Whole Foods Living: Are bamboo shoots healthy?

Asian stir-fries often contain slender slices of soft, bamboo shoots. Although the vegetable adds texture and a corn-like flavor to the meal, does it add much nutrition? Are bamboo shoots healthy?

Bamboo shoots
Photo by Chamomile, Morguefuile.com

Once cup of bamboo shoots boiled with salt and drained (without any sauces added) only adds 13 calories to your dietary intake, according to Self Nutrition Data. Bamboo shoots also contain little to no cholesterol and are low in saturated fat.

However, bamboo shoots are naturally high in sodium--to the tune of almost 300mg of sodium per cup. And, when combined with salty teriyaki sauce, your Chinese meal may exceed your sodium intake requirements for the entire day.

But, rest assured, bamboo shoots offer nearly 2 grams of protein, 1.2 grams of fiber and 18 percent of your daily potassium requirements per cup.