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- Knowledge about consumption of fruits and vegetables: comparison between Portuguese and French consumersPublication . Florença, Sofia de Guiné e; Gonçalves, João Carlos; Teixeira-Lemos, Edite; Cunha Silva Reis Lima, Maria Joao; Costa, Cristina Amaro da; de Pinho Ferreira Guiné, Raquel
- Development of a Mediterranean Diet Recipe Index (MedRI)Publication . Florença, Sofia de Guiné e; Filipa P. Costa; de Pinho Ferreira Guiné, Raquel; Cunha Silva Reis Lima, Maria Joao; Teixeira-Lemos, Edite; Costa, Cristina Amaro daBackground/Objectives: The Mediterranean Diet (MD) is globally recognized for its nutritional, environmental, and cultural value. Although several indices assess adherence to the MD and its food environments, none evaluate the alignment of individual recipes with MD principles. This study aimed to develop and validate the Mediterranean Diet Recipe Index (MedRI), a novel scoring tool designed to quantify the concordance of recipes with MD guidelines. Methods: The MedRI was conceptualized through a comprehensive literature review and expert panel assessment, integrating two main dimensions: consumption context and recipe composition. The index evaluates ingredient selection, preparation methods, and food group inclusion, with criteria adapted to specific recipe categories. Validation was conducted using a structured questionnaire administered to 244 adults living in Portugal. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, Spearman correlations, intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs), Cohen’s kappa, Chi-square tests, Cramer’s V, and principal component analysis (PCA). Results: Validation results demonstrated strong internal consistency and construct validity, confirming the reliability and applicability of the MedRI in assessing recipe alignment with MD principles. Conclusions: The MedRI thus represents a reliable and innovative tool to assess and promote culinary practices consistent with the MD. It holds potential applications in nutrition education, public health policymaking, and gastronomic research, supporting the advancement of sustainable and health-promoting dietary models.
- Nutritional Approaches in Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Mini Scoping Review with Emphasis on SPG11-Related ConditionsPublication . Saraiva Ribeiro, Paulo Renato; Ferreira,Carmen ; Antunes, Carlos ; Dias, Gonçalo ; Cunha Silva Reis Lima, Maria Joao; Guiné, Raquel; Teixeira-Lemos, EditeBackground: Neurodegenerative diseases, including spastic paraplegia type 11 (SPG11), are complex disorders characterized by progressive neurological decline and significant metabolic disturbances. Spatacsin, the protein encoded by the SPG11 gene, plays a critical role in autophagy and lysosomal homeostasis, which are essential for neuronal health. Its impairment leads to defective cellular clearance and neurodegeneration. Recently, personalized and precision nutrition have emerged as promising approaches to enhance clinical outcomes by tailoring dietary interventions to individual genetic, metabolic, and phenotypic profiles. Objectives: This mini scoping review aimed to synthesize current evidence on the application of personalized and precision nutrition in SPG11 and to explore how insights from related neurodegenerative diseases could inform the development of future dietary and metabolic interventions for this rare disorder. Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a scoping review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases (2020–2024). Eligible studies included investigations addressing nutritional, genomic, or metabolic interventions in neurodegenerative diseases. Of 30 screened papers, nine met the inclusion criteria, primarily focusing on nutritional and metabolic interventions related to neurodegenerative and neuromuscular conditions. Results: To date, no dietary intervention trials have been conducted specifically for SPG11. However, evidence from studies on related neurodegenerative diseases suggests that antioxidant, mitochondrial-supportive, and microbiota-targeted dietary approaches may beneficially influence key pathological processes such as oxidative stress, lipid dysregulation, and autophagy—core mechanisms that are also central to SPG11 pathophysiology. Conclusions: Although current evidence remains preliminary, personalized nutrition is a promising supplementary strategy for managing neurodegenerative diseases, including SPG11. Future research should incorporate systems-based approaches that combine dietary, metabolic, and neuroimaging assessments, with sex and comorbidity-stratified analyses, multi-omics profiling, and predictive modeling. These frameworks could help design safe, effective, and personalized nutritional interventions aimed at enhancing metabolic resilience and slowing disease progression in SPG11.
