Morung File Photo
Uttam Nath
St John College
One of the inextricable traditional food items of Nagaland is the famous bamboo shoot. The bamboo shoot is used extensively in multiple cuisines of all the tribes of the state. This is unimaginable in Nagaland to make pork or fish curry without adding bamboo shoot to it. Bamboo shoot is cut and fermented in different ways to produce fermented juice of bamboo shoot or dried bamboo shoot. The traditional recipe of vegetable and non-vegetable curries with bamboo shoot adds a distinct aroma and taste which makes it unique from the rest. A biodiversity hub, Nagaland is blessed with more than 45 bamboo species and out of them Bambusa tulda, Dendrocalamus hamiltonii, Dendrocalamus giganteus, Dendrocalamus latiflorus, and Schyzostachyum dullooa are most popularly used to make the delicious fermented bamboo shoots. This fermented bamboo shoot also plays a crucial role in the rural agrarian economy of the state because of its high demand among consumers. Because of the multifarious uses of bamboo, it is known as “Friends of People” in China, “My Brother in Vietnam”, and “Green Gold” in India. In this article, the nutritional contents of the bamboo shoot and its health benefits are highlighted briefly.
The bamboo shoot is commonly regarded as one of the most nutrient-dense foods due to its high level of protein, amino acids, minerals, fiber, carbohydrates, and low fat. Regular consumers benefit from the presence of phytosterols in young shoots because they feel younger, have more athletic energy, and live longer. Bamboo shoots are widely consumed in Asian nations and are an important part of their traditional cuisines. With their mongoloid traits, the people of Northeast India have a rich bamboo culture, and the plants are an inseparable component of many ethnic people's customs and religious beliefs, both in hilly and plain locations.
Important nutrients present in bamboo shoot
Amino acids & Protein: According to FG Qui (1992) Bamboo shoots contain a high amount of amino acids. Out of 17 amino acids reported in bamboo shoots, 8 amino acids were essential for the human body. These amino acids are important to synthesize protein in our body which promotes muscle formation, growth, and tissue repairing. It is also reported that 100g of bamboo shoots contains 1.5g to 4g of protein. But the protein content decreases when it is subjected to heat treatment.
Minerals: A large number of minerals such as potassium, phosphorus, sodium, calcium, magnesium, iron, etc. are present in a bamboo shoot. These minerals help our body to perform different metabolic functions including diverse biochemical reactions.
Carbohydrates: Carbohydrate is an energy-giving nutrient and bamboo shoot contains a high amount of it. Pandey and Ujha (2013) reported that the amount of carbohydrate increases along with the age of bamboo shoots. 100 g fermented shoots contain approximately 1.504g carbohydrate.
Fiber: Bamboo shoot contains a significant amount of dietary fibers. The dietary fibres help in controlling blood pressure, hypertension, and obesity and also shield our body from coronary diseases and potential carcinogens. According to Bhatt and his team (2005), the frequent consumption of bamboo shoot also increases the lipid profile in our body along with bowel movement in young healthy women. Therefore, a healthy routine of consumption of bamboo shoot should be followed.
Phenols: Phenols are very important bioactive compounds which have strong natural anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties.
Apart from these some other important bioactive compounds like phytosterols are also present in the bamboo shoots which elevate its quality not only as food but also as natural medicine. Here, we have to mention one thing that raw bamboo shoots contain 0.3%-0.8% hydrogen cyanide which is toxic to us but when it is taken after cooking, boiling, or fermenting, the hydrogen cyanide gets eliminated and there is no risk of consuming it.
Some of the potential health benefits of bamboo shoot:
Reduce cholesterol levels
Some studies suggest that bamboo shoots can help lower cholesterol levels to improve heart health. For example, a test-tube study showed that the fiber extracted from this vegetable had powerful cholesterol-lowering properties. A 2009 medical study on 8 healthy women found that eating 12.7 ounces (360 grams) of bamboo shoots after 6 days lowered total and LDL (bad) cholesterol compared to those on a control diet, significantly decreased.
Promotes gut health
Bamboo shoots are a great source of fiber at 2g per 1 cup (155g). This fiber can protect us from problems such as hemorrhoids, diverticulitis, and colon cancer. According to test-tube research, bamboo shoots also act as prebiotics, meaning they provide fuel for beneficial bacteria in the intestines. Research has shown that your gut microbiome is critical to health and disease, and can help prevent diseases such as heart disease, cancer, type 2 diabetes, depression, and obesity.
Helps you lose weight
Bamboo shoots are low in calories but high in fiber. This makes them a great addition to a healthy weight loss diet. Fiber can help delay gastric emptying so you can feel full longer between meals. Increasing fiber intake promoted weight loss and reduction of belly fat without making other dietary changes.
Increases appetite and digestion
The high concentration of cellulose present in bamboo shoot stimulates our digestive process and appetite as well.
Thus the tribal food “bamboo shoot” contributes enormously to our health. Moreover, the increasing demand for fermented bamboo shoots among the non-tribal population can construct a developed rural economy in the bamboo-rich northeastern states. It has a greater opportunity in the global food industry in the coming days.
The writer is an Assistant Professor, Department of Botany, St John College & Research Scholar of National Institute of Technology, Nagaland
