TOKYO, April 19 (BUS): Japanese researchers have developed computerized chopsticks that enhance the salty taste, which may help those who need to reduce sodium in their diets.
The chopsticks were developed jointly by Meiji University professor Homi Miyashita and beverage maker Kirin Holdings Co. (2503T), tastes are enhanced using electrical stimulation and a small computer worn on his wrist, Reuters reports.
Miyashita said the device uses a weak electric current to move sodium ions from food, via chopsticks, to the mouth where they create a sense of saltiness.
“As a result, the salty taste improved 1.5 times,” he said.
Miyashita and his lab explore different ways technology can interact with and stimulate human sensory experiences. He has also developed a lickable TV screen that can imitate different food flavors.
Taste-enhancing chopsticks may be of particular importance in Japan, where the traditional diet favors salty tastes. The average Japanese adult consumes about 10 grams of salt per day, twice the amount recommended by the World Health Organization.
Excess sodium intake is associated with an increased incidence of high blood pressure, strokes, and other diseases.
“To prevent these diseases, we need to reduce the amount of salt we eat,” said Kirin researcher I Sato.
“If we try to avoid eating less salt in a traditional way, we’ll need to endure the pain of cutting our favorite food out of our diet, or enduring eating bland food.”
Miyashita and Kirin are improving their chopsticks model and hope to market it early next year.