Last month, again I made one more of my serendipitous discoveries – bamboo leaves. Through some fated algorithm, I came across the benefits of bamboo leaves, namely, it is high in silica. What I was surprised to discover was that silica is critical for the formation of collagen which predominantly makes up our fascia.
Ever since I discovered that the fascia could be the reason for my scoliosis, I have been looking into how to improve my myofascial tissues.
Since fascia is made up mostly of collagen, it meant increasing and improving the collagen in my body. Without adequate silica, our bodies cannot effectively produce collagen.
The solution was literally in my backyard – the bamboo plant. Bamboo has one of the highest plant-based concentrations of silica (75%) on the planet.
Where I live in a small beachside town in India, bamboo grows all around. Little did I know that it is the silver bullet that dramatically improves the quality of collagen in our bodies.
I felt like Santiago in The Alchemist who travels the world in search of the hidden treasure only to come to know that it was always there in his backyard.
What Exactly Is Collagen?
Collagen is a type of protein that is abundantly found in our body. It is the key component that makes up our skin, connective tissues, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and bones. It’s also found in our internal organs like blood vessels and intestinal lining.
Collagen comprises of specific amino acids – glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and arginine. It’s the largest component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in the skeletal muscle giving the physical scaffolding for the cells. The ECM is able to hold water, provide appropriate hydration of the tissue and form part of a selective barrier to the external environment.
Collagen is what gives our bodies strength, suppleness, and flexibility.
Unfortunately, as we age our body produces less collagen. Also, living with chronic stress where high levels of cortisol can accelerate the loss of collagen and elastin. Which is the reason for the wrinkles and lack of springiness in our stride.
Women in particular experience a significant reduction in collagen production after menopause.
Silica and Collagen
Silica is an important trace mineral essential for various metabolic functions. It is crucial for the synthesis of collagen in our body.
Silica works as a co-factor in our body. like engine oil in our car – without it, our body is unable to adequately produce collagen.
It facilitates various tissues and organs to function properly. Bones, muscles, cartilage, skin, blood vessels, brain, etc. need adequate silica to function optimally.
Without silica, our body simply cannot efficiently produce collagen. That’s why all the bone broth I religiously kept ingesting wasn’t so effective.
Other Uses Of Silica
It also helps eliminate free radicals and is an amazing ‘gut cleanser’. Cleansing the small intestines of mucus thus allowing greater absorption of nutrients from the intestinal walls.
Silica also improves the deposition of calcium and other minerals into bones. Thereby, enhancing their strength preventing fractures, and reducing the risks of developing osteoporosis.
Silica reduces aluminum in the brain. which is purported to be the cause of Alzheimer’s disease.
Silica isn’t just a beauty mineral, it is vital for our fascia and bone health.
Bamboo Highest Level Of Silica
Bamboo – has the highest concentration of silica compared to all the known plants. The leaves and stalks have a higher level of silica than the bamboo shoots, usually eaten.
Besides silica, bamboo is rich in antioxidants and vitamins such as vitamin C, thiamine(vitamin B1), folic acid (vitamin B9), niacin (vitamin B3), and riboflavin (vitamin B2). All these ingredients are essential for collagen formation.
Bamboo leaves also reduce inflammation, promote circulation, and inhibit allergy reactions.
It also has high levels of acetylcholine (ACh), a neurotransmitter involved in focus, learning, sleep, muscle contraction, and relaxation. However, ACh is a tricky chemical, too much can make us hypervigilant. That’s why moderation of even a good thing is a wise practice.
Other Foods High In Silica
The other common nutritional sources of silica are apples, cereals, raw cabbage, peanuts, carrots, onions, cucumber, pumpkin, honey, fish, unrefined grains, oats, almonds, and oranges
Beer too is high in silica.
Silica is also found in Diatomaceous Earth(DE) and common horsetail.
Unlike calcium, a major mineral, only trace amounts of silica are required. However, due to poor soil conditions, most of us get little to no silica in our diets. This contributes to a host of health conditions over the years, many of which can be reversed with supplementation.
There are plenty of bamboo extract supplements online. None of which I’ve tried since I have the natural plant readily available.
Eating a healthy diet rich in collagen-producing foods (such as bone broth) can also help to support optimal fascia health.
How I Have Benefitted From Bamboo Leaves
It’s been a month since I began using bamboo leaves and stalks. Since I don’t have the time or inclination to drink bamboo leaf tea, I put a few leaves in the rice I cook. I was inspired by the Japanese rice wrapped in bamboo leaves recipe. Since it has no intense smell, this shortcut works just fine.
The effects are amazing. The skin around my elbows and knees has become smoother. Also, my hair too feels smoother. My son who was suffering from a scalp problem has found it slowly fading away. Furthermore, I feel more bounce in my step.
I’ll wait another 2-3 months and give further updates on the effect it has had on my scoliosis.
Word Of Caution
Like everything moderation is the key. Don’t overdo the bamboo thing; too much too often, can be stressful on the kidneys. Also, avoid it if you have thyroid disorders and are pregnant. Most important, don’t ingest the raw form of bamboo, it has traces of cyanide which is poisonous, so always cook/heat it to destroy the toxins.
Image Source: Pixabay
Further Reading:
Return to Nature – The Five Pillars of Healing – Jon Burras
Nature’s Garden: A Guide to Identifying, Harvesting, and Preparing Edible Wild Plants –
