By Rikako Murayama and Akiko Okamoto
TOKYO – Japanese researchers have developed computerised chopsticks that improve salty tastes, probably serving to those that want to cut back sodium of their diets.
Co-developed by Meiji College professor Homei Miyashita and beverage maker Kirin Holdings Co., the chopsticks improve tastes utilizing electrical stimulation and a mini-computer worn on a wristband.
The machine makes use of a weak electrical present to transmit sodium ions from meals, via the chopsticks, to the mouth the place they create a way of saltiness, stated Miyashita.
“Because of this, the salty style enhances 1.5 instances,” he stated.
Miyashita and his lab have explored varied ways in which know-how can work together with and stimulate human sensory experiences. He’s additionally developed a lickable TV display that may imitate varied meals flavours.
The taste-enhancing chopsticks could have specific relevance in Japan, the place the normal weight-reduction plan favours salty tastes. The common Japanese grownup consumes about 10 grams of salt per day, double the quantity advisable by the World Well being Organisation.
Extra sodium consumption is expounded to elevated incidence of hypertension, strokes and different illnesses.
“To forestall these illnesses, we have to scale back the quantity of salt we take,” stated Kirin researcher Ai Sato.
“If we attempt to keep away from taking much less salt in a standard means, we would wish to endure the ache of reducing our favorite meals from our weight-reduction plan, or endure consuming bland meals.”
Miyashita and Kirin are refining their chopsticks prototype and hope to commercialise them as early as subsequent yr.
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