appears to be responsible,” said Christopher Wild, director of the International Agency for Research on Cancer.
“Certainly wait a few minutes more before drinking your drink,” the IARC said.