- A cross-cultural study of unwillingness to consume insects in Croatia, Lithuania, Portugal, Romania, and MexicoPublication . Rosa María Mariscal-Moreno; Anayansi Escalante-Aburto; César Ozuna; Guiné, Raquel; Cristina Chuck-Hernández; Marijana Matek Sarić; Elena Bartkiene; Monica Tarcea; Lucio Rodríguez-SifuentesIntroduction Insects are a nutritious and environmentally sustainable alternative to traditional animal proteins. Because of this, their use as human food is being implemented in Europe, although this practice is not well-received in the countries of that continent. On the other hand, there are countries like Mexico, with a long tradition of insect consumption, which can serve as a model for increasing insect consumption in European countries. Methods A survey on insect consumption was conducted in Mexico, Croatia, Lithuania, Portugal, and Romania, and focused on people who had never consumed insects. The Chi-square test was performed for demographic variables; multinomial logistic regressions were used to establish relations between sociodemographic variables and respondents who had not consumed insects. Data from surveyed individuals from Mexico who have not included insects in their diet were analyzed to propose strategies to boost insect consumption in European countries. Results and discussion The percentage of respondents who had not consumed insects in Mexico was 29.7%, whereas in European countries, it ranged from 70.5 to 89.3%. The Chi-square test revealed a statistically significant difference for all analyzed sociodemographic factors. Gender, age, educational level, geographical area, and income all influenced a person to be a non-consumer of insects. We suggest using isolated insect protein or insect flour to formulate/develop food products, inform about the nutritional and health benefits of insects, integrate insects into the countries’ traditional cuisine, and reduce the costs of insects to increase their consumption in European countries.
- Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activity Characteristics of Seven Biopreparations Used in Organic FarmingPublication . Simões, Joana; Peleja, Ana; Neves, Cláudia; de Vasconcelos Teixeira Aguiar da Costa, Daniela; de Paiva Martins Esteves Correia, Helena Maria; Pinto, António; Ferreira Wessel, Dulcineia; Costa, Cristina Amaro da; Delgado, Fernanda; Carneiro, João Paulo; Horta, Carmo; Bahcevandziev, Kiril; Vidal, Maria; Filipe, OlgaAgroecological transition is a major societal challenge and it is urgent to support technical solutions to answer farmers demand towards the necessary changes. The project RESTORE - biopReparados Em SisTemas prOdução agRoEcológicos aimed to study and validate the production, conservation, and use of seven biopreparations by characterizing and testing them in lettuce nurseries. The biopreparations used include prickly pear vinegar, purslane vinegar, fermented orange juice, garlic extract, nettle infusion, horsetail decoction and a biopreparation of garlic and chilli. The in vitro microbiological characterization and chemical analysis of the biopreparations, which included phenolic composition and antioxidant capacity, allowed us to understand their properties and to propose the most appropriate conservation strategy. The tests were conducted in four different moments: during the biopreparations’ manufacturing, after six months of frozen storage, and after three and six months of fresh storage. One-Way ANOVA in SPSS 29.0 and PCA comparison tests were used to analyze the results. Fermented orange juice and vinegars were the biopreparations that showed the greatest outcomes in terms of antioxidant capacity and phenolic composition. Purslane vinegar had the highest average inhibition against germs. The concentration of phenolic compounds, the antioxidant capacity, and the antibacterial activity of the biopreparations varied with time and type of conservation. It is crucial to conduct more trials, using different species and recipes, to support farmers’ decision making and adoption of agroecological solutions.
