Research Interests

Catarina’s research objectives are:

• Establish mechanistic links between peripheral and cerebrovascular responses to dietary components, particularly plant-derived flavonoids
• Investigate the role of dietary flavonoids in affecting peripheral and cerebrovascular responses to physical activity and also physical inactivity
• Understand how diet can affect vascular responses to mental stress

The ultimate goal of Catarina’s research is to establish effective lifestyle strategies that include both exercise and diet to improve peripheral vascular function, cerebrovascular function and mental health across different populations and throughout the lifespan.