Tea consumption: A double-edged sword with health benefits and concerns

Maximum Academic Press

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The review confirms that tea, particularly green tea, plays a crucial role in preventing cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), obesity, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Tea’s neuroprotective effects, ability to reduce muscle loss in seniors, and its anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activities further highlight its potential health-promoting properties. However, the study also identifies potential health concerns, particularly with bottled and bubble teas, which may contain harmful additives like artificial sweeteners and preservatives.

Tea, made from the leaves of Camellia sinensis, has been consumed globally for centuries, initially for its medicinal properties and later as a popular beverage. It has long been recognized for its rich polyphenolic content, particularly catechins, which contribute to its health benefits. This review aims to provide a detailed analysis of tea's impact on various health conditions, supported by both experimental and human studies. Despite extensive studies on green tea, there is limited information on the effects of other tea types, such as black, oolong, and white tea, especially concerning their comparative health benefits. Furthermore, the health concerns raised by the presence of additives and contaminants in some commercial tea beverages are addressed.

A study (DOI: 10.48130/bpr-0025-0036) published in Beverage Plant Research on 13 November 2025 by Mingchuan Yang & Li Zhou’s team, Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, underlines the need for further research to better understand tea’s health benefits and risks.

The review delves into various health conditions linked to tea consumption. Green tea is highlighted for its cardiovascular protective effects, reducing blood pressure and improving cholesterol levels. Multiple cohort studies also show that regular tea consumption can lower the risk of all-cause mortality, CVDs, and certain cancers. Furthermore, tea's role in weight management and its potential in controlling diabetes are discussed, with evidence suggesting that green tea catechins can aid in weight reduction and improve metabolic parameters in obese individuals. Notably, tea also shows promise in neuroprotection and muscle mass preservation. Studies indicate that regular tea drinkers experience a reduced prevalence of cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers, particularly in older adults. Similarly, tea catechins may prevent muscle loss in seniors, contributing to better physical performance and muscle strength. However, while tea has numerous benefits, commercial tea products such as bottled or bubble tea, often contain sugar, artificial sweeteners, and preservatives, which may reduce or negate the health benefits. Additionally, concerns regarding pesticide residues, heavy metals, and microplastics in tea have been raised. These contaminants, though not posing significant health risks in typical consumption, remain a concern for long-term heavy tea drinkers. Moreover, the review addresses the issue of nutrient absorption interference, specifically with non-heme iron and calcium, potentially affecting people on vegetarian diets or those with specific nutritional needs.

The health benefits of tea are clear, but its consumption in processed forms like bottled tea and bubble tea should be moderated due to added sugars and preservatives. The findings from this review suggest that moderate consumption of traditional, freshly brewed tea can be beneficial, especially for preventing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. Future studies focusing on the long-term health effects of different tea types and the impact of contaminants will help refine our understanding of tea's health benefits and risks.

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References

DOI

10.48130/bpr-0025-0036

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.48130/bpr-0025-0036

Funding information

This review article was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 32372757).

About Beverage Plant Research

Beverage Plant Research (e-ISSN 2769-2108) is the official journal of Tea Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences and China Tea Science Society. Beverage Plant Research is an open-access, online-only journal published by Maximum Academic Press. Beverage Plant Research publishes original research, methods, reviews, editorials, and perspectives that advance the biology, chemistry, processing, and health functions of tea and other important beverage plants.

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Journal

Beverage Plant Research

DOI

10.48130/bpr-0025-0036 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Beneficial health effects and possible health concerns of tea consumption: a review

 

Coffee waste helps make lower carbon concrete

RMIT University

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image: 

Bird's eye view of the coffee concrete footpath being laid along a busy road in Pakenham.

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Credit: HiVis Pictures

RMIT researchers are advancing new ways to cut the carbon footprint of infrastructure by turning everyday organic waste into useful construction materials.

A life-cycle analysis has shown, for the first time, that biochar made from spent coffee grounds can help produce a lower‑carbon concrete while supporting strength benefits seen in earlier lab trials.

Earlier experiments by the RMIT team heated used coffee grounds at about 350 degrees Celsius without oxygen to make a fine biochar. When this replaced 15 percent of sand in concrete, 28‑day strength increased by about 30 per cent, pointing to a practical way to reduce pressure on natural sand supplies.

Building on that foundation, a new study led by Dr Jingxuan Zhang and Dr Mohammad Saberian presents a comprehensive life cycle assessment – a cradle‑to‑grave analysis that measures carbon emissions, resource use and other environmental impacts from production through to end of life.

