When a steaming meal is in front of us, we are often attracted by the aroma and are eager to feast on it. However, behind this heat can be a chronic injury – a potential threat to esophageal health. Studies have shown that:Eating it hot on a regular basis not only satisfies your taste buds instantly, but it may also put your esophagus on the path of cancer before you know it.
Esophageal health may also be quietly threatened when hot food becomes the top of the table. Studies have shown that regular consumption of overheated foods may lead to damage to the esophageal mucosa, and this constant heat irritation may be a trigger for esophageal inflammation or even cancer.
The esophagus, the sensitive tube of the digestive tract, is designed to withstand a range of temperatures, usually between room temperature and body temperature. However, when the temperature of the food exceeds this range, such as 65°C, the mucous membrane of the esophagus suffers thermal damage. If this damage accumulates over a long period of time, it can lead to impaired cellular defense mechanisms and changes in cell structure, which can eventually lead to chronic inflammation and even esophageal cancer.
As a specific example, an observational study found that the incidence of esophageal cancer was relatively high in people who drank overheated tea. This suggests a strong link between temperature and esophageal health, and even a daily favourite hot drink needs to be treated with caution.
To protect your esophagus, avoid eating liquids and foods that are fresh out of the pan or boiling. You can wait a few minutes for the food to cool naturally to a warm and comfortable level. Such dietary changes Xi small but have a long-term positive impact on esophageal health. A healthy esophagus is a prerequisite for enjoying good food, so it's just as important to maintain its health.
The story of esophageal cancer usually begins with an inadvertent injury to the esophageal mucosa. When overheated food passes through the esophagus repeatedly, it acts like an invisible soldering iron that can burn the delicate walls of the esophagus. The heat damage caused by this high-temperature stimulus puts the esophageal cells under undue stress, causing them to make mistakes in the repair process, and the accumulation of these errors can eventually lead to cancer.
Normal cells usually repair themselves or self-destruct after DNA damage. Under long-term heat stimulation, the self-repair mechanism of esophageal cells may be disrupted, causing the wrong information to replicate and pass on to new cells. If these cells carrying the wrong DNA grow uncontrollably, esophageal cancer can develop.
As a specific example, the incidence of esophageal cancer is higher in people who have been drinking too hot tea for a long time than in people who regularly drink warm tea. Scientists have found thatThese people's esophageal cells are often in a "stress state", the error rate of DNA repair increases, and the normal cell cycle is disrupted, sometimes even leading the cells towards a vicious cycle.
For the health of the esophagus, it is a wise choice to avoid long-term intake of overheated foods and beverages. By waiting for food to cool down to a safe temperature before eating, the chance of esophageal exposure to high temperatures can be greatly reduced, providing a milder environment for cells, thereby reducing the risk of esophageal cancer. This simple preventive measure is essential for maintaining esophageal health, as well as general health.
Reducing the risk of esophageal cancer is more than just avoiding hot foods. Many Xi in life need to be adjusted to ensure esophageal health. Tobacco and alcohol are known risk factors for esophageal cancer. Smoking cessation and alcohol restriction can significantly reduce the incidence of esophageal cancer. For example, the carcinogens in tobacco can directly damage the cells of the esophagus, and long-term alcohol consumption can irritate the esophageal mucosa, leading to chronic inflammation and cell mutation.
Another key measure is to increase the intake of fruits and vegetables in the diet. These natural foods are rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that can help repair cell damage and prevent cancer. For example,Tomatoes are rich in lycopene, and citrus fruits provide rich vitamin C, which are important nutrients that protect the esophagus from damage.
Regular check-ups are also an important part of preventing esophageal cancer. For people with a family history of esophageal cancer, or for people with long-standing esophageal inflammation, your doctor may recommend regular endoscopy to detect possible precancerous changes early.
Weight control should not be neglected either. Obesity is associated with an increased risk of many types of cancer, and esophageal cancer is no exception. Maintaining a healthy weight not only reduces the risk of esophageal cancer, but also helps reduce gastroesophageal reflux, another pathological process that can lead to esophageal cancer.