Benefits Of Edible Birds Nest

Most researchers have confirmed that pure Edible Birds Nests mainly contain water-soluble protein, fat, 8 types of essential amino acids, and elements such as sodium, iodine and other beneficial nutrients as well. Amino acids are the basic building blocks for protein and they must be supplied in the diet. They are lysine, methionine, leonine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine, isoleucine.

Benefits Of Edible Birds Nest

According to Compendium of Meteria Medica, Edible Birds Nest has a mild and gentle essence with benefits of strengthening the lungs, nourishing kidneys and improving spleen. It also enhances “qi” flow (“life energy”), reinforces the immune system and prevents coughs. It is widely viewed as the best health diet for those recovering from severe illness.
Studies conducted by nutritionists in the United States showed that the nutritional value of 1000g of dry nest includes 499g of water-soluble protein, 429g of calcium and 18 types of essential amino acid while 8 out of the 18 can’t be synthesized by the humans, and therefore must be supplied in the diet. It also contains 2 types of collagen that increases the speed of cell division that results in stimulating cell regeneration.
Easily digested and absorbed by human body, Edible Birds Nest is suitable for people of all ages. After regular and long term consumption of Edible Birds Nest, women will find their youth prolonged especially their skin remain youthful, men find strength and energy, and elderly find health while children find their appetite and healthier body. Moreover, an expecting mother who consumes Edible Birds Nest during her pregnancy strengthens the immune system of the baby.

Benefits Of Edible Birds Nest

The Nutritional Value Of Edible Birds Nest

Most researchers have confirmed that pure Edible Birds Nests mainly contain water-soluble protein, fat, 8 types of essential amino acids, and elements such as sodium, iodine and other beneficial nutrients as well. Amino acids are the basic building blocks for protein and they must be supplied in the diet. They are lysine, methionine, leonine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, valine, isoleucine.
Lysine readily converts its epsilon carbon then to carbon dioxide, helping to form glutamic acid. Methionine produces two other sulphur containing amino acids, cysteine and taurine. Leucine promotes the healing of bones, skin, and muscle tissue after traumatic injury, and is often recommended for those recovering from surgery. It is also popular among surgeons and athletes as supplements. Valine is a vital nutrient for babies because it helps regulate blood sugar and stimulate the central nervous system for proper mental functioning.

How to choose quality Edible Birds Nest

The Edible Birds Nest should appear clean, without the presence of visible hairs and particles. The method and facility in which the Edible Birds Nest was cleaned is important as well.

Spotting the Real deal

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Edible Birds Nest is commonly consumed as a beauty food and has been valued for having beneficial health properties such as boosting the immune system and stimulating cell growth and tissue repair. Though many are aware of the benefits of Edible Birds Nest, and how highly priced they are, most are unaware of how to choose Edible Birds Nest and to differentiate quality ones from fakes.
The Edible Birds Nests displayed in stores or packaging have come a long way, namely undergoing a labour intensive cleaning process. Edible Birds Nest which are just taken down are very dirty and smelly. Nobody will think of consuming them at all if they see the condition.

The Different Grades

The highest grade of Edible Birds Nest is the purest as it is 90% edible upon harvesting and requires the least amount of processing and cleaning to have it consumption-ready. Edible Birds Nest of this grade have thicker strands, stronger aroma when cooked, and are often white, gold, or blood-red in colour.
Nests that are 50% and 10% edible upon harvesting fall respectively under the second and third grade – and their prices range accordingly. The nests of these grades bear a crispier consistency when cooked as the fibres are less compact.

Things to consider

Here are a few criteria to consider when choosing Edible Birds Nest:
Size and volume
The most popular shapes are boat or spoon shape. If swiftlets build their nests on the corner of two walls, the shape of the nest will become triangular. This change in shape has no effect on the nutritional value. Wider and thicker Edible Birds Nest cups are of high quality.
Colour and purity
White Edible Birds Nests are slightly ivory in colour. Yellow Edible Birds Nests are slightly 'beige’ or ‘golden’. Red (blood) Edible Birds Nests are red in colour due to the red cave wall’s mineral deposition into the nest. If the Edible Birds Nest is extremely white, it may have been bleached, which greatly reduces the nutrition content. Cleaned high-quality Edible Birds Nest should be in natural colour, without any soil, sand and moss.
Density and volume after soaking
If threads are thinner and closer, gaps are few, and the size is large and thicker, Edible Birds Nest cups will expand more after soaking. The different grades have different expansion ratios. The greater the expansion.

Here's a cheat list for you

In Summary, good Edible Birds Nest should possess one or more of these following traits:
• Fine and firm texture
• Thick and big size, boat-shaped
• Slight fishy smell
• Dry to the touch (little moisture content)
• Minimal amount of feathers
• Smaller edge size