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Browsing by Author "Costa, Helena S."

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  • Avaliação dos teores de sal e de gordura em pães de leite e croissants: contributo para o estudo do panorama português em 2020
    Publication . Albuquerque, Tânia Gonçalves; Rodrigues, Helena Isabel; Silva, Mafalda Alexandra; Oliveira, M. Beatriz P. P.; Costa, Helena S.
    Uma alimentação equilibrada e saudável na infância é determinante para o desenvolvimento físico e psíquico da criança, e é sobretudo nesta fase que se desenvolvem os gostos e preferências alimentares, que determinação as escolhas, e que terão, consequentemente, uma influência notória na saúde. Em Portugal, de acordo com o Inquérito Alimentar Nacional e de Atividade Física, em 2017, as crianças (< 10 anos) tinham uma ingestão média de açúcares livres de 41,8 g/dia, de gordura saturada de 21,9 g/dia e de sal de 5,3 g/dia. Em 2020, foi determinado o teor de gordura e de sal de 24 tipos de produtos de pastelaria (pães de leite sem recheio, com recheio e/ou com pepitas; croissants com e sem recheio). Os teores de gordura total variaram entre 9,22 e 29,4 g/100 g e os teores de sal variaram entre 0,537 e 1,17 g/100 g. Todos os produtos analisados encontram- -se acima da meta fixada pela EIPAS (0,3 g de sal por 100 g). Conclui-se que é necessário desenvolver estratégias para a reformulação progressiva destes alimentos e assim possibilitar a oferta de produtos com um perfil nutricional mais adequado às necessidades em saúde pública.
    2021-12Journal article Open access Show more
  • Coffee Pulp from Azores: A Novel Phytochemical-Rich Food with Potential Anti-Diabetic Properties
    Publication . Costa, Anabela S.G.; Peixoto, Juliana A. Barreto; Machado, Susana; Santo, Liliana Espírito; Soares, Thiago F.; Andrade, Nelson; Azevedo, Rui; Almeida, Agostinho; Costa, Helena S.; Oliveira, Maria Beatriz P.P.; Martel, Fátima; Simal-Gandara, Jesus; Alves, Rita C.
    Coffee pulp, a by-product of wet coffee processing, shows significant potential in the food and health domains, but its real applications remain underexplored. This work investigated the chemical composition and bioactive properties of coffee pulp from São Miguel Island (Azores, Portugal). The studied coffee pulp exhibited high fiber content (52% dw), mostly insoluble; notable mineral levels (10.6%), mainly K, Ca, and Mg; and 6% dw of total amino acids, with hydroxyproline, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, and leucine in higher amounts. Despite containing low fat (1.6% dw), mainly saturated, it also showed considerable amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids with a favorable n6/n3 ratio (1.40) and vitamin E (α-, β-, and γ-tocopherols). Its antioxidant capacity can be partially explained by the chlorogenic acid content (9.2 mg/g dw), and caffeine (0.98%) was present in similar amounts to those observed in some arabica coffee beans. A decrease in glucose uptake in Caco-2 cells was found, but not in fructose, suggesting selective inhibition of SGLT1 and potential antidiabetic effects. These results show that Azorean coffee pulp has potential as a sustainable and bioactive ingredient for incorporation into functional foods or dietary supplements.
    2025-01-17Journal article Open access Show more
  • Compliance of declared vs. analysed values with EU tolerance limits for mandatory nutrients in prepacked foods
    Publication . Albuquerque, Tânia Gonçalves; Nunes, M. Antónia; Oliveira, M. Beatriz P.P.; Costa, Helena S.
