Bird's nest is nutritious but do you know how to use it?
There are many types of swiftlets, and many different ways of making nests, so bird's nests are also very diverse. However, if you know how to use them properly, they all bring health benefits.
1. Classification of bird's nest
Edible bird's nest is also known as bird's nest. There are many different types of swiftlets, and the way they make their nests is also different.
Some make their nests out of feathers, others out of grass or straw. Only two species, Aerodramus and Aerodramus maximus, make their nests out of saliva, and only this type of nest can be used as food.
Swiftlets start building nests during the breeding season (from late March to mid-May). The nests take about 33 - 35 days to build, and are built in the shape of a bowl attached to the wall of a cave (or wall, beam). The nests consist of many thin sheets, woven from many silk threads made from swiftlet saliva woven together.
2. Classification of bird's nests by origin
Wild/cave bird's nest
The two species of swiftlets that commonly live in caves are Fuciphaga swiftlets (commonly known as cave swiftlets) and Maxima swiftlets (black nest swiftlets), but only the nests of cave swiftlets are known as Wild/Cave Nests on the market.
Perhaps due to the dangerous nature of collecting bird's nests from caves, this type of bird's nest is often the most expensive compared to other types of bird's nests on the market.
Nests in caves with special natural conditions are often shaped like a bowl, with a thick body and hard legs. The bowl-like shape of the nest will help protect the eggs or young swallows from being eaten by other animals and avoid harsh weather.
The base of the nest needs to be strong enough to be firmly attached to the wall because caves are often humid. This type of nest is found in Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
Bird's nest in the house
The nests of the Esculanta species are commonly found in bird houses. Many people still think that house swiftlets are the ones that can be raised, but in reality, we can only rely on construction and design techniques to attract swiftlets into the house to make nests, and cannot feed them like industrial chicken farming.
3. Classify bird's nest by color
The reason why bird's nests have different colors is still a matter of debate. According to Vietnamese folklore, it is believed that old swiftlets or swiftlets in the season when food is scarce must use their own blood mixed with saliva to build their nests. This explains the red or pink color as well as the poor expansion of blood nests compared to white nests.
However, many hypotheses about the temperature, humidity or food conditions of the bird's nest that create blood nests are still being studied. In addition, when the white bird's nest is made on the cliffs, it is red and the water seeping from the cracks in the rocks also creates the red color of the bird's nest. However, the blood nest from this cliff has the same expansion when soaked in water as the white bird's nest (ie 7-9 times).
4. Cases when you should and should not use bird's nest
- For healthy young people with good absorption ability, eating bird's nest every day may not have too much of an effect.
- Elderly people, continuous use of bird's nest will have negative effects on the digestive system.
- Unscientific use of bird's nest will cause discomfort and bloating. In the long run, this can cause indigestion and other undesirable consequences affecting the digestive system.
- The following cases should not use bird's nest: People with colds, fever, headache, abdominal pain due to cold or bloating, cough with a lot of phlegm;
People with symptoms of dermatitis, acute bronchitis, urinary tract infection, fever;
Thin and weak people, pale body, weak spleen and stomach, unable to absorb food and nutrients; people with yang deficiency, loose urine, clear urine; children under 7 months old or having fever...
The above mentioned people should not use bird's nest because they cannot absorb foods containing too many nutrients and protein like bird's nest, which can easily make the disease worse.
5. Reasonable dosage of bird's nest
Children 1-4 years old: 1-2 g of bird's nest essence/day.Children 4 years and older, pregnant women, and adolescents: 2-3 g of bird's nest extract/day.Elderly people, sick people (diabetes, cancer, people who have just recovered from illness...): 3-4g of bird's nest essence/day.
Many people consider bird's nest as a medicine and mistakenly believe that it can be used to cure diseases. Remember, bird's nest is a nutritious food with many effects, they are used as a functional food. Therefore, it should not be abused./.