- Knowledge about consumption of fruits and vegetables: comparison between portuguese and french consumersPublication . Florença, Sofia de Guiné e; Gonçalves, João Carlos; Teixeira-Lemos, Edite; Cunha Silva Reis Lima, Maria Joao; Costa, Cristina Amaro da; Guiné, RaquelIntrodução: O consumo regular de frutas e legumes nas dosagens recomendadas é incentivado como forma de alcançar um bom estado de saúde para combater doenças crónicas, doenças neurodegenerativas e cancro. No entanto, nos atuais sistemas alimentares industrializados, existe uma tendência para consumir menores quantidades destes alimentos, resultando em problemas e encargos complexos de saúde pública. Objetivo: Investigar o nível de conhecimento sobre o efeito do consumo de frutas e hortícolas na saúde humana numa amostra de participantes franceses e portugueses. Métodos: Foi realizado um inquérito por questionário do tipo transversal de conveniência em ambos os países, em 2020-2021. O questionário foi preparado e traduzido e os dados foram recolhidos online. O questionário continha onze itens a responder numa escala Likert de discordância/concordância de 5 pontos, que variava de 1 (discordo totalmente) a 5 (concordo totalmente). Um total de 640 participantes responderam ao questionário, dos quais 383 eram franceses e 257 portugueses. Resultados: Os resultados mostraram que uma fração significativa dos participantes (60,3%) está informada sobre os efeitos do consumo de vegetais e frutas no combate ao cancro, diabetes, hipertensão arterial ou doenças cardiovasculares. Além disso, a maioria dos participantes (77,2%) sabe que estes alimentos são ricos em micronutrientes, como vitaminas e minerais, ou compostos bioativos benéficos para o bom funcionamento do organismo humano. Ainda assim, um número considerável necessita de melhorar os seus conhecimentos, pois isso é mais evidente entre os participantes portugueses do que entre os franceses (33,8% de participantes desinformados em Portugal comparado com 15,5% em França). Conclusão: O conhecimento dos participantes é insuficiente, pelo que são necessárias mais ações para aumentar o conhecimento como forma de estimular o consumo real de frutas e legumes, de modo a ir ao encontro das diretrizes de uma alimentação saudável.
- Drivers of Health and Wellness Product PurchasesPublication . Florença, Sofia de Guiné e; Amaro da Costa, Cristina Isabel; de Pinho Ferreira Guiné, RaquelNowadays, consumers look at food products not only as ways to satiate hunger, but also as means of improving their healthiness or, at least, a general feeling of healthiness. Modern consumer trends focus on choosing foods that, beyond nutritional value, also bear some kind of health-enhancing properties. Therefore, markets, industrials, academics, and consumers must all come together to build a successful market in the health and wellness food products sector. This chapter discusses different perspectives on this relation, starting from the functional foods markets and moving on to different motivators for purchasing and consuming healthy foods. When the consumers have the possibility of making well-informed food choices, this is pivotal, since it contributes decisively to general public health. It is only through the cooperative work of all partners involved, from the concept to successful marketing of health-promoting food products, that the food sector is able to grow in a sustainable way.
- Investigação e formação em questões de (des)igualdade de género com criançasPublication . Almeida, Ana Margarida; Cardoso, Ana Paula; Lacerda José, Carla Sofia Pereira; Ferreira, Manuela; Margarida Campos, Sofia; Guiné, RaquelIntrodução: As questões de género são um tema fundamental na atualidade, que importa debater desde cedo, a fim de contribuir para o desenvolvimento de uma cidadania plena. Objetivo: Compreender as perspetivas das crianças sobre a igualdade de género, em geral e a nível profissional e salarial, antes e depois de uma intervenção pedagógica interdisciplinar no 1.º Ciclo do Ensino Básico (CEB). Métodos: Estudo qualitativo que consistiu numa investigação sobre as práticas, utilizando diferentes técnicas de recolha de dados. Participaram 24 crianças, do 4.º ano, com idades compreendidas entre os 9 e 11 anos, de uma escola pública de um agrupamento de escolas do concelho de Viseu (Portugal). Resultados: Os dados revelaram que as crianças tinham já conhecimentos prévios sobre o assunto na linha do que a sociedade veicula. Todavia, a intervenção realizada levou a que muitas delas modificassem as suas perspetivas e se tornassem mais conscientes da influência de alguns estereótipos de género. As crianças manifestaram espanto pela diferença salarial entre homens e mulheres, sobre a qual não tinham ainda refletido e, em geral, demonstraram concordância em haver direitos iguais para todos no meio social e profissional. Conclusão: A educação para a igualdade de género é essencial em todo o percurso educativo. Com ela, as crianças têm a possibilidade de desconstruir preconceitos enraizados na sociedade, de desenvolver a sua personalidade de forma integral e de exercer os seus direitos cívicos com assertividade no futuro.
