Watch out for this tea.. the risk of cancer increases three times

Cancer is currently at the forefront of medical concerns, especially since pandemic screening efforts have been disrupted in some countries, yet early motivation to make lifestyle changes can greatly reduce the odds of contracting the disease, although tea is largely touted for its benefits. However, the safety of one of its famous types has become questionable since it was linked to a threefold increase in the risk of cancer, which is the herbal tea called yerba mate, which is spread in some Arab countries.

According to a report published by the British newspaper "Express", yerba mate, native to South America, is linked to six different forms of cancer, despite boasting of the minerals, vitamins and antioxidants it contains, studies show that this drink may increase the risk of some types of cancer.

"High doses and prolonged use of yerba mate tea are associated with an increased risk of cancer of the prostate, bladder, mouth, esophagus, lung, and head and neck," says Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.

Yerba contains polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are also found in grilled meats and tobacco smoke, and studies have shown that exposure to the carcinogen can lead to dangerous effects on the immune, reproductive, and nervous systems.

In one study conducted in Uruguay, researchers found that drinkers of yerba mate were 60 percent more likely to develop lung cancer than those who drink alcohol.

The study, published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology Biomarker and Prevention, was conducted on a sample of 1,000 adults in Uruguay, and the results suggest that the drink can increase a person's risk of developing respiratory or digestive cancer.

The researchers revealed that patients were more likely to develop small cell lung cancer, a less common form of the disease.

For its part, the "Mayo Clinic" says on its website that for the most part, yerba mate does not pose a risk to healthy adults who drink it occasionally, but despite this some studies indicate that people who consume large amounts of yerba mate for long periods They are at increased risk of some types of cancer, such as cancer of the mouth, throat and lungs.

Drinking very hot yerba mate is also associated with an increased risk of cancer compared to drinking less hot yerba mate.

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