Tokyo - Japanese researchers have developed computerized chopsticks that enhance salty taste, potentially helping those who need to reduce sodium in their diets.
The chopsticks were developed in collaboration with Professor Humi Miyashita of Meiji University and Kirin Holdings Company, a beverage manufacturer, enhancing flavors using electrical stimulation and a small computer worn on a wristband.

Miyashita said the device uses a weak electric current to transfer sodium ions from the food, through the chopsticks, to the mouth where it creates a salty sensation.

Flavor-enhancing chopsticks may be particularly important in Japan, where the traditional diet favors salty tastes. The average Japanese adult consumes about 10 grams of salt daily, twice the amount recommended by the World Health Organization.

Excess sodium intake is linked to increased incidence of high blood pressure, strokes, and other diseases.

Researcher Ai Sato of Kirin said, "To prevent these diseases, we need to reduce the amount of salt we consume."

Miyashita and Kirin are improving their model of the chopsticks and hope to market them early next year.