The Japanese eat too much salt. They consume an average of ten grams per day, twice as much as the limit recommended by the World Health Organization. Doctors are finding that more and more patients are suffering from high blood pressure. To help them contain their salt intake, Japanese researchers have just invented “magic” chopsticks, which modify the perception of the taste of food. Explanations.
The Japanese population already has a generally very healthy life with a record life expectancy: nearly 88 years for women and nearly 82 years for men. According to specialists, this is due to a very good policy of medical prevention and a rather healthy diet. The Japanese eat a lot of fish, vegetables, soy, and drink a lot of tea.
But despite everything, doctors are concerned about the consumption of too salty foods which contributes to the appearance, with age, of blood pressure problems. This does not come from the salt shaker, but from the condiments, which are naturally very salty. It can be those dark soy sauces that we use for example with sushi, fermented vegetables or miso paste, which we find in soups or in ramen.
The idea is to use a little less of these condiments without feeling like your dish is bland. Scientists from Meiji University and the Kirin Society have created electric wands that will somehow trick your taste buds. You have your chopsticks in hand, they are connected by a small wire to a mini computer that you hang on your wrist, a bit like a big watch. When you bring food to your mouth, these chopsticks will conduct a very slight electric current, you will not feel anything, and this current will boost the sodium ions and amplify the salty taste in your mouth.
On your little wrist computer, you have buttons to scale your saltiness. You can amplify it by almost 50% and thus reduce your consumption of real salt by the same amount. To broaden the consumer target, the researchers want to develop the concept to other utensils, such as forks and spoons, which are more common in Western kitchens.
Kirin is currently finishing its consumer tests and it could market all these utensils from next year. We do not yet know the exact prices.