During the last decades, many novel techniques of food processing have been developed in response to growing demand for safe and high quality food products. Nowadays, consumers have high expectations regarding the sensory quality, functionality and nutritional value of products. They also attach great importance to the use of environmentally-friendly technologies of food production. The aim of this review is to summarize the applications of PEF in food technology and, potentially, in production of functional food. The examples of process parameters and obtained effects for each application have been presented.

Edible insects are gaining attention as a novel food; however, studies with their use in food are still limited. This study aimed to determine the chemical composition, physical parameters, sensory acceptance, and biological properties of muffins enriched with different levels of cricket (Gryllodes sigillatus) and mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) flours. The approximate composition was analyzed, along with the physical and textural properties, color, and consumer acceptance. Moreover, the antioxidant properties, starch digestibility, and glycemic index were determined in vitro. As we expected, the protein content in muffins supplemented with insect flour increased, while the carbohydrates content decreased. Moreover, the total phenolic content and antioxidant capacity against ABTS·⁺ and DPPH· increased correspondingly as the percentage of insect flour in the muffins increased. The estimated glycemic index was lower for the fortified muffins than the control (p < 0.05). Additionally, enriched muffins were accepted by consumers, and their taste positively surprised respondents (p < 0.05). Therefore, the results obtained are satisfactory as regards the use of insects for the supplementation of traditional products, and further research into the addition of insects to other nutrient matrices is needed. Furthermore, examining the effect of insect addition on in vivo food biological activity is highly desirable.

Purpose of Review: A number of recent studies have suggested that intermittent fasting is as effective as traditional calorie restriction (CR) for weight loss and for cardioprotection. However, it is still unclear whether IF improves diabetes risk indicators as does CR. This review provides an overview of various patterns of intermittent fasting and shows the effect of intermittent fasting on human anthropometric such as excess body weight and biochemical parameters for example high glucose and fasting insulin, which are risk factors for diabetes. Recent Findings: There is a growing body of evidence pointing to the benefits of intermittent fasting for glucose and insulin homeostasis, but this should be confirmed by further studies in population groups with (or at high risk) type II diabetes and insulin resistance. Long-term studies are also needed that could reveal potential negative health effects that some studies report. Summary: Eleven studies in overweight/obese adult people that included changes in weight, body composition, and diabetic parameters (fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1c concentration, and HOMA-IR index) were published between 2012 and 2020. Seven studies concerning the effects of alternate day fasting (ADF) on weight loss and diabetic parameters were analyzed. All of them have shown the effects of ADF on weight loss and slight improvement in diabetic parameters. For time-restricted feeding (TRF), a significant improvement in the HOMA-IR index was observed in 2 studies. One study saw an increase in fasting glucose. An analysis of 2 studies using a complete alternate day fasting (CADF) was performed. One study showed decrease in fasting glucose and insulin, and in one a decrease in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was observed. Conclusion: Different types of intermittent fasting reduce body weight and reduce diabetes parameters such as fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HOMA-IR index, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c).