The flavor of umami can be described as savory and is found in soy sauce, mushrooms, yeast extracts and parmesan cheese, among other things. Adding umami flavor to your food can reduce your need for salt and help you to lower your sodium, but you do need to be wary of high sodium umami rich foods.
Function
The flavor of umami is satisfying, giving food a hearty and savory flavor. Umami flavor is associated with amino acids, particularly L-glutamate, according to FoodNavigator-USA.com. Foods rich in this amino acid naturally have umami flavor. Umami flavor was identified in Japan in 1908, but has only become widely known in the West in recent years. Adding this flavor component to food can help you to reduce the salt in your meals.
Types
Umami rich foods are particularly common in Asian cuisines, including seaweed, soy sauce, mushrooms, and fish sauce. Some common foods in the West that offer naturally high levels of L-glutamate include sun dried tomatoes, Parmesan cheese, anchovies and cured ham, according to Jacqueline B. Marcus, R.D., author of "Culinary Implications of Umami." Umami flavor is also available in an easy to use, but artificial form as monosodium glutamate or MSG. Many people prefer to avoid MSG in the West due to negative associations with headaches and other side effects, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Significance
Adding umami flavor to foods can allow you to reduce other flavor enhancers like salt and fat, while still creating rich and delicious meals. Expanding your palate to incorporate foods rich in umami can help you to stick to appropriate levels of sodium in your diet without sacrificing flavor. Manufacturers are taking advantage of umami to make low-sodium products taste better and easy to use mushroom extracts may soon be on the market offering a natural umami enhancer.
Benefits
If you need to stick to a low-sodium diet, you may be frustrated by a lack of flavor in your food. Umami makes salt taste saltier, allowing you to make the most of a healthier level of sodium, according to MSNBC. You'll also find your food more satisfying and be apt to eat less. Adding umami flavors to your meals is an ideal way to increase your enjoyment of food, while keeping sodium levels low.
Warning
Umami flavor in the artificial form, as monosodium glutamate or MSG. Many people prefer to avoid MSG in the West due to negative associations with headaches and other side effects, according to the Wall Street Journal. Michael Jacobson, executive director of the Center for Science in the Public Interest, states that normal amounts of MSG do not pose a risk for most people.
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