One of the fastest growing plants of the world, bamboo is a part of a wide variety of Asian Cuisine. Rich in Vitamins and Minerals, this plant is well known for its therapeutic properties. Bamboo shoots are the newly growing shoots that are tender in nature and are used for medicinal and food purposes. These shoots are rich in protein, carbohydrates, fiber and mineral content. Freshly collected bamboo shoots have high amounts of thymine, niacin and vitamin A, B6 and E. Bamboo shoot based diet is a rich source of dietary fiber and has low cholesterol content. Due to its rich nutritional profile, bamboo consumption is known to provide various health benefits such as controlling blood pressure, preventing cardiovascular diseases, aiding digestion and keeping issues such as hypertension at bay.
Learn more about the health benefits of nutrient-rich bamboo shoots from Ms Anam Golandaz, Clinical Dietician, Masina Hospital, Mumbai.
Health Benefits of Bamboo Shoot
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Rich in various vitamins, minerals and other nutrients, bamboo shoot is popular for its therapeutic properties. From preventing severe conditions like heart diseases and hypertension to keeping blood pressure and cholesterol levels in check, bamboo shoots can do it all. Let us move further and learn about the health benefits of adding this nutrient rich vegetable in our diet.
#1. Aids Weight Loss
Diet, yoga and exercise are some of the most common weight loss techniques that people follow. While some starve themselves in order to follow those strict diets, it is important to know that foods such as bamboo can be of great help. One cup of bamboo shoot just contains 13 calories and half a gram of fat content in it. Its low calorie and low fat content makes it a weight loss friendly food. Moreover, bamboo shoots are rich in dietary fiber. This rich fiber content helps to slow down the process of digestion that keeps you full for long.
#2. Prevents Heart Diseases
Heart diseases have come out to be one of the most common causes of death worldwide that affects people of all age groups. A severe condition that is caused due to blockage in arteries caused by high amounts of bad cholesterol levels in blood.
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This cholesterol tends to build up on the walls of the arteries, making it difficult for the blood to flow which leads to conditions like stroke and heart attack. Regular consumption of bamboo shoots is known to reduce the bad cholesterol levels in blood. As bamboo shoots are loaded with phytonutrients and phytosterols, they are effective in dissolving the bad cholesterol and unclogging the arteries.
#3. Aids Digestion
A great source of dietary fiber, bamboo is known to promote gut health and aid digestion. With fiber being the fuel to colon cells, it helps in regulating the bowel movement and keeps your digestive tract flowing. Not just aiding digestion but consumption of bamboo shoots can be good for your gut health in several other ways as well. Adding this vegetable into your regular diet is helpful in providing relief from intestinal worms.
#4. Strengthens Immunity
Immunity and ways to boost up the immune system have been the most discussed topics around the globe since the virus outbreak. Due to the emergence of pandemic, people have started pondering upon the importance of immunity. Bamboo shoot is a food item that is known to strengthen the immune system functioning due to its rich nutritional properties.
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A regular consumption of cooked bamboo shoots is known to provide protection against several bacterial and viral infections.
#5. Has Antivenemous properties
There are various venomous creatures that cohabitate with us in several parts of the world. The poison or venom of these creatures can be life threatening as it enters our bloodstream. Bamboo shoots are known for their anti-venomous properties which means that their consumption can be effective against these venomous creatures. This property of bamboo shoots makes it the best first aid treatment in such conditions. Application of bamboo shoot on the wound site is said to be an effective way of drawing out the poison from the patient’s body.
Expert Says
Bamboo shoot is one such vegetable that is loaded with various nutrients and provides many health benefits. A regular consumption of these bamboo shoots is very helpful in keeping a person fit and healthy. We have come a long way while learning about the health benefits of this plant. Let us take a look at some of the precautions that needs to be taken while consuming these bamboo shoots are the correct way to eat them with Ms Anam Golandaz-
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Young and fresh bamboo shoots are bitter in taste and have a strong smell due to the presence of cyanogenic glycoside tefillin compound. Presence of high fiber and fitesterol in bamboo shoots reduces fat and cholesterol levels in the blood. Dietary fiber present in its shoot helps to control blood pressure, hypertension and obesity. It also protects your body from heat diseases and cardiogenesis. The damaged tissues of bamboo secretes a metabolite called taxifolin that can have several side effects.”
- Although this is a very healthy vegetable, but it consumption might be avoided by people in several cases like-
- Pregnant women
- Lactating or breastfeeding women
- Thyroid patients
It is always advised that one should consume a processed or well cooked form of the bamboo shoots so that cyanide content gets reduced. Dosage depends upon age and health concerns. Consult with a healthcare provider or your dietician,before adding anything new to your diet.
With inputs from Ms. Anam Golandaz, Clinical Dietician, Masina Hospital, Mumbai.
