A research group led by Professor Yoshiaki Miyashita of Meiji University has developed an electrical stimulation waveform and chopstick-type device that enhances the taste of low-salt foods in collaboration with Kirin Holdings Co., Ltd.For the first time in the world, we have confirmed that using this device enhances the saltiness of a low-salt diet by about 1.5 times.
The daily salt intake of Japanese is as high as 1 g for adult males and 10.9 g for adult females.In order to achieve the target amount for prevention of lifestyle-related diseases by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, it is necessary to reduce it by 9.3% or more from the current level.Furthermore, it is said that a daily intake of less than 20 g of salt is desirable to prevent the aggravation of lifestyle-related diseases, but the low-salt diet was felt to be "light in taste" and was a factor that hindered the continuation of the low-salt diet. ..
This time, the research group has developed an electrical stimulation waveform that controls the salty taste with a weak electric current and enhances the taste of a low-salt diet.A sample imitating a general food and a sample imitating a low-salt diet were created for 36 men and women (40-65 years old) who actually have a low-salt diet by creating a chopstick-type device equipped with this technology. After tasting (30% reduction in salt), a clinical test was conducted to evaluate the felt saltiness intensity.
As a result, in the case of the low-salt diet sample, the salty taste was enhanced by about 1.5 times by the chopstick-shaped device, and the salty taste intensity was equivalent to that of the general food sample.As a result, when this device was used when ingesting foods with a 30% reduction in salt, it was possible to provide a salty taste equivalent to that of normal foods.Also, in an experiment using low-salt miso soup, the effect of enhancing saltiness was confirmed, and there was an opinion that the richness, umami, and overall taste were improved.
By utilizing the effect of enhancing saltiness by using electrical stimulation for daily tableware such as chopsticks, spoons, and tea bowls, it is possible to increase the satisfaction of taste with a low-salt diet with a light taste. There is.
