Food that heals. Discovering the secrets of herbs

P Portuguese consuming between 7.4 grams and 10.7 grams of salt a day, double the amount recommended by WHO. In order to provide extensive knowledge of aromatic herbs – including their properties and forms of consumption – they occupy a prominent place in nutrition, and since then there are still innumerable unknown varieties Portuguese, Vitacress (a national company based in the southwest of Alentejo) has just organized a seminar on this subject . The moment brought together a number of experts, scientific researchers, agronomists and authors, and the conclusion is unanimous: the use of herbs in food contributes to the reduction of consumption of salt . The initiative was organized in partnership with the Portuguese Nutrition Association (APN) and the proceeds were donated to the Portuguese Institute of Oncology

Can Aromatic Herbs to help cancer treatment?

The exhibition of Teresa Serra, Institute of Experimental and Technological Biology (iBET), devoted to the influence of various foods – such as lavender, peppermint, watercress, broccoli, coriander, basil, salicornia and sarcocornia – in the treatment of colorectal cancer Three-dimensional laboratory models have concluded that these foods demonstrate an important ability to inhibit the growth of human colorectal cancer cells (HT29), and provide the foundation for new pre-clinical and animal tests. In a few years, it is expected that nutritional interventions for the treatment of cancer can be designed as a result of future clinical trials.

The Portuguese consume twice as much salt as the recommended salt

One of the greatest curiosities presented at the Seminar "Aromatic Herbs – Nutrition, Functionality and Innovation" during Monica Sousa's speech . The NOVA Medical School guest lecturer has presented studies based on surveys indicating that the Portuguese consume 7.4 grams of salt a day, but other studies based on corrective urine badysis this number to 10.7 grams, twice as much. Five grams per day recommended by the World Health Organization and against the current theory – which advocates a diet based on dietary recommendations – to a nutrient-based diet, advocating a balanced diet rather than a diet. diet supplemented by dietary supplements [19659003] Is it possible to change dietary habits with herbs

Helena Real, secretary general of the NPC, alerted participants about a worrying factor: less than 20% of the population adheres to the Mediterranean diet, although most of them have the financial resources to do so It is, however, one of the healthiest forms of food, one of the pillars being precisely the reduction of the consumption of culinary salt and the inclusion of aromatic herbs in different dishes. That's why Ian Rowland – Professor Emeritus of Human Nutrition at the University of Reading – presented three studies that measured the potential of herbs and spices as facilitators of acceptance of vegetables and vegetables. foods low in salt and fat.

the research included three meals in three different versions: with fat; low fat; and low in fat, but seasoned with herbs and spices. The results showed that on average, these latter variants had reached a degree of preference consistent with the original versions of the dishes, demonstrating the potential of herbs and spices to help consumers adopt a more balanced diet. In the second study, which tested the reduction in the salt content of the tomato soup, consumers started to prefer the product containing more salt, but after three days of testing, they appreciated more and more the version less salty and with herbs

Rowland explained that this could come from the ability of herbal flavors to influence the perception of salty taste, even though the presence of salt has been reduced by 53%. Finally, another study on the use of herbs and spices in different vegetables has shown the preference of spicy foods, thus demonstrating their potential to help consumers reduce their salt intake.