The supermarket bill skyrocketed. To mitigate the effects of inflation, many Portuguese choose cheaper products, often poor from a nutritional point of view. The difficulty in making ends meet increases anxiety levels, which also favors the demand for so-called "comfort food," rich in sugar and fat, with negative consequences for physical and mental health. The relationship between food and behavior is being studied by science. Patrícia Oliveira-Silva, director of the Human Neurobehavioral Laboratory (HNL) at the Catholic University of Portugal. in Porto, is one of the researchers who has been working on the subject. The key to well-being, she says, is in the balance and diversity of what we consume.

Note: You can read the full article in the print edition of Jornal de Negócios on March 3, 2023 (in Portuguese).