Bamboo has been used for thousands of years as a versatile plant, however, recent studies have uncovered medical and nutritional benefits that have given it additional value.
After its role had previously been limited to using its stem in construction, textile production, paper, fuel, and other economic purposes, its shoots and leaves are now emerging as a recommended dietary option to support health.
Eating bamboo has been linked to several potential benefits, including helping to regulate blood sugar levels, reducing allergic reactions, and enhancing heart health, along with other benefits that scientists continue to study and confirm, especially given the preliminary indicators suggesting its significant health properties.
Bamboo: The Fastest Growing Plant on Earth
Bamboo is among the fastest-growing plants on the earth's surface, capable of growing about 90 centimeters daily. This plant has more than 1500 uses and is widely prevalent in India and China. Researchers in nutrition and health fields have shown increasing interest in it, given its rich nutritional content.
It is distinguished by its high protein content, low fat, along with a moderate fiber content. It includes 17 amino acids, carbohydrates, and a range of vitamins such as thiamine (B1), niacin (B3), vitamin A, vitamin E, and pyridoxine (B6), in addition to important minerals like selenium and potassium.
Health Benefits of Bamboo
A team of researchers conducted a systematic review including 16 studies, ranging from human clinical trials to laboratory studies on human cells, with the aim of exploring the health benefits of bamboo and its impact on some biomarkers within the body.
This academic study is the first of its kind that gathers and analyzes all research related to the impact of bamboo on humans.
A group of elite scientists and specialists from several countries, led by Professor Lee Smith from Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom, conducted the data analysis and evaluated the results.
The results showed promising indicators of the benefits of bamboo, including its potential role in regulating blood sugar levels, supporting digestive and heart health. However, researchers emphasized the importance of continuing studies, particularly clinical ones, to verify these results more accurately and arrive at clear recommendations regarding the use of bamboo.
Bamboo for Heart Health and Blood Sugar Regulation
The studies have shown several benefits that can be obtained from consuming bamboo:
• Regulating blood sugar levels: Bamboo shoots play a role in metabolic processes, improving the glycemic index which lowers high glucose levels thus regulating sugar for diabetes patients specifically, and the results demonstrated the positive impact that bamboo extract shared in protecting cells from high sugar levels.
• Supporting cardiovascular health and preventing diseases associated with it, through helping to regulate blood lipid levels, such as cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL), thanks to the fiber-rich content of bamboo shoots.
• Protecting the body from damages arising from the formation of certain toxic compounds that arise when some types of food are exposed to high heat, such as grilling or frying, most notably acrylamide and glycidamide, and furan (Furan), as bamboo reduces the production of acrylamide and inhibits the compound fu r a n, attributed to the antioxidants rich in flavonoids concentrated in bamboo leaves.
• Improving the efficiency of the digestive system and promoting the growth of beneficial bacteria in the intestines, where improvement in bowel movement and relief from constipation were noticed within six days of consuming bamboo, in a short-term study published in Nutrition (Nutrition) journal and conducted on eight young women by specialists in food science and nutrition.
• Alleviating irritation and allergic reactions that may arise in the body, this is particularly credited to bamboo leaves rich in phenolic acids, like orientin, isoorientin, vitexin, according to a laboratory study published by the Korean Nutrition Society in 2013.
The Edible Part of Bamboo
The term "Shoots" refers to the young pointed sprouts that recently grow and break through the soil until they reach about 20 – 30 centimeters in length, which is the most nutrient-rich part suitable for eating, and it is usually recommended to consume, especially the tender part at its base. Bamboo leaves are also used in preparing a variety of different food products.
The beneficial properties, such as helping to regulate blood lipid and sugar levels, are attributed to bamboo shoots, which are also described as having the ability to resist ulcers and worms.
As for bamboo leaves, they are distinguished by their nutritional value due to their protein, calcium, and potassium content, along with phenolic compounds that provide them with anti-allergy, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties.
Important Information
Compounds called cyanogenic glucosides contained in bamboo plants pose a challenge that must continuously be addressed to avoid potential risks as much as possible.
After consuming bamboo, these compounds release hydrogen cyanide as they decompose by digestive enzymes in the stomach, a substance toxic to the body, the highest amount of which is concentrated in the upper part of the shoots, and bamboo might also reduce iodine absorption in the body thereby affecting the thyroid gland possibly causing goiter sometimes.
The Secret in Preparing Bamboo
Experts recommend slicing bamboo shoots into strips then boiling them for no less than 15 minutes, which ensures reducing their cyanide content by up to 91% making them safe for consumption.
It is noted that cyanide toxicity poses a risk to the body, accompanied by symptoms that may be mild like nausea or severe like breathing difficulties, and could lead to death in highly dangerous situations.
Thus, the lead researcher Professor Smith in the published research emphasizes the importance of properly preparing bamboo to reap its benefits and avoid its potential toxicity.
