A Chinese woman who drank scalding hot water daily for two decades to “nourish her stomach” has been diagnosed with esophageal cancer.
The 57-year-old woman, surnamed Zheng (name transliterated from Mandarin), discovered suspicious lesions in her esophagus during a routine health check-up, according to Chinese online magazine Da Can Kao.
Early Detection Saves Life
Zheng visited a hospital in Zhengzhou for further examination. Doctors confirmed early-stage esophageal cancer.
The tests also revealed chronic gastritis and gastric polyps.
During a consultation, medical staff learned about Zheng’s unusual drinking habits. She believed that drinking hot water helped maintain stomach health.
Zheng never drank cold water and consumed six to seven cups of hot water daily.
The woman insisted on drinking water hot enough to “burn her teeth.” Her meals had to be hot enough to “scorch her mouth.”
She maintained these habits for 20 to 30 years.
Medical Warning About Hot Water Myths
Fortunately, doctors discovered Zheng’s condition early, and she is now recovering from treatment.
Local physicians warned that drinking hot water to nourish the stomach lacks scientific support.
The stomach and esophagus function better with food and drinks at approximately 40 degrees Celsius. Medical experts advise against consuming anything above 60 degrees Celsius.
Doctors explained that long-term consumption of extremely hot food and beverages can damage the esophageal mucosa, increasing the risk of cancer over time.
The World Health Organization’s cancer agency has classified drinking very hot beverages as “probably carcinogenic to humans,” with multiple studies showing that repeated thermal injury from consuming extremely hot drinks or foods significantly raises the risk of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.
Research indicates that this risk increases with both the temperature and frequency of consumption.
Would you be jailed for being half-naked in public? Well, the answer will shock you. Seriously. Watch this to the end and you'll understand:
