Classical Chinese Bamboo Flute Music

These nutritious stalks of the bamboo plant are easy to prepare, plus, they have some fine health benefits.

Improve Cholesterol Levels

In a study recently published in the journal Nutrition, it was shown that women who consumed bamboo shoots for six days experienced an average reduction of 16.1 mg/dl in their LDL level (bad cholesterol) when compared to controls who didn’t eat them. This is good news if you’re looking for a natural way to bring cholesterol levels down without the side effects of medications.

Promote Digestive Health

In the same study published in the journal Nutrition, it was shown that the women who ate bamboo shoots had a larger number of bowel movements than women in a control group. This helps to promote healthier bowel function due to the high fiber content of bamboo shoots. Most Americans don’t get enough fiber and a serving of bamboo shoots is a healthy, low calorie way to add some extra fiber to your diet and prevent constipation.

Lower Calories

With only twenty-seven calories per one hundred gram serving, bamboo shoots are a calorie counter’s dream come true. Combine that with the high fiber content and you have the perfect guilt-free food. The high fiber will help to fill you up and reduce your need to snack on more calorie rich offerings.

Improve Blood Pressure

Bamboo shoots are an excellent source of potassium, a mineral that’s been shown to lower blood pressure. One cup of bamboo shoots will provide you with a fifth of your daily potassium requirements.

Phytonutrients

Bamboo shoots are a good source of phenolic acids which have both anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Its anti-inflammatory properties may play a role in reducing the risk of various chronic diseases including heart disease.

Although it may be difficult to find fresh bamboo shoots at your local grocery store, they’re available in cans in many stores that carry international grocery items. If you’re able to find fresh bamboo shoots, they’re usually prepared by boiling for twenty to thirty minutes in salted water. It’s critical that they be boiled for this length of time since this helps to remove their cyanogenic glycosides which can be toxic. It also helps to eliminate the natural bitterness they have when raw. To avert this problem, buy them canned at your local grocery store. Canned bamboo shoots are ready to use once you remove the lid. Try adding them to stir fries for a healthy dose of fiber and potassium.

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