TOKYO — Shocking new research out of Japan could help countless people reduce their salt intake. Scientists report that electrical stimulation of the tongue using a stick-shaped device can increase the perceived saltiness (and perhaps spiciness) of low-sodium foods.
An experiment involving human volunteers found that this electroshock taste stick therapy could lead to a 30 percent reduction in salt consumption. Although the tongue strike certainly doesn’t sound good, the researchers assure that the electric current is quite weak.
Countless people eat too much salt. We put it on our dinners, breakfasts and everything in between. While a little salt is tasty, too much can be harmful. The most common health problem associated with excess salt consumption is hypertension. Furthermore, according to the World Health Organization, a staggering 2.5 million deaths each year could be prevented if the world reduced salt consumption to the recommended amount of less than five grams per day.
This research, conducted by scientists at Meiji University and Kirin, a Japanese food and beverage company, could help millions stick to a low-sodium diet without sacrificing taste. The research team’s newly created wand-like device uses a weak electrical charge to stimulate and change the way the tongue senses saltiness.
Rod device and its structure. (A) Rod device. (B) Structure of a rod device (Kaji and Miyashita, 2021).
What does electricity do to the tongue?
Earlier work had already found that exposing the tongue to a weak electric current could affect the charged ions that make up sodium chloride to inhibit or enhance saltiness and other tastes. However, this latest study is the first to investigate whether electrical taste stimulation can act as a dieting tool.
“Many people consume about twice the salt intake standard recommended by WHO,” lead author Yoshinobu Kaji, a master’s student at Meiji University’s Graduate School of Advanced Mathematical Sciences, said in a news release. “This standard cannot be met with little effort to reduce salt and a drastic solution is essential. This study is an important approach because it suggests that a 30% salt reduction can be achieved by electrical stimulation.
To begin, the researchers designed an electrical stimulation waveform that included the optimal amplitude and frequency needed to enhance low-sodium foods. They then carefully “disconnected” their own taste buds before moving on to an experiment involving 31 people previously or currently on a low-sodium diet. Participants used the newly developed electrified chopsticks.
Each person tasted and rated the salinity of several samples of salt water gel with two levels of salinity. Of course, electrical stimulation eventually increased the salinity of the low-sodium sample. The volunteers added that the low-sodium sample tasted comparable to the control sample, which was 40 percent saltier!
The researchers conclude that these findings suggest that their electrified sticks could potentially reduce salt intake by up to 30 percent without sacrificing salinity. Even better, over 80 percent of participants said they would be willing to tolerate electrical stimulation on a daily basis.
Electricity can give some foods a better mouthfeel
The group then participated in a second qualitative experiment. They ate low-sodium miso soup, and many reported that their soup had a “better mouthfeel and taste,” indicating that electrical taste stimulation may also benefit umami taste perceptions ( spiciness).
The research team says their long-term goal is to develop a widespread stick-shaped device for everyday use. The target customer base will be consumers who want to reduce their salt intake or adhere to a low sodium diet. In addition, the authors of the study even explore opportunities related to virtual reality technology.
“In the future, for example, it may be possible to virtually reproduce the taste of food and drink, or to realize taste expressions that are difficult to achieve with conventional food experiences,” Kaji concludes.
The research was published in the journal Frontiers in Virtual Reality.
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