Nanoparticles are considered magic bullets because of their unique properties. Nowadays, the use of nanoparticles has emerged in almost every field of science and technology, owing to its potential of revolutionizing specific fields. In the field of food science and technology, the use of nanoparticles is being studied in diverse areas, starting with the harvesting of crops up to final food consumption. With the increased usage of nanoparticles in day-to-day life, concern over their safety has arisen in everyone’s mind. There is an imbalance between the increase in research to identify new nanoparticle applications and their safety, and this has triggered pressure on scientists to identify the possible effects of nanoparticles on human health. There are numerous studies on the use of nanotechnology in food and the effect of nanoparticles on human health, but there is a vacuum in the literature in terms of the combined analysis of such studies. This review is an attempt to present and analyze different studies on the use and the safety of nanoparticles in food.

Purpose Keeping in view the diabetes status that has affected about 415 million people globally and is the leading cause of death in many countries along with therising demand for low Glycemic Index (GI) foods, the purpose of this paper is to optimize the extrusion process for the development of low GI snacks from underutilized crops like water chestnut and barley. Design/methodology/approach The extrusion parameters (screw speed and barrel temperature), feed moisture and water chestnut flour, barley flour proportion, were varied and their effects on system and product responses (specific mechanical energy, water absorption index, water solubility index, bulk density, expansion ratio and breaking strength) were studied. Findings All the system and product responses were significantly affected by independent variables. Response surface and regression models were established to determine the responses as function of process variables. Models obtained were highly significant with high coefficient of determination (R2=0.88). The optimum processing conditions obtained by numerical optimization for the development of snacks were 90°C barrel temperature, 300 rpm screw speed, 14 per cent feed moisture and WCF-to-BF ratio as 90:10. Shelf life studies confirmed that the developed snacks can be safely stored in HDPE bags for a period of six months under ambient conditions. Originality/value Water chestnut and barley flour did not blend till date for extrusion cooking. Such snacks shall be a viable food option for diabetic people and can act as laxative due to high fibre and β-glucan content from barley.

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The present research was conducted with an aim to explore underutilized crops like water chestnut and barley for the development of low glycemic index (GI) muffins. Incorporation of barley flour (BF) had a significant (p < 0.05) effect on quality attributes and glycemic response of muffins. The resistant starch content of final product (43.5%) was also found to be higher than water chestnut (40.24%) and BF (5.18%). The study confirms that replacement of 30% of water chestnut flour (WCF) with BF is feasible for development of low GI muffins with desired sensory attributes. During storage, firmness, water activity, free fatty acid, and peroxide value of the muffins prepared from 70% WCF and 30% BF were found to increase, whereas moisture content and overall acceptability were decreased. Inference drawn from storage studies was that linear low‐density polyethene is suitable packaging material for safe storage of muffins up to 35 days. Practical applications Diabetes is the third largest noncommunicable disease and affects a large section of population globally. Diabetic patients are not able to consume bakery products because of their high GI which leads to upsurge in blood glucose levels. Water chestnut and BF are low in GI and can be utilized for development of low GI bakery products. Muffins prepared from water chestnut and BF can prove as a viable food item for people suffering from hyperglycemia. The modification of baking process and replacement of table sugar with nonnutritive sweeteners (mannitol and sucralose) further reduces the GI and improves its commercial applicability in the therapeutic diets. Moreover, water chestnut‐based muffins incorporated with BF can act as a laxative because of its high dietary fiber and β‐glucan content provided by BF.

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