Bamboo shoots, in Latin it is called Dendrocalamus asper, is one of the food ingredients that we often encounter in Indonesian cuisine. Apart from making vegetables, bamboo shoots are also often used as a spring roll filling. The bamboo shoots are firm on the outside and soft, slightly sweet and crunchy on the inside. For centuries Asian people have processed it into various preparations. According to research, bamboo shoots contain antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, fiber, protein, and low fat content. Fresh bamboo shoots have significant amounts of vitamins A, B6, C and E as well as calcium, potassium, niacin, iron, folate, copper, zinc, selenium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus and thiamine. Bamboo shoots also contain phytochemicals such as lignans and phenolic acids which have anti-cancer, anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. Bamboo shoots can be added to soups, dumplings, stir-fries, stews and salads. Bamboo shoots can be boiled and used in a variety of dishes, they can be served as a vegetable ingredient. We can also eat delicious pickles made from bamboo shoots. This plant turns out to be not only delicious but also rich in benefits as summarized from The Health Line and Digest; 1. Low sugar The amount of sugar found in bamboo shoots is around 2.5 grams per 100 grams. This amount is lower than the sugar content found in fruits and vegetables. Thus, bamboo shoots are good for diabetics. 2. Source of Protein One thousand grams of bamboo shoots has about 2 to 2.5 grams of protein. The protein found in bamboo shoots consists of seventeen essential amino acids and two semi-essential amino acids.