Tea and Cancer: The Truth Is Still Unclear, The Right Way to Drink Tea Is Key

Tea and Cancer: The Truth Is Still Unclear, The Right Way to Drink Tea Is KeyChina, as the birthplace of tea, has a vast tea-consuming population. However, recently, there has been a circulating rumor online claiming that a new study from Shanghai Jiao Tong University found that those over 60 who frequently drink tea are ten times more likely to develop cancer than those who do not

Tea and Cancer: The Truth Is Still Unclear, The Right Way to Drink Tea Is Key

China, as the birthplace of tea, has a vast tea-consuming population. However, recently, there has been a circulating rumor online claiming that a new study from Shanghai Jiao Tong University found that those over 60 who frequently drink tea are ten times more likely to develop cancer than those who do not. This statement contradicts the widely accepted notion that "tea can fight cancer" and has sparked discussions across the society. So, what is the real relationship between tea and cancer risk? What is the truth?

I. Tea and Cancer: Contradictions and Doubts in Scientific Studies

The conclusions from scientific research on the relationship between tea and cancer risk are not consistent.

1. Potential Protective Effect of Tea on Cancer

• As early as 2020, the journal Advances in Nutrition published a paper titled "Tea Consumption and Risk of Cancer: An Umbrella Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies." The research team analyzed all literature on the relationship between tea and cancer risk in the PubMed and Embase databases, and ultimately selected 64 studies of observational value, covering 25 types of cancer and 154 effect sizes.

The meta-analysis results showed a negative correlation between tea drinking and cancer risk, with a particularly significant preventive effect on oral cancer. The research team cautiously stated in the paper abstract that there may be errors in the experiments and that more prospective studies are needed to verify the conclusions, but at least at this stage, the conclusions of this paper are convincing.

2. Tea and Cancer: Controversy and Doubts

However, recently there has been a claim circulating that "people over 60 who frequently drink tea are 10 times more likely to develop liver cancer than those who do not drink tea," and this claim is said to be from a new study by Shanghai Jiao Tong University. This statement has attracted widespread attention, but after investigation, it was found that there is no definitive source for the study, nor any related literature on the internet. Therefore, this statement is likely to be a fabricated rumour to attract traffic.

• Furthermore, a paper published in the European Journal of Epidemiology challenged the conclusions about the relationship between tea and cancer. The research team conducted a 10-year follow-up study on a sample of 500,000 Chinese adults. The results showed that, regardless of whether they drank tea daily or not, the probability of cancer risk increased with the increase in smoking and drinking. This suggests that drinking tea does not reduce the probability of developing cancer.

However, this paper also faced criticism from several Chinese experts. Professor Tu Youying from the Tea Department of Zhejiang University raised five points of doubt, including:

• Potential data falsification: The research subjects in the paper are in the prime age group for tea drinking, but according to the sixth national census in China, the population in this age group is at least 700 million, while the number of people in the paper who "drink more than 4 grams of tea per day" is only 45.5 million, a huge discrepancy with actual tea consumption.

• Lack of scientific rigor: The paper uses 4 grams of tea per person per day as the research distinction, which lacks scientific rigor, because mainstream epidemiological studies generally require a tea intake of 6-15 grams to obtain results with reference value.

• Unreasonable sample selection: The proportion of women in the sample is too high (63%) and the proportion of men is too low (36.1%), while in reality the number of male smokers is often higher than that of women, making the research results lack reference value.

• Data may be outdated: The paper uses data from ten years ago, while China's tea production and consumption have increased significantly in the past ten years, making the data lack forward-looking value.

• Green tea does not represent all tea: The research team only investigated those who drink green tea, while in reality, people have diverse types of tea consumption, and green tea does not represent all tea.

These criticisms indicate that the paper has many problems, and therefore, the credibility of its conclusions is reduced.

3. Tea and Cancer: Secrets Yet to Be Revealed

Currently, the medical community has not yet reached a consensus on the relationship between tea and cancer, with different studies yielding contradictory conclusions. This is likely due to differences in research methods, sample selection, research duration, etc., resulting in bias in the results.

Furthermore, the composition of tea is complex, and the mechanisms by which it interacts with cancer are not yet fully understood. Therefore, there is no clear scientific evidence for whether tea can reduce or increase the probability of developing cancer.

II. The Right Way to Drink Tea: Avoid Misconceptions and Embrace Health

Although the relationship between tea and cancer is still inconclusive, we still need to pay attention to the right way to drink tea and avoid misconceptions to embrace health:

1. Refuse Overnight Tea: Avoid Harmful Substances Accumulation

Tea leaves contain polyphenols, which easily oxidize into tea rust. Tea rust contains various substances such as cadmium, lead, iron, arsenic, and mercury, which are detrimental to human health. These substances are present in higher amounts in overnight tea, and long-term consumption may damage organs such as the kidneys and liver.

2. Avoid Spoiled Tea: Prevent Microbial Growth

Tea also has a shelf life. Once it becomes moldy, it means that microorganisms have grown on the tea, and drinking it will pose a health risk.

3. Say No to Scalding Hot Tea: Protect Your Stomach and Esophagus

The temperature of the tea water is too high, which can scald the stomach and esophagus. Long-term consumption of scalding hot tea increases the risk of esophageal cancer and stomach cancer. It is recommended to control the temperature of the tea water below 56 degrees Celsius.

III. Tea Culture: Inheritance and Health

Tea culture has a long history in China, and is an important part of Chinese civilization. Drinking tea is not only a lifestyle, but also a cultural heritage.

While enjoying the beautiful experience brought by tea culture, we should also rationally view the relationship between tea and health and avoid blindly believing unscientific information. Drinking tea scientifically is the key to truly enjoying a healthy tea culture.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the truth about the relationship between tea drinking and cancer risk is still unclear and more scientific research is needed to reveal it. Currently, we should rationally view related information and avoid blind panic. As long as you master the correct way to drink tea, you can enjoy the beauty brought by tea culture and maintain your own health.

References:

• 1. Peoples Daily Online. (2016). 8 Types of Tea Not Suitable for Drinking, Drink Tea According to Your Constitution for Better Health. Retrieved from https://health.people.com.cn/n1/2016/0913/c397110-28667562.html

• 2. The Paper. (2022). Research Reveals: The Relationship Between Tea Drinking and Major Diseases Like Cancer. Retrieved from https://www.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_19878318

• 3. Peoples Daily Online - Health Times. (2019). Does Tea Prevent or Cause Cancer? Data From 500,000 Chinese People Tells You the Answer. Retrieved from https://health.people.com.cn/n1/2019/0730/c397110-31391283.html

• 4. Zhejiang Online. (2019). Tea May Not Prevent Cancer? Tea Professor From Zhejiang University Responds to Controversy. Retrieved from https://zj.zjol.com.cn/news/2019/0814/3470708.shtml

• 5. EurJEpidemiol. (2019). Association between tea consumption and risk of cancer: a prospective cohort study of 0.5 million Chinese adults. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/eurjepi/article/44/8/767/5582608

• 6. AdvNutr. (2020). Tea Consumption and Risk of Cancer: An Umbrella Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7705078/

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