8 reasons to eat bamboo

Known as the king of forest vegetables in Japan, bamboo shoots offer you more than one benefit in every meal you include them in. Take a look and find out why bamboo is a great ingredient to use in your food. 

Goes well with anything and everything
The almost neutral taste allows you to use it multiple recipes without fear of ruining them. You can use them in soups, salads, stir fries and a number of recipes. Our favourite though is to pickle thin strips of bamboo in a simple mix of sugar, vinegar and some choice spices. 

One ingredient – Two textures
It is really difficult for one ingredient to give you two such contrasting textures in one mouthful, but bamboo does that. Silky and smooth when you put it into your mouth and brilliantly crunchy once you bite into it bamboo shoots hit two birds with one stone. 

Weight watchers’ delight

Bamboo shoots come under the category of vegetables with least calories. Did you know that 100 grams of bamboo shoots contain just about 20 calories, less than .50 grams of fat and just 3 -4 grams of carbohydrates. This amount is different for canned and fresh varieties, but in both cases it is still minimal. 

Keeps you light
The benefits of high fibre include better digestion, lower cholesterol and no constipation woes and bamboo has plenty of it. Eating bamboo in both its canned or fresh forms can be a great help if you are looking to lose some weight. 

Appetite booster
Bamboo shoots contain cellulosic material which stimulates the appetite. Add bamboo shoots to your appetizer and assure that your main meal is well appreciated. The fibre prevents the urge to over eat while the cellulosic builds your appetite making sure you have space in your tummy for dessert too. 

Protein shots
Less calories and more fibre aren’t the only perks of eating bamboo shoots. 100 grams has up to 2.65 grams of protein, which contain 17 of the essential amino acids required by the body. 

Cancer fighter
Several researches done over years have proved that bamboo has anti-carcinogenic properties. The lignans present in bamboo helps against the free radicals that produce dangerous carcinogens. It help fight several types of cancer – especially that of the colon and also types of bacteria, fungi and viruses that have a negative effect on the body.

Rich in vitamin and minerals
Potassium is a mineral which helps greatly to control increased blood pressure levels. Per 100 grams of bamboo you get 644 milligrams of potassium. Apart from potassium it also contains decent amounts of phosphorous, calcium, iron manganese and all important Vitamin B6. 

NOTE – The chances of you finding fresh bamboo shoots easily are slim, but you can always opt for the canned variety which is just as healthy. Also it skips the important process of trimming and boiling the shoots to make them edible – unless of course you have the digestive system of a panda. 

Its time you cook up a storm in your kitchen with this fab ingredient. For inspiration browse through sanjeevkapoor.com where there are plenty of bamboo recipes just for you.

Recommended recipes-

Bamboo Tomato Curry,  Kodagu Baimbale Fry