Seasonal bamboo shoots are high in fiber and help with bowel movements

Midsummer is the peak season for bamboo shoots. Whether it's a refreshing cold bamboo shoot salad or a sweet bamboo shoot soup, they're beloved summer favorites. The popular saying, "A bamboo broom sweeps the streets, bamboo shoots clean the intestines; bamboo shoots are essential for internal health," underscores the healthy value of bamboo shoots. However, a user recently shared their experience on PTT: They bought a bamboo shoot, cooked it for just over ten minutes, and were eager to eat it. Unexpectedly, after a few bites, they experienced shortness of breath and throat tightness, similar to a seafood allergy. It was ultimately diagnosed as food poisoning, prompting caution when consuming bamboo shoots.

Bamboo shoots are closely related to our daily diet. Whether it is a big dish on a banquet or a street snack, adding bamboo shoots can add a unique flavor. In addition, bamboo shoots are high in fiber and help promoteIntestinal motility,helpDefecationBamboo shoots have long been considered an ideal choice for beauty and weight loss. From a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) perspective, moderate consumption of bamboo shoots can also act as a diuretic, helping to maintain kidney function, promoting the proper functioning of various bodily functions, and aiding in the excretion of excess water and metabolic waste, thereby eliminating excess fat, clearing phlegm from the throat, and enhancing physical strength.

Although bamboo shoots are rich in fiber and are known asnatural laxativesHowever, like consuming other high-fiber foods, you need to follow the principle of gradual intake to give your stomach and intestines enough time to adapt. If you consume a large amount at one time, it can easily cause bloating, stomach fullness and other discomforts, which will put a burden on your body.

In addition, although bamboo shoots are delicious, there are some taboos on eating them.crude fiberBamboo shoots are a type of food that is rich in oxalic acid and oxalic acid. Oxalic acid easily combines with calcium ions in the human body to form calcium oxalate, which not only affects the normal absorption of calcium, but excessive accumulation may also increase the risk of stones in the body. Therefore, people with severe gastric ulcers, frequent severe stomach pain, a history of gastric bleeding, or those suffering from diseases such as nephritis, urinary tract stones, cirrhosis, and varicose veins at the lower end of the esophagus should try to eat less or avoid bamboo shoots.

Is bamboo shoot poisoning the culprit? Cyanogenic glycosides

Huang Shumin, a nutritionist at the Nantou Hospital of the Ministry of Health and Welfare, pointed out that natural toxins are common in fruits and vegetables, though most people are unaware of them. These include alkaloids, cyanogenic glycosides, hemagglutinins, and mushroom toxins. Bamboo shoots can cause poisoning because cyanide in them combines with sugars to form cyanogenic glycosides.

Immature bamboo shoots, or the tips, have relatively high cyanate levels. Therefore, when choosing bamboo shoots, it's recommended to prioritize mature varieties and ensure they are thoroughly cooked before consumption. Huang Shumin urged the public to be cautious when handling these ingredients and to allow ample cooking time to ensure safety.

Huang Shumin also shared a practical tip for cooking bamboo shoots: First, completely peel the shoots, rinse them thoroughly, and place them in cold water. Heat over medium heat until the water boils, then reduce to low and continue cooking for 20 to 25 minutes. Turn off the heat and wait until the pot cools slightly before opening the lid. This cooking method not only ensures that the bamboo shoots are thoroughly cooked, preserving their natural sweetness, but also effectively reduces the toxicity of cyanide, making them safer to eat. She also emphasized that as long as you master the correct selection and cooking procedures, there is no need to worry about poisoning from eating bamboo shoots.

These natural fruits and vegetables also contain "toxic" cyanogenic glycosides

Huang Shumin further explained that cyanogenic glycosides are not unique to bamboo shoots; they are also found in many common, naturally occurring fruits and vegetables. As the saying goes, "Peaches fill you up, apricots hurt you, and a plum tree carries the dead." In fact, the seeds of many fruits, such as bitter almonds, cherry seeds, plum pits, peach pits, and apricot pits, as well as the seeds of dried fruits like pears, apples, and pears, contain cyanogenic glycosides. Therefore, it is absolutely forbidden to chew the seeds of these fruits.

Huang Shumin specifically warned that these cyanide-containing glycosides, when activated by enzymes in plants or after processing, may release cyanate. This substance can interfere with the body's normal respiratory system, causing shortness of breath, wheezing, body cramps, and even coma in severe cases. This poses a significant threat to health and requires special attention in daily diets.