Bamboology: Bamboo Facts

Bamboo is low in fat and calories. One cup of half-inch long slices contains a mere 14 calories and half a gram of fat. The shoots are a good source of fiber. The same serving size provides about 2.5 grams of fiber; which is approximately 10% of the recommended amount needed in a day. Bamboo contains germanium, which is believed to slow down the aging process of cells. Bamboo is a good source of potassium. One cup provides 640 milligrams, which is 18% of the recommended daily amount. Potassium helps maintain normal blood pressure and a steady heart beat.

Bamboo contains lignins and phenolic acids. Lignins appear to have anticancer, antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral activity. Phenolic acids have mild anti-inflammatory properties and are potent antioxidants. Antioxidants help prevent cancer and the blood vessel injury that can start arteriosclerosis. Bamboo has for centuries been used in Ayurveda and Chinese acupuncture. It can be used internally to treat asthma, coughs and can be used as an aphrodisiac. In China, ingredients from the root of the black bamboo help treat kidney disease. Roots and leaves have also been used to treat venereal disease and cancer.

Bamboo shoots provide nutrition for million of people worldwide. In Japan, the antioxidant properties of pulverized bamboo bark prevents bacterial growth and it's used a natural food preservative.

Taiwan alone consumes 80,000 tons of bamboo shoots annually constituting a $50 million industry. Bamboo is the fastest growing woody plant on this planet. It grows one third faster than the fastest growing tree. Some species can grow up to 1 meter per day. This growth pattern makes it easily accessible in a minimal amount of time. Size ranges from miniatures to towering culms of 60 meters.

Bamboo can be harvested sustainably in a manner that does not degrade ecosystems, as it can be used without destroying the plant itself or its root system. Bamboo produces four times more oxygen than any other plant. It also absorbs vast amounts of carbon dioxide, thus helping to counteract global warming.

Bamboo is ideal for planting along medians and highways, as it both creates beautiful scenery and reduces air pollution from auto emissions. Bamboo is harder than oak or maple and is a sustainable alternative to tropical hardwoods for flooring and other construction. Bamboo gives more back to the earth than it takes. As a food source, bamboo is far gentler on the earth than raising cattle or other animals as livestock, and its impact on the planet is even smaller than that of soy or wheat veggie burgers.

Eat the burger that will heal the earth!