Tag: leite

By Paulo Vaz-Pires and António Afonso | ICBAS

PORTO—Aquatic foods are obtained through fishing, a traditional activity, and aquaculture, a fairly recent intensive production activity. According to WHO, FAO, and nutritional recommendations, they are considered essential in a balanced diet.

Fishing provides around 50 percent of the world's aquatic food, and aquaculture is another 50 percent. The increase in the world's population and difficulties in fishing make aquaculture increasingly indispensable.

Aquatic foods are associated with various myths. ‘Farmed fish is less tasty and healthy than fish from fisheries', and 'aquaculture is environmentally harmful' are common. In fact, farmed fish have excellent nutritional quality, and quality and safety are ensured by modern and efficient systems.

The benefits demonstrated are those related to cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and arthritis. In the area of cancer, there are promising results.

Human interests are very strong and continue to prevent us from achieving adequate sustainability in the aquatic environment, while real solutions are still being pushed into the future, which could be seriously and irreparably affected.

In short, we should consume fish regularly, both from fisheries, selecting less endangered species, and from aquaculture, opting for local and national production. Searching for, selecting, and studying reliable information is the only way to dispel the many myths associated with this type of product.

Image – Paulo Vaz-Pires and António Afonso at the ‘One Health Talk’ held at ICBAS on October 24, 2024. Credits: Sofia A. Costa Lima.

By Luís Pinho, Salette Reis, and Rita Cabrita | ICBAS, FFUP, LAQV-REQUIMTE, SAV (Serviços Veterinários Associados)

PORTO - Milk, besides being a food with high nutritional value, has potential that goes far beyond the glass. Global milk production and consumption of dairy products have increased, with milk playing an important role in the concept of One Health. In this context, it could be highlighted its enrichment in compounds beneficial to human health through animal nutrition; the genetic selection of A2/A2 cows to reverse difficulties in digesting milk protein; animal welfare certification programs and precision production with greater profitability and animal health; and the impact of milk production, especially from ruminant animals, on the conversion of food not consumed by humans into protein of high biological value, on the carbon cycle and the use of lower suitable agricultural land. Milk also has potential as a natural source of raw material in the production of nanoplatforms, namely lipid-based nanoparticles, protein-based nanoparticles, and even exosomes with optimal properties for oral ingestion and transport of bioactive and/or therapeutic agents, allowing to meet the needs of a growing number of people with nutritional deficiencies or who require regular medication to safeguard their health. The manipulation and modification of nanoplatforms to increase their potential and applicability as controlled drug release systems can have an important role in treating oncological and inflammatory diseases.

Image – Rita Cabrita, Salette Reis, and Luís Pinho at the ‘One Health Talk’ held at ICBAS on April 18, 2024. Credits: Begoña Pérez-Cabezas.