Some scientists have said bamboo shoots are a superfood. They are very good for our health. They are low in calories and high in fibre. They are also full of vitamins and minerals. This helps to control our blood pressure. However, raw bamboo shoots are poisonous. They must be cooked before eating.

Bamboo is eaten in Asia, but it is spreading worldwide. Bamboo is the world's tallest grass. It can grow 90 cm in one day. Bamboo shoots are harvested as they come up from below the ground. This is when they are soft enough to eat. We do not eat the hard, woody stalks. Pandas eat those.