The results show life‑cycle carbon dioxide reductions of 15 percent, 23 percent and 26 per cent at 5, 10 and 15 per cent biochar replacing sand, along with up to 31 percent lower use of fossil fuels and improvements in impacts on rivers and lakes.

This research supports Australia’s shift to a circular economy and net‑zero goals by turning abundant waste into functional materials, reducing reliance on natural sand and building public engagement with resource recovery.

Zhang said the findings strengthened the case for real‑world trials.

“We showed that coffee biochar can cut concrete’s carbon footprint in the scenarios we assessed, while earlier trials demonstrated strength gains using the same approach,” said Zhang from the School of Engineering.

Professor Chun-Qing Li, who provided guidance to the team, said the innovation turned organic waste into a practical ingredient for lower‑carbon infrastructure.

“Using moderate amounts of coffee biochar offers a clear, measurable pathway to lower‑impact concrete,” he said.

Saberian said the team was already engaging with industry as well as state and local governments on construction projects.

“Next steps include larger pilots, mix optimisation and alignment with standards so projects can adopt this confidently,” he said.

“We welcome collaboration on supply chains and field deployments.”

RMIT and partners have already advanced public demonstrations, including a footpath pilot and the first coffee‑biochar concrete section on the Victorian Big Build, and showcased the concept through the National Gallery of Victoria’s Making Good: Redesigning the Everyday exhibition.

Prospective industry and government partners interested in pilots, product development or supply‑chain scale‑up can contact RMIT’s research partnerships team at research.partnerships@rmit.edu.au

The study, ‘Carbon footprint reduction in concrete using spent coffee grounds biochar: a life cycle perspective’, is published in the International Journal of Construction Management (DOI: 10.1080/15623599.2025.2584549).

Jingxuan Zhang, Mohammad Saberian, Rajeev Roychand, Jie Li, Chun-Qing Li, Guomin Zhang and Dilan Robert are authors on the paper.

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Journal

International Journal of Construction Management

DOI

10.1080/15623599.2025.2584549 

Method of Research

Observational study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Carbon footprint reduction in concrete using spent coffee grounds biochar: a life cycle perspective

 

Biochar breakthrough: Modified corn-straw carbon additive boosts cement strength and captures CO₂

Maximum Academic Press

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By separating and modifying biochar’s naturally heterogeneous components—particularly sedimented particles (SP)—the researchers achieved much higher CO₂ adsorption capacity compared with untreated material. Alkali modification and controlled pyrolysis conditions further strengthened adsorption behavior, enabling the CO₂-saturated biochar to accelerate internal carbonation and densify cement microstructures.

Cement production accounts for nearly 8% of global CO₂ emissions, creating urgent demand for innovative mitigation strategies. Conventional carbon-capture approaches often face economic and efficiency barriers when applied at industrial scale. Biochar, produced through pyrolysis of biomass, is increasingly recognized for its stable structure, high specific surface area, and porous microarchitecture that facilitate CO₂ adsorption. Previous studies show that adsorption is influenced by feedstock, pore size, alkalinity, and pyrolysis temperature. However, most work has treated biochar as a uniform material, overlooking its internal heterogeneity. Moreover, the CO₂ adsorption potential of individual biochar components—and their performance once embedded in cement—remains poorly understood. Due to these limitations, deeper investigation into biochar’s structural behavior and CO₂-sequestering performance is urgently needed.

A study (DOI:10.48130/bchax-0025-0004) published in Biochar X on 20 October 2025 by Binglin Guo’s team, Hefei University of Technology, offer a promising pathway toward low-carbon construction materials by integrating carbon-sequestering additives directly into cement, one of the world’s highest-emission industrial products.

