Abnormally high temperatures have led to consecutive days where people face a high risk of heatstroke. Recently, a photograph from a Toda Construction site, one of Japan's leading construction corporations, drew significant attention. It depicted workers enjoying bananas sprinkled with salt during their break.

This food-based nutritional supplement method, widely adopted for heatstroke prevention, was reported by UTY TV Yamanashi. Its creator is Doctor Rikka Fukuda, Director of the Hamanasu Elderly Care Facility in Fujikawaguchiko town, who also serves as President of the Japan Trail Running Association.

Doctor Fukuda shared that the idea originated around 2010 when he started providing bananas and salt to athletes. His aim was to offer nutritional support and prevent heatstroke during challenging mountain trail runs.

Doctor Rikka Fukuda's salt-sprinkled banana dish for heatstroke prevention. *Photo: TBS News Dig*.

"I wanted athletes to consume enough salt and bananas," he recounted, "so one day, I tried sprinkling salt directly onto bananas to serve them. After the race, they responded, 'Thanks to eating salt-sprinkled bananas, my legs no longer cramped.'" Initially, the effectiveness of salt-sprinkled bananas was primarily recognized within trail running circles. However, it quickly gained popularity and spread to urban areas.

Doctor Fukuda explained that simultaneously supplementing sodium, potassium, and magnesium effectively helps the body maintain hydration. Bananas are particularly rich in potassium and magnesium; a typical 100-gram banana provides up to 360 mg of potassium and 32 mg of magnesium, more than many other fruits. However, bananas contain almost no sodium. Therefore, adding salt is the "perfect piece" to compensate for this sodium deficiency, creating an ideal electrolyte-replenishing formula to prevent heatstroke.

Beyond its use by businesses for outdoor workers, this simple method is also easy to incorporate into daily life. Doctor Fukuda noted that during 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night, we typically do not drink water, yet our bodies still sweat, leading to subtle dehydration. "Enjoying a salt-sprinkled banana as an evening snack is a wonderful solution that I recommend everyone try," he said.

Sprinkling salt on bananas helps compensate for sodium deficiency, creating an ideal electrolyte-replenishing formula to prevent heatstroke. *Photo: TBS News Dig*.

Binh Minh (According to UTY TV Yamanashi)