Monday to Sunday, including holidays: 8h - 20h
Phone number: 282 420 020
Av. S. João de Deus - Parque de Saúde da Misericordia de Portimão,
8500-508 Portimão
Opening Hours
Monday to Friday: 7am - 10pm
Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays: 8 am - 10 pm
Urgent Care
Daily: 8am - 9pm
Clinical Analysis
Monday to Friday: 7am - 8pm
SaturdaySunday and Bank Holidays: 8am - 8pm
Av. General Humberto Delgado, Lote 7 7520-103 Sines
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waiting times
Hospital Particular Alvor
00h00mAtendimento Urgente
Hospital Particular Gambelas
00h00mAtendimento Urgente
00h00mPediatria
Hospital Particular da Madeira
00h00mAtendimento Urgente
00h00mPediatria
Madeira Medical Center
00h00mAtendimento Urgente
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Alternatively contact us on tel: 282 420 400* ( Algarve ) 269 630 370* ( Alentejo ) 291 00 33 00* (Madeira Island) or by email: callcenter@grupohpa.com
All information can also be obtained at the Reception counter of any one of our Hospitals or Clinics.
*(national landline)
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Nutritionist
HPA Magazine 12
Unquestionably, one of the biggest trends in the food market relates to an increasingly emerging concept referred to as “super-food”. But, does science confirm this new status ascribed to some food? Nutritious and tasty, they are without doubt, but let's see if their nutritional characteristics so widely disseminated through the media, coincide with reality.
It is not easy to pinpoint their origin as there are references to the therapeutic "powers" of some foods that date back thousands of years. However, the concept of functional food originated in the twentieth century in the 1980s in Japan, with this type of food being a separate class labeled FOSHU (food for specified health uses). The interest in functional foods was launched and grew as a result of the increase in health costs, making it necessary to adopt strategies for the promotion of a healthy lifestyle, given the increasing average life expectancy.
The European Commission's Concerted Action on Functional Food Science in Europe (FuFoSE), coordinated by the International Life Science Institute (ILSI) Europe, defined functional foods as: "all those that demonstrate a satisfactory influence on one or more functions of the human body, in addition to the already known nutritional benefits, which is relevant in improving the state of health and well-being. " Therefore, a food acquires functional food status whenever it gives rise to beneficial physiological effects on health, namely in reducing the risk of developing disease or contributing to the maintenance / promotion of health, in addition to its basic function: nutrition. However, its nutritional wealth is not, by itself, a protective shield against all evils, contrary to what is often advertised.
Let's take a few examples: a dessert spoon of raw cocoa powder (rich in magnesium) is equivalent to a small banana; 5g of spirulina powder (rich in iron) is equivalent to two tablespoons of lentils; 30g of goji berries (high in vitamin C) are equivalent to ¼ orange; 5g of açaí (high content of vitamin A) is equivalent to a small cooked beet.
Each functional food has one or several bioactive compounds that are considered to be responsible for the health benefits of these foods. The most common bioactive compounds are: antioxidants (vitamins A, C and E, flavonoids, beta-carotene, lycopene, curcumin, etc.), polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega 3, omega 6, omega 9), dietary fibers, prebiotics , probiotics, etc.
However, these compounds must be present in foods (synergy between various nutrients) and not isolated in tablets or capsules and must demonstrate their effect in quantities that are expected to be consumed in a normal diet. It is important to note that their therapeutic dose is often not attainable with food in its natural state, so they should not be elevated to the category of "Gods" but rather used as nutritional strategies in a diverse and healthy diet.