In this study, the researchers combined nitrogen adsorption (BET) analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, XRD, Raman spectroscopy, CO₂ adsorption tests with kinetic modeling, isothermal calorimetry, mechanical strength testing, SEM imaging, TG–DTG thermal analysis, and life-cycle–style emission accounting to systematically evaluate how alkali modification, pyrolysis temperature, and heterogeneous components of biochar affect its CO₂ adsorption behavior and the performance of biochar–cement composites. BET measurements showed that alkali treatment reduced the overall specific surface area but refined the microporous structure by corroding meso- and macropores, providing more favorable sites for CO₂ uptake. FTIR spectra revealed that alkali modification removed soluble organics such as phenols and diminished non-conjugated C=O, phenolic and aromatic bands at low pyrolysis temperatures, while enhancing –OH and ester-related vibrations, with weaker effects at higher temperatures. XRD patterns confirmed surface erosion and more pronounced SiO₂ peaks at higher pyrolysis temperatures, with SP less affected by alkali due to its altered structure. Raman spectroscopy indicated increasing structural disorder (higher ID/IG) with rising pyrolysis temperature and subtle differences between SP and bulk biochar, which, together with microporosity and alkalinity, influenced CO₂ uptake. CO₂ adsorption experiments showed that SP adsorbed more CO₂ than original biochar, and alkali-modified samples—especially MBC500—performed best; kinetic fitting favored the Avrami model and indicated fast, predominantly physical but partly chemical adsorption. Calorimetry, XRD/FTIR/SEM, and strength tests demonstrated that low–moderate biochar dosages enhanced hydration, carbonation, and microstructural densification, raising compressive strength, whereas excessive dosages increased porosity and reduced performance. TG–DTG and emission accounting further showed that CO₂ adsorbed on biochar accelerates calcite formation and that using SP in cement achieves net carbon reduction while also avoiding emissions from biomass disposal and fossil fuel use.

This research provides a practical approach for integrating carbon-capturing materials directly into cement formulations. The enhanced CO₂ adsorption capacity of modified SP can improve both the environmental footprint and mechanical performance of concrete, supporting broader decarbonization strategies in the construction industry. By using agricultural residues such as corn straw, the method promotes circular-economy practices and reduces the need for landfilling biomass waste. The findings also point to the importance of tailoring biochar microstructure and modification methods for maximal performance, offering a scalable pathway toward greener building materials.

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References

DOI

10.48130/bchax-0025-0004

Original Source URL

https://doi.org/10.48130/bchax-0025-0004

Funding information

This work was provided to BG by 'the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities' (Grant No. PA20255GDGP0027), and 'the University Synergy Innovation Program of Anhui Province' (Grant No. GXXT–2023–104).

About Biochar X

Biochar X is an open access, online-only journal aims to transcend traditional disciplinary boundaries by providing a multidisciplinary platform for the exchange of cutting-edge research in both fundamental and applied aspects of biochar. The journal is dedicated to supporting the global biochar research community by offering an innovative, efficient, and professional outlet for sharing new findings and perspectives. Its core focus lies in the discovery of novel insights and the development of emerging applications in the rapidly growing field of biochar science.

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DOI

10.48130/bchax-0025-0004 

Method of Research

Experimental study

Subject of Research

Not applicable

Article Title

Investigation of the CO2 adsorption behavior of alkali-modified biochar components in cement composites

 

Finding information in the randomness of

living matter

Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization

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New mathematical framework employs similar techniques that are used in studying fundamental properties of elementary particles to shed light on nonequilibrium features of fluctuations in living systems.

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Credit: MPI-DS

When describing collective properties of macroscopic physical systems, microscopic fluctuations are typically averaged out, leaving a description of the typical behavior of the systems. While this simplification has its advantages, it fails to capture the important role of fluctuations that can often influence the dynamics in dramatic manners, as the extreme examples of catastrophic events such as volcanic eruption and financial market collapse reveal. On the other hand, studying the dynamics of individual microscopic degrees of freedom comprehensively becomes too cumbersome even when considering systems of a moderate number of particles. To describe the interface between these opposite ends of the scale, stochastic field theories are commonly used to characterize the dynamics of complex systems and the effect of the microscopic fluctuations.

Due to their overwhelming complexity, predicting outcomes by analyzing these fluctuations in living or active matter systems is not possible using traditional methods of physics. Since these systems persistently consume energy, they exhibit dynamical traits that violate the laws of equilibrium thermodynamics, not unrelated to the arrow of time. In a recent study, Martin Johnsrud and Ramin Golestanian from the department Living Matter Physics (LMP) at MPI-DS succeeded in developing a theoretical description that can rigorously characterize the role of fluctuations in systems. “It is mathematically challenging to predict the behavior of such systems if using traditional tools from statistical mechanics,” explains Johnsrud, first author of the study.

The physicists thus developed a suitable mathematical tool to extend the existing field theories, and they are now able to make predictions about systems out of equilibrium, such as active matter. “With our formalism, we are able to define measurable quantities that can help to characterize nonequilibrium dynamics of living matter and enable experimental design of artificial active systems,” concludes Golestanian.

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Journal

Physical Review Research

DOI

10.1103/xx4z-lj5c 

Method of Research

Computational simulation/modeling

Article Title

Fluctuation dissipation relations for active field theories