Bamboo Shoots Lower Cholesterol and Prevent Cancer

Many people don’t think of bamboo as a food, however bamboo shoots have been eaten in China for more than 2,500 years, and they are now being hailed as a new superfood. Research has shown that high-fiber young bamboo shoots are a rich source of minerals (potassium, calcium, manganese, zinc, chromium, copper, iron, plus lower amounts of phosphorus, and selenium), vitamins (thiamine, niacin, vitamin A, vitamin B6, and vitamin E) and amino acids (17 in total, 8 of which are essential amino acids). They also contain high levels phytosterols, anti-cancer agents, and anti-microbial compounds. Professor Nirmala Chongtham, of Panjab University in India and colleagues note that eating bamboo shoots conveys a number of health benefits, “from cancer prevention and weight loss to lowering cholesterol level, improving appetite and digestion.”