Bamboo can provide a new source of protein ‘similar to cow’s milk’: Chinese study

Bamboo shoots have a range of health benefits, being high in protein, amino acids, iron, dietary fibre and vitamins

But while up to 35 million tonnes of shoots are produced in China each year, only a third are harvested for consumption

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Bamboo is not just the food of the giant panda; it also provides a long list of health benefits for human consumption. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 6:00pm, 22 Mar 2024

It is one of the world’s oldest and fastest growing plants, but bamboo could also play a key role in providing a sustainable and nutritious food source to the growing global population, according to a team of Chinese scientists.

Bamboo shoots, in particular, have an abundance of health benefits, including a high protein content “similar to cow’s milk” which is also higher than many grains, according to a paper published in the peer-reviewed journal Trends in Food Science & Technology.

The researchers have been studying this “underestimated natural resource” as a possible food staple of the future, according to the team led by Wu Liangru, corresponding author of the paper and a researcher at the China National Bamboo Research Centre.

“Bamboo offers the potential for sustainable food resources and creates opportunities for trade and export, which can contribute to the growth of local economies,” the researchers wrote in the paper.

Outlining the health benefits, they said bamboo shoots provide seven of the nine essential amino acids needed by humans. In fact, bamboo shoots’ amino acid content is higher than other vegetables like carrots, celery and cabbage, while the shoots also contain more iron than spinach and pumpkin.

The shoots are also a great source of carbohydrates like dietary fibres, have a low fat content and are a good source of various vitamins, according to the paper.

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