Giant pandas might be onto something. Move over, broccoli. Bamboo is the latest superfood identified by scientists.

Bamboo shoots have been part of the human diet in Asia for ages. In the West, however, bamboo is little recognized as a healthy treat. But now, an international team of scientists has reviewed available research and found that bamboo offers significant health benefits.

First, an important caveat. You’re not a panda. Never eat raw bamboo shoots, the tender young sprouts of the bamboo plant.

They are harvested before they mature into hard, fibrous stalks that are difficult to digest. Before eating, the tough outer husks must be removed, and the shoots must be boiled to break down naturally occurring toxic compounds.

Once properly prepared, they’re apparently quite healthy.

The researchers reviewed studies involving nearly 5,000 human subjects, as well as laboratory studies of human cells.

They found that bamboo can lower cholesterol, and also lower blood sugar for people with diabetes. Compounds in the plant can protect human cells from damage and reduce inflammation, heading off the cellular stress that contributes to aging and disease.

Bamboo extract also seems to have a protective effect when added to fried foods, reducing their harmful compounds by 76%.

While the study’s authors call for more research, the findings also add to bamboo’s allure as a hugely beneficial plant for humankind. Bamboo acts as a carbon sink, absorbing greenhouse gases.

It’s also a fast grower, making it a good, sustainable wood alternative.

One other benefit not in the study: Watching pandas would seem to be a great stress reliever.