- PEF Priming of Seeds for Microgreen Production: A Comparative StudyPublication . Aguiar-Macedo, Mafalda; Dulyanska, Yuliya; Guiné, Raquel; Costa, Daniela V. T. A.; Redondod, Luis M; de Pinho Ferreira Guiné, RaquelSeed priming with Pulsed Electric Fields (PEF) is a promising strategy to enhance early plant development and crop quality. This study evaluated PEF priming effects on Beetroot (Beta vulgaris L.), Arugula (Eruca vesicaria), and Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) microgreens by assessing the effects of three distinct monopolar PEF protocols (PEFA: 2 kV/cm; PEFB: 3 kV/cm; PEFC: 4 kV/cm). PEFB and PEFC treatments significantly influenced imbibition. Germination Indexes (DGI, CGI, and SVI) were positively and significantly affected, with radicle length increasing up to 33% and DGI improving from 40 to 66 on the 1st day (Beetroot, PEFC). Chlorophylls and the Total Carotenoid concentration increased in Basil but decreased in Beetroot and Arugula. Fat and Protein increased in Beetroot (Fat: +41%; Protein: +34%) and Arugula (Fat: +91%; Protein: +11%) treated with PEFC. PEFB led to an increase in Starch in all species. Crude Fibre and Neutral Detergent Fibre decreased amongst all species. Methionine rose by 100% in Beetroot treated with PEFC. Sensory analysis showed slight increases in Sweet (Beetroot) and Aroma Intensity (Basil and Arugula), although these changes were not statistically significant. Species-specific responses to different PEF protocols were observed: optimal protocols seem to be PEFC for Beetroot, PEFB for Arugula, and PEFA/B for Basil.
- Nutritional Approaches in Neurodegenerative Disorders: A Mini Scoping Review with Emphasis on SPG11-Related ConditionsPublication . Ribeiro, Paulo Renato; Ferreira, Carmen; Antunes, Carlos; Dias, Gonçalo; Cunha Silva Reis Lima, Maria Joao; de Pinho Ferreira Guiné, Raquel; Teixeira-Lemos, EditeBackground: Neurodegenerative diseases, including spastic paraplegia type 11 (SPG11), are complex disorders characterized by progressive neurological decline and significant metabolic disturbances. Spatacsin, the protein encoded by the SPG11 gene, plays a critical role in autophagy and lysosomal homeostasis, which are essential for neuronal health. Its impairment leads to defective cellular clearance and neurodegeneration. Recently, personalized and precision nutrition have emerged as promising approaches to enhance clinical outcomes by tailoring dietary interventions to individual genetic, metabolic, and phenotypic profiles. Objectives: This mini scoping review aimed to synthesize current evidence on the application of personalized and precision nutrition in SPG11 and to explore how insights from related neurodegenerative diseases could inform the development of future dietary and metabolic interventions for this rare disorder. Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, a scoping review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases (2020–2024). Eligible studies included investigations addressing nutritional, genomic, or metabolic interventions in neurodegenerative diseases. Of 30 screened papers, nine met the inclusion criteria, primarily focusing on nutritional and metabolic interventions related to neurodegenerative and neuromuscular conditions. Results: To date, no dietary intervention trials have been conducted specifically for SPG11. However, evidence from studies on related neurodegenerative diseases suggests that antioxidant, mitochondrial-supportive, and microbiota-targeted dietary approaches may beneficially influence key pathological processes such as oxidative stress, lipid dysregulation, and autophagy—core mechanisms that are also central to SPG11 pathophysiology. Conclusions: Although current evidence remains preliminary, personalized nutrition is a promising supplementary strategy for managing neurodegenerative diseases, including SPG11. Future research should incorporate systems-based approaches that combine dietary, metabolic, and neuroimaging assessments, with sex and comorbidity-stratified analyses, multi-omics profiling, and predictive modeling. These frameworks could help design safe, effective, and personalized nutritional interventions aimed at enhancing metabolic resilience and slowing disease progression in SPG11.