Although there are warnings about the use of salt, the use of salt continues to increase all over the world. It is a well-known fact that salt, which is used because of the flavor it gives to the food, is harmful to health.
A REVOLUTIONARY INVENTION FROM JAPANESE SCIENTISTS
The sticks, developed by Homei Miyashita of Meiji University in Tokyo and his team in partnership with Japanese food giant Kirin, are actually based on a simple system.
The sticks, which are given a weak electric current so as not to harm the human, transmit the sodium chloride and sodium glutamate ions in the food to the mouth, creating an artificial salt sensation, causing the taste of the eaten food to be perceived as stronger or weaker.
Subjects who tasted reduced-salt miso soup during product development said that the product increased the “richness, sweetness, and overall flavor” of the dish.
JAPANESE DIET
Although Japanese food is generally considered healthy in the world, it is a fact that ingredients with a high salt content such as miso and soy sauce are used frequently and a lot.
So much so that 10 grams of salt, which is the daily salt intake of a Japanese adult, is twice the World Health Organization’s recommendation of 5 grams. The Japanese government aims to reduce the amount of salt to 7.5 grams for men and 6.5 grams for women.
SALT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CAUSE OF HEART ATTACK AND PALACE
It is known that high salt consumption raises blood pressure, which is the most important cause of heart attack and stroke.
“If we try to reduce salt intake by conventional means, we’ll either have to suffer cutting out our favorite foods from our diet or we’ll end up eating extremely tasteless, salt-free meals,” says Kirin researcher Ai Sato.
Miyashita’s laboratory, which invented electric chopsticks, continues its research in different areas using technology that stimulates the senses. One of his past inventions was the lickable TV screen that imitated the taste of different foods.
It is planned to further develop and market the prototype of the salt-increasing chopsticks.