Also referred to as bamboo sprouts, bamboo shoots are the edible shoots of the plant species called bamboo. They serve as a common ingredient in several delicacies from around the world, especially in different parts of Asia. With a mild earthy flavour and a crispy texture, they are often canned or boiled. Before adding bamboo shoots to various recipes like curries, soups, salads, and stir-fries, they are usually soaked, boiled, pickled, or cooked. Due to their incredibly impressive nutritional profile, bamboo shoots have become very popular in the natural health domain. Owing to their powerful therapeutic properties, they have been highly commended in various ancient traditional medicine texts, having been referred to as ‘The Plant With Thousand Faces’, ‘The Poor Man’s Timber’, and ‘The Green Gold’. The medicinal applications and benefits of bamboo shoots were first recorded in ancient Chinese books that date way back to 618-907 AD. Moreover, in Japan, they are popularly known as ‘The King of Forest Vegetables’. So, without further ado, let’s learn more about the high nutritional value and several bamboo shoot benefits.
Nutritional Value of Bamboo Shoots
Bamboo shoots are a powerhouse of various potent nutrients like fibre, protein, copper, carbohydrates, minerals, amino acids, sugars, fats, inorganic salts, and vitamins A, B6, K and E. According to a data by USDA, a 100g serving of raw bamboo shoots consists of:
- Calories: 27
- Protein: 2.6g
- Fat: 0.3g
- Carbohydrates: 5.2g
- Dietary fibre: 2.2g
- Phosphorus: 59mg
- Iron: 0.5mg
- Magnesium: 3mg
- Calcium: 13mg
- Sugars: 3g
- Ash: 0.9 g
Moreover, bamboo shoots are a rich source of several other essential nutrients such as potassium, thiamine, riboflavin and vitamins B6, E, and A.
Health Benefits of Bamboo Shoots
With such an impressive nutritional profile, there are several bamboo shoot benefits that you should know of. Some of the major ones are:
- Improves Gut Health
Packed with dietary fibre, bamboo shoots not only promote regularity and gut health but also offer protection against health problems like colorectal cancer, diverticulitis, and haemorrhoids. One of the major health benefits of bamboo shoots is considered to be the elimination of stomach disorders. Test-tube research shows that bamboo shoots also serve as a prebiotic, fueling the beneficial bacteria in your gut.
Research also indicates that your gut microbiome plays a key role in promoting overall health and preventing issues like heart diseases, cancer, depression, type 2 diabetes, and obesity.
- Aids Weight Loss
Millions of people around the globe today are obese and overweight, which is the root of several other major diseases and health issues. Being high in dietary fibres and low in calories, bamboo shoots can considerably help in promoting weight loss when added to a regular diet. The high content of fibre in bamboo shoots helps in slowing down the emptying of your stomach to keep you feeling full for a long period, preventing overeating.
As per 62 different studies, by simply increasing the intake of fibre, there is an increase in weight loss and a decrease in belly fat. According to another study, one of the major health benefits of bamboo shoots is the reduction of high-fat diet obesity and the prevention of metabolic syndrome.
- Promotes Cardiac Health
Some studies suggest that phytonutrients and phytosterols found in bamboo shoots can help reduce harmful LDL cholesterol in your body to improve your cardiac health. The decrease in cholesterol levels in your arteries will ensure a smooth supply of blood throughout the body. Moreover, bamboo shoots are rich in soluble fibre, which absorbs water in your gut and reduces cholesterol levels.
According to several cardiologists, daily intake of bamboo shoots shields your heart from various heart diseases. A test-tube study suggests that fibres extracted from bamboo shoots have powerful cholesterol-lowering properties. Another study involving 8 healthy women showed that consuming 360g of bamboo shoots considerably reduced the levels of LDL (bad) and total cholesterol in just 6 days, as compared to those following a controlled diet.
- Strengthens Immunity
Packed with the power of numerous vitamins and minerals, bamboo shoots can prove to be quite helpful in strengthening your body’s immune system. Daily intake during winter and monsoon can help in shielding you against bacterial and viral infections. Also, it is loaded with antioxidants, which strengthen your body from the inside out.
Another one of the major benefits of bamboo shoots is that it aids in the sharper functioning of your brain and reduces the risk of neurodegenerative diseases.
- Boosts Skin Health
Bamboo shoots are a rich source of silica, which is the third most abundant element in the body after iron and zinc. Silica increases the tissue levels of hydroxyproline, which is an essential amino acid required to synthesise elastin and collagen. The increased production of collagen results in deep hydration of your skin, giving it a radiant glow, youthful look, and a smooth texture.
Conclusion
Being a powerhouse of so many essential and potent nutrients, bamboo shoots have a large number of health benefits; most of which have been scientifically proven while some still need more evidence. All in all, adding a healthy dose of bamboo shoots to your diet can be a wise choice for those of you looking to improve your overall health and well-being.