    This study assessed compliance between declared and analysed values on prepacked foods, considering the tolerance limits for salt, fat and saturated fatty acids. Foods were distributed by food categories (e.g. snacks, ready-to-eat meals, potato and potato-products, bakery and pastry products) and a total of 209 products were analysed. Only half of the samples with a declared value ≥1.25 g/100 g were within tolerance limits for salt content. The lowest number of samples outside tolerance limits was observed for fat content; for saturated fatty acids, 27% of the samples were outside of tolerance limits. Only amongst "cereal products" were 100% of products compliant for fat and salt declarations. It is of utmost importance that manufacturers update continuously values declared for prepacked foods, because this information is crucial for consumers and food policy-makers as well as being a legal requirement.
    2019-08-05Journal article Restricted access Show more
  • Importância da avaliação do teor de vitamina C em fórmulas para lactentes e de transição
    Publication . Silva, Mafalda Alexandra; Albuquerque, Tânia Gonçalves; Oliveira, M. Beatriz P.P.; Costa, Helena S.
    A vitamina C tem um papel crucial no crescimento e desenvolvimento saudáveis de bebés. As fórmulas infantis são muito consumidas por esta faixa etária e como tal, é de extrema importância garantir que esta vitamina esteja presente em concentrações adequadas. No presente trabalho de investigação, determinou-se o teor de vitamina C total, ácido L-ascórbico e ácido desidroascórbico em fórmulas infantis e compararam-se os resultados obtidos com os limites estabelecidos no Regulamento Delegado (UE) 2016/127. Em 2016, foram adquiridas 7 fórmulas infantis, 4 fórmulas para lactentes e 3 fórmulas de transição. Os teores totais de vitamina C determinados variaram entre 65,4 ± 0,28 e 134 ± 1,27 mg/100 g de amostra, encontrando-se dentro dos limites estabelecidos pela legislação em vigor. Uma vez que este tipo de produtos alimentares é muito importante na alimentação de consumidores de uma faixa etária tão jovem e tão vulnerável como são os lactentes, impõe-se a sua regulamentação, segurança e controlo da qualidade.
    2017-10Journal article Open access Show more
  • Nutritional and Bioactive Profiling of Cucumis melo L. By-Products: Towards a Circular Food Economy
    Publication . Silva, Mafalda A.; Albuquerque, Tânia G.; Ferreira, Diana M.; Alves, Rita C.; Oliveira, Maria Beatriz P.P.; Costa, Helena S.
    Food waste, due to the high quantities produced, becomes a significant environmental, economic, and social challenge worldwide. Simultaneously, the rising prevalence of chronic diseases has intensified the demand for healthier food options. A promising approach to address these issues involves the valorisation of food by-products for the development of innovative and healthier food products. Cucumis melo L., commonly consumed as a fruit, generates peels and seeds that are typically discarded. In the present study, the nutritional composition and antioxidant potential of pulp, peel, and seeds of C. melo L. (yellow and green melon) were comprehensively evaluated. The seeds were identified as a rich source of dietary fibre (39.0 and 39.7 g/100 g dw; p > 0.05) and protein (21.0 and 21.3 g/100 g dw; p > 0.05), exhibiting an appealing fatty acid profile. The peel contains high levels of dietary fibre (39.7 and 47.1 g/100 g dw; p > 0.05) and total phenolic compounds (1976 and 2212 mg GAE/100 g dw; p > 0.05), suggesting significant bioactive potential. The peels showed a high antioxidant capacity for both methods used, DPPH• (120 and 144 mg TE/100 g dw; p > 0.05) and FRAP (6146 and 7408 mg TE/100 g dw; p > 0.05) assays. Potassium emerged as the predominant mineral in the seeds (799 and 805 mg/100 dw; p > 0.05), while glutamic acid was the most abundant amino acid (4161 and 4327 mg/100 g dw; p > 0.05). These findings emphasise the antioxidant and nutritional properties of C. melo L. by-products, highlighting their potential for inclusion in novel food formulations. This study not only advances the understanding of C. melo L. properties but also supports the reduction of food waste and promotes sustainability within the food supply chain.
    2025-03-13Journal article Open access Show more