Could the ‘Giant Panda diet’ be the next new clean eating trend? The first ever academic review into bamboo as a food source has uncovered a slate of potential health benefits to match any ‘superfood’ on our supermarket shelves.
Researchers at Anglia Ruskin University in England collated and critically appraised all existing literature on bamboo and human health.
They found that bamboo can help regulate blood sugar levels and reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. Bamboo consumption is also associated with increased anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity, reduced cell toxicity and improved cell viability.
Another study reviewed by the ARU team showed that bamboo can inhibit the formation of certain toxic chemicals produced when food is fried or roasted, meaning the rest of your plate might be safer for bamboo’s presence too.
Don’t just pull up the first bamboo shoot you see and start chewing on it, though: Some species of bamboo contain chemical compounds that can release cyanide if eaten raw or improperly prepared.
“Bamboo is already commonly eaten in parts of Asia and it has huge potential to be a healthy, sustainable addition to diets worldwide – but it must be prepared correctly,” said Lee Smith, Professor of Public Health at ARU and senior author of the study.
“The multiple health benefits we identified, including its potential to tackle modern health challenges like diabetes and heart disease, are likely due to the nutritional content of bamboo and its extracts, with bamboo rich in proteins, amino acids, carbohydrates, minerals and vitamins.”
Bamboo seeds – sometimes called ‘bamboo rice’ – are also edible but not found as commonly as shoots as bamboo does not flower or fruit frequently.
Bamboo is well known for its rapid growth rate (which can be achieved without the use of irrigation, fertilizers or pesticides) and versatility not just as a foodstuff but also as a source of natural fiber for sustainable fashion and even as a building material.
Its ability to sequester significant amounts of carbon from the atmosphere and the fact that it can be grown in a range of different conditions are yet more reasons to investigate its suitability for helping society overcome sustainability hurdles in food production and other key areas.
More research is needed before big food industry players pile into bamboo shoot products though – after all, the ARU team’s exhaustive examination of all existing research only turned up 16 studies.
