Introduction:
Bamboos belong to the family of Poaceae that are in fact a versatile forest grass variety. It is interesting indeed to know that the distribution of bamboo is almost worldwide with more than 1250 different species being predominantly found in areas of Southeast Asia. Also, more than 1,500 uses of bamboo have been currently listed for commercial and economic use making it one of the most useful plant varieties in the world.
A few examples would be mainly in paper industries, handicraft industries, house construction, manufacturing of furniture, water pipe fabrication, manufacturing storage vessels, domestic or household items, and many more. Bamboo shoots are known to be one of the beneficial health foods owing to their rich content of protein, carbohydrates, vitamins, essential dietary fiber, minerals, and other essential nutrients. Also, these foods have a very low fat percentage. In North eastern India, these shoots form an important and popular cultural part of traditional Indian cuisine with recipes such as ushoi, sebum, rep, mesu, eup, ekhung, hirring and many more.
What Are the Promising Health Benefits of Bamboo Shoots?
Bamboo shoots also contain a rich proportion of tyrosine, arginine, histidine, and leucine as the essential amino acids. Tyrosine, infact, is an essential amino acid responsible in the human body for facilitating important biochemical reactions and isa major constituent of the adrenal gland that acts as the precursor for adrenaline (fight and flight hormone) as well as for several essential metabolic activities. The essential amino acids are also important for protein metabolism, the functioning of the thyroid and pituitary glands and in producing and regulating the endocrine balance through hormonal control in the human body.
The bamboo shoots are primarily composed of high fibre and phytosterols which are known according to current research to significantly reduce the body fat and lower the LDL (low-density lipoprotein) or bad cholesterol levels in the blood. This makes the bamboo shoot one of the sought after cardioprotective foods that would specifically suit individuals suffering from lifestyle related disorders.
As per current nutrition research, the dietary fiber present in bamboo shoots would yield multiple health benefits such as in the control of blood pressure, hypertension as well as central obesity. Also, regular consumption of well-cooked bamboo shoots can essentially protect our body from not only coronary heart diseases, but also can even exert a potential anti-carcinogenic or anti-cancer effect in the human body as per medical research.
What Are the Contraindications of Bamboo Shoots in Pregnancy?
Bamboo shoots need to be firstly properly processed before they are eaten because freshly harvested shoots are known to possess a high content of toxic cyanogenic glycosides. These cyanogenic glycosides may pose systemic health issues in human beings when they are consumed in the raw form of the shoot. Though medical research is limited regarding the contraindications, a few contraindications still exist which shows the possibility of fetal abortion in pregnant women if bamboo shoots are consumed. Nutrition experts usually advise against consuming it in the first trimester of pregnancy while it is safe to completely avoid it (for safety concerns) through the dynamic phase of pregnancy and fetal growth.
What Are Present in Bamboo Shoots for Systemic Health?
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Out of an estimated 17 amino acids reportedly present in bamboo shoots as per nutrition research and evidence, eight amino acids are the essential amino acids needed for protein metabolism in the human body.
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As per recent studies conducted and published in medical literature, the amino acid content in freshly harvested and fermented or canned bamboo shoots (Dendrocalamus giganteus) was much decreased - fermented bamboo shoots contain 2.005 g/100 g of fresh weight or 0.0707 ounces/3.53 ounces and canned bamboo shoots contain1.980 g/100 g of fresh weight or 0.0698/3.53 ounces in comparison to the freshly collected bamboo shoots (that contains 3.863 g/100 g of fresh weight or 0.1361/3.53 ounces). This research shows that fresh juvenile bamboo shoots contain the highest essential amino acid content.
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As mentioned earlier, according to nutrition experts across the globe, a diet rich in phytosterol can definitely possibly reduce the risk of colon, breast, as well as prostate cancer development. This would be due to the potency of phytosterol in possibly inhibiting the progression of tumor growth and also its interference with the cell cycle of tumor cells and causing programmed cell death of cancer cells or apoptosis.
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Some studies also exhibit or focus upon the potency of bamboo shoots to show a strong antioxidative and anti-inflammatory property in the human immune system and also may aid in antimicrobial activities. This would be attributed to the leaves of the bamboo plant having rich antioxidants and high amounts of phenolic compounds.
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According to the research by Park and John, out of the eight phenolic acids present in bamboo shoots (Phyllostachys spp), protocatechuic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and syringic acid are found in abundance (from the extracts of stems) and have demonstrated very high antibacterial activities warding off infections in the human immune system.
How to Do Detoxification of Shoots?
It is indeed true and is to be noted that because of the unstable cyanogenic compound or taxiphyllin in bamboo shoots, one can easily detoxify the shoots by first treating them with boiling water for approximately two hours. This will also make the bamboo shoot edible. Caution should be taken to ensure that one consumes properly prepared or boiled bamboo shoots only. Consumption of raw or cyanogenic compounds can lead to adverse effects as reported in medical literature such as sudden or increased rapid respiration, drop in blood pressure (post consumption), feeling of dizziness, convulsions, gastric distress, and even coma in severe cases.
How to Purchase Bamboo Shoots and What Are the Preparation Methods for Bamboo Shoots?
It is always wise to purchase the freshly harvested bamboo shoots after their hard sheaths are removed and cleaned. One can then treat it with hot water and shred the shoot in small slices. The shoot pieces are further treated with boiled water for one and half hours to eliminate the cyanogens. Processed bamboo shoots that are available commercially usually adopt various methods that almost completely eliminate up to 97 percent of cyanide content for fresh or fermented shoots for a safe and healthy consumption. Cooking the raw bamboo shoots at around 100°C for 48 hours effectively would almost eliminate all of the cyanide content. Other simple procedures would be to slice the tender shoots into thin slices and then dry and boil it in salt water (followed by draining again).
Indian cuisines experiment bamboo shoots in versatile ways such as for preparation of pickles, snacks, papads, fried shoots etc., that is particularly popular in remote and hilly areas of western India. One of the popular Chinese dishes is ‘steamed ground pork patty with finely diced bamboo shoots’ that is prepared by sprinkling the dish with soy sauce as a topping.
In cuisines of countries like Thailand and Vietnam, finely well chopped bamboo shoots are directly prepared as salads immediately after water treatment. The bamboo shoot pieces in Australian cuisines are salted for approximately eight to 10 minutes usually after boiling and then consumed.
Conclusion:
The presence of rich amounts of protein, amino acids, essential micronutrients, minerals, dietary fibre, digestible carbohydrates, and low fat makes the bamboo shoot one of the idealistic nutrient-rich foods. In conclusion, this article highlights the remarkable nutritional value and versatility of bamboo shoots. As explored previously, these crunchy, delicious, and sustainable food items are not only a culinary delight but also a powerhouse of essential nutrients, including dietary fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. From promoting digestive health to aiding in weight management, bamboo shoots offer a wide array of health benefits.
