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Learn About Bamboo Extract in 5 Minutes
by Katie Hipwell
Katie Hipwell
Table of contents
What is bamboo extract?
Bamboo extract is one of the most potent natural sources of silica. Our bamboo extract is derived from the leaves of the Bambusa vulgaris plant. These leaves consist of around 70% silica, which is a crucial mineral for improving the health of your hair, skin, and nails. Moreover, it also strengthens the connective tissues in your nervous system.
Is bamboo extract water-soluble or fat-soluble?
Silica is a fat-soluble mineral. While it takes your body a while to break down the silica you ingest in bamboo extract, this mineral stays in your body for around 30 days before it is excreted.
Where can bamboo extract be found naturally? Common sources of bamboo extract:
Bambusa vulgaris shoots are edible, but they do not contain very much silica. Unless they are properly processed into extract form, bamboo leaves contain dangerous levels of cyanide, so it’s important to only consume bamboo extract and not bamboo leaves themselves.
What is the recommended daily value for bamboo extract?
While silica is recognised as an important mineral, regulatory agencies have not classified it as essential, so there is no NRV for silica. Research indicates that people consume an average of 30mg of silica per day, and increasing this amount by a considerable margin does not appear to cause negative effects.
Can you absorb enough bamboo extract from food?
The main component of Bambusa vulgaris extract, silica, is relatively hard to find in food. It’s unclear exactly how much silica you should consume since there is no NRV for this mineral, but research indicates that heightened levels of silica intake lead to increased hair, skin, and nail health. Therefore, it appears that the average diet does not contain enough silica, which indicates that supplementation with bamboo extract could be very beneficial to your health.
Why is bamboo extract necessary for your body?
While the silica in Bambusa vulgaris extract is not yet recognised as an essential mineral, all available evidence indicates that this mineral is absolutely essential to maintaining the health of key bodily systems. In addition to promoting the production of collagen, silica also appears to be necessary for proper bone structure development and cartilage maintenance. Plus, the connective tissues in your central and peripheral nervous systems consist largely of silica, so supplementing with this mineral may improve your neurological health.
Functions of bamboo extract
- Improved hair, skin, and nail health: Silica is necessary for synthesising collagen in your body, which improves your skin health. This mineral also appears to play a role in synthesising keratin, which is an essential component of your hair and nails.
Silica is a crucial mineral for improving the health of your hair, skin, and nails, which is why we've included 100mg of Bamboo Extract in Feel Beauty Probiotic+, one of the most potent sources of natural silica.
- Improved bone and cartilage health: Research indicates that silica deficiency results in deformed bone structure and deficient cartilage growth, demonstrating that this mineral is essential for your skeletal health.
- Improved nervous system health: Silica is an essential component of the tissues that keep your neurons connected, so supplementation with bamboo extract could improve synaptic firing and neurotransmitter activity.
When should you take bamboo extract?
When your body is deficient in silica, your hair will become duller and more prone to split ends. Your nails will become brittle, and your skin may sag or become less plump due to a lack of collagen. Most distressingly, silica deficiency can also result in deformed bone growth in children and faulty cartilage regeneration in adults.
How long do you need to take bamboo extract to start experiencing its benefits?
Since silica is a fat-soluble mineral, it may take around 2-4 weeks of supplementing with bamboo extract to notice recovery from symptoms of deficiency. During this time, it’s necessary to continue supplementing with silica regularly to provide your body what it needs to recover.
Consistency is key and our research recommends taking your Feel supplements for at least 3 months to allow your body to adjust and provide you with the desired benefits.
How long does it take for your body to digest/absorb bamboo extract?
As a fat-soluble nutrient, it may take your body more than 24 hours to absorb silica. Ingesting silica regularly is the best way to improve absorption rates.
How long does bamboo extract stay in your body after you take it?
Since silica is fat-soluble, it may stay in your body for more than 30 days after you ingest it.
Is bamboo extract an antioxidant?
According to scientific research, silica appears to exert direct antioxidant activity in the body.
Can you overdose on bamboo extract? What are the effects?
Studies indicate that it is very hard to overdose on orally ingested silica.
Does bamboo extract dissolve, flush out, or build up in the body?
The silica present in bamboo extract tends to build up in the fatty tissues in your body before it is excreted after around 30 days.
Can you take bamboo extract during a diet?
Since bamboo extract is vegan, gluten-free, and low-calorie, it does not conflict with any dietary restrictions.
Are there synthetic forms of bamboo extract?
Over the years, lab scientists have developed a few different forms of synthetic silica designed for oral supplementation.
Absorption rate of synthetic bamboo extract
Research indicates that synthetic silica is just as bioavailable as natural silica.
Why might natural forms of bamboo extract be better?
In bamboo extract, silica is accompanied by a variety of other beneficial compounds. While there is no specific information to back up this assumption, it has generally proven true that natural forms of minerals complete with their related beneficial compounds provide greater benefits over the long term even if synthetic alternatives offer similar results.
How to take bamboo extract
Bamboo extract is generally taken in the form of an oral supplement. It’s also possible to combine powdered bamboo extract with food or drinks.
Bamboo extract trends in medicine
In 2008, researchers found that bamboo extract helps with lipotoxicity, which occurs when lipids accumulate in your liver, kidneys, or other areas where they can cause cellular degradation and cell death. Based on research from 2012, it’s also possible that bamboo extract may protect against the depression and anxiety that often are often comorbid with being overweight or obese.
Sources
1. Potential Medicinal Application and Toxicity Evaluation of Extracts from Bamboo Plants
2. A Novel Function of Bamboo Extract in Relieving Lipotoxicity
3. Bioavailability of a novel form of silicon supplement
4. Use of silicon for skin and hair care: an approach of chemical forms available and efficacy
5. SILICON AND BONE HEALTH
6. Silicon: A Review of Its Potential Role in the Prevention and Treatment of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis
