Bamboo

Studies in people

• Benefit

  Cholesterol and bowel habits³

  In women, eating bamboo shoots lowered cholesterol and increased how often they pooped.

Animal and lab studies only

• Concern

  Thyroid gland swelling¹²

  In animal studies, bamboo shoot caused thyroid swelling even when the diet had enough iodine.

• Concern

  Thyroid health¹³

  In animal studies, eating bamboo shoots for months slowed the thyroid and lowered thyroid hormones.

Study type not stated

• Open question

  Blood sugar and mineral levels⁴

  Bamboo shoots contain natural compounds that can raise blood sugar and block some vitamins and minerals.

• Benefit

  Probiotic and antioxidant effects⁵

  Suansun is fermented bamboo shoots, and the germs that ferment it may add helpful bacteria and antioxidants.

• Concern

  Cooking reduces toxins⁶

  Bamboo shoots contain Taxiphyllin, which boiling, steaming or fermenting can reduce.

• Concern

  Natural toxins in vegetables⁷

  Fresh bamboo shoots contain cyanogenic glycosides, which limit how much of them you can safely eat.

• Benefit

  Heart and blood pressure⁸

  Fermented bamboo shoots contain probiotics that may help with blood pressure and heart health.

• Benefit

  Health effects of a vegetable⁹

  Bamboo shoot polysaccharides have been found to have anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and immune effects.

• Concern

  Cyanide in food¹⁰

  Raw bamboo shoots contain taxiphyllin, a compound that needs proper processing to remove before eating.

Found in some samples or products

These come from where it was grown, how it was processed or cooked, or what it was made into. They are not about the ingredient itself, so the signal does not count them.

• Chemicals from burning fuel¹¹

  PAHs, chemicals from burning fuel and wood, were found in bamboo shoots and the soil they grew in.

The signal at the top counts the findings in people and in animal and lab studies. A concern in studies of people outranks animal and lab studies, and “No concerns” needs at least one finding in people. When most findings in people point one way, the page leans that way (“Mostly”), and every finding is still shown. Findings whose study type is not stated are shown but not counted. This page is a reference, not medical advice. It describes what regulators and published research say. Talk to a doctor or dietitian about your own diet.