Today, the living habits of edible-nest swiftlets are already well understood. They mainly feed on insects, and what they regurgitate is their own saliva, not undigested food, but for breeding and establishing a nest for their offspring.
The article therefore questions older reasoning about bird's nest's medicinal properties. It describes nests as swiftlet saliva mixed with feathers, occasional plant material and sometimes droppings from young birds. Some people still argue that, whatever the traditional theory, bird's nest contains health-promoting substances. The article asks whether that claim is supported.
Scientists analyzed the chemical composition of edible bird's nest. Dried edible bird's nest contains about 50% water-soluble protein, 30% carbohydrates, around 10% water, and some minerals, containing nothing miraculous. Of course, because the components of edible bird's nest are too complex, to this day no one has been able to completely analyze all of them.
Bird's nest is high in protein, although the article says its level is lower than in tofu skin or pork skin and notes that pork skin is sometimes used in counterfeits. It also says bird's nest protein does not contain every essential amino acid and contrasts it with everyday protein sources such as soybeans, tofu and peanuts. The article then discusses sialic acid, a neuraminic-acid derivative found in bird's nest and in colostrum, and claims it supports children's cognitive development and immunity. Those last outcomes are source claims, not established results from eating bird's nest.
Sialic acid is also present in breast milk, and the content is not low. Therefore, this small amount in edible bird's nest is not worth the price at all.
The market price and appraisal focus of edible bird's nest
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How does the shape of a whole bird's-nest cup affect the pricing?
Before selling edible bird's nest, it is recommended to take clear photos of the front, back, thickness, and packaging labels of the whole bird's-nest cup to help preliminarily assess the grade and preservation condition.
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