Is eating bird's nest really a waste of money
Today, the living habits of swiftlets are well understood. They primarily feed on insects, and the nest they create is made of their own saliva, not undigested food. This is solely for the purpose of breeding and providing a home for their offspring.
Therefore, the ancient beliefs about the medicinal properties of bird's nest are unfounded. Bird's nest is simply the swiftlet's saliva, feathers, some twigs from its place of origin, and even the droppings of young swiftlets. However, many people believe that while traditional Chinese medicine theories may not always be reliable, bird's nest contains many health-beneficial substances, so it has some health-promoting effects. Is this true?
Scientists have analyzed the chemical composition of bird's nest. Dry bird's nest contains about 50% water-soluble protein, 30% carbohydrates, about 10% water, and some minerals. It doesn't contain anything miraculous. Of course, due to the complex composition of bird's nest, not all its components have been fully analyzed to date.
Bird's nest has a high protein content, but it is lower than that of tofu skin and pork skin, which is why fraudsters often use pork skin as a substitute. Moreover, some studies show that the protein in bird's nest does not contain all types of essential amino acids, so it cannot be considered a high-quality protein. In fact, for humans, the highest quality protein is found in everyday foods such as soybeans, tofu, and peanuts. For example, sialic acid, which is effective (after all, it's the swiftlet's saliva), is a derivative of neuraminic acid and a major bioactive component in bird's nest. It plays an important regulatory role in the physiological and biochemical functions of the human body and is also one of the important nutrients infants receive from colostrum, which can improve children's intellectual development and enhance immunity.
Sialic acid is also found in breast milk, and in considerable amounts. Therefore, the small amount of it in bird's nest is simply not worth the price.
Bird's Nest Market and Key Identification Points
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How does the shape of bird's nest affect the quotation?
Before selling bird's nest, it is recommended to take clear photos of the front, back, thickness, and box label of the bird's nest to facilitate preliminary assessment of its grade and preservation status.
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