According to Reuters, Homei Miyashita, a professor at Meiji University in Japan, has worked with Japanese beverage manufacturer Kirin to develop an electronic chopstick that enhances the salty taste, which is expected to help those who need to reduce their sodium intake in their diet.
This type of chopstick uses a weak electric current to transfer sodium ions from food through the chopsticks to the mouth, which then creates a salty feeling.
Miyashita said: "After using this pair of chopsticks, the saltiness is increased by 1.5 times. ”
Miyashita and his lab are dedicated to exploring a variety of techniques that interact and stimulate human sensory experiences. He has also previously developed a lickable electronic screen that mimics the taste of a variety of foods.
Chopsticks that enhance the sense of taste may have a special significance in Japan, because traditional Japanese eating habits taste salty. The average Japanese adult consumes about 10 grams of salt per day, twice as much as the World Health Organization recommends.
Excessive sodium intake has been linked to an increased incidence of high blood pressure, stroke, and other diseases.
Ai Sato, a researcher at Kirin, said: "To prevent these diseases, we need to reduce our salt intake. If we try to avoid eating less salt in the traditional way, we have to endure the pain of reducing our favorite foods from our diet, or suffering from eating poor foods. "
Currently, Miyashita and Kirin are perfecting their chopstick prototype and hope to commercialize it as early as next year.