Just Shoot Me

When you think of bamboo, you probably think of trees. But bamboo is also an edible (and yummy) member of the grass family. Cooked bamboo shoots are a great source of potassium, a mineral that helps control blood pressure. In fact, one half cup of cooked bamboo shoots provides 402 mg of potassium, about as much as a banana. And one cup of canned bamboo shoots (canned in water) provides just 20 calories, along with 3 grams of dietary fiber, and 2% each of our daily iron and calcium needs (they’re perfect for salads, sandwiches, or stir frys).

Today I included a pic of my stuffed panda (from my parents – thanks mom and dad!) wearing my very favorite scarf, made entirely from bamboo!

Did you know:
-There are over 1,000 species of bamboo
-There are over 1,000 documented uses of bamboo (it can be used to make anything from paper to cloth to furniture)
-Bamboo is the fastest growing woody plant (some species can grow 1 foot per day)
-Because bamboo grows so fast and is extremely strong, it’s an earth friendly material (it can take 200 years to grow the same amount of other hardwoods)
-Bamboo is a Chinese symbol for long life, and an Indian symbol for friendship
-Bamboo makes up 99% of a giant Panda’s diet (don’t ya just love Pandas?)

P.S. Check out these cool bamboo recipes from Washington State University (including one called Evil Jungle Prince with Mixed Vegetables).

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