[missboax3]

lately i've been breaking out with acne > . <
so my mom started making me eat something weird looking...
she bought from the asian market to clear up my complexion.

for the past week i had no idea what i was eating.
until, i researched on this strange food.

i found out i've been eating bird nest...
what the heck O.o?!
i did a little more research and discovered it's supposedly beneficial for your health and whatnot.
*read below for more info.

Recent scientific research on Edible Bird's nest (EBN) found it contained rich amino-acids and rich in antioxidants. The two essential elements help to generate new cells and counter free radicals in our body.

Antioxidants

Bird's nest is rich in antioxidants. Antioxidants are substances or nutrients in which can prevent or slow the oxidative damage to our body. Health problems such as heart diseases, muscular degeneration, diabetes, cancer etc are all contributed by oxidative damage. Antioxidants may also immune defense and therefore lower the risk of cancer and infection.

Amino Acids

Bird's nest contains amino acids like Leucine, Lysine, glycine, glutamine, tyrosine, arginine, cystein, histidine, tryptophan etc. Amino acids best be described as the construction blocks from which protein is made.

In general, EBN can be divided into cave nests and house nests. Cave nests are mainly harvested from natural caves. Since cave nests are 'made' by free,naturally-living swiflets, some consider them to be more valuable than house nests. Hence, they fetch a higher price. However, the truth is cave nests generally contain more foreign materials and feathers than house nests. Besides, cave's nests are exposed to the risk of heavy metal contaminants from the environment.

House nests are made by swiflets (Collocalia, sp.) in the attice of countryside houses and many abandoned or unoccupied shops in the town in Malaysia. Now ,human has acquired the knowledge of cultivating the swiflets in control buildings. Generally, the texture of house nests are smoother compared to those of cave nests,with less feathers and other contaminants.

Bird's nest is an expensive and nutritive products. Thus it is important to distinguish the genuine bird's nest (The authenticity of bird's nest). In the market, there are many producers who would increase the weight of bird's nest by adding additives like white fungus,jelly and skin or synthetic rubber.

Appearance:- Good and genuine nests consist of two main types of filaments. The outer layer that has longer and bigger filaments whereas the inner part has finer, shorter filaments.

Cooking:- When double boiled for an hour the bird's nest inner filaments become water soluble. The outer filaments contain mainly minerals, it is less soluble but gives bird's nest its signature fibrous taste and appearance.

Odour:- During double boiling a fine scent of near albumin odour will occur.

Bird's nests contain glycoprotein. This special glycoprotein has mitogenic effect properties named as Epidermal Growth Factor(EGF) which can stimulate cells growth. The tonic powers of bird's nests are believed to improve skin complexion, slow down the aging and prevent cancer cells from mutation.

In traditional Chinese medicine, bird's nest is believed to offer good effect for treating tuberculosis,dry coughs, asthma,and general weakness due to bronchial ailments. It is also traditionally used to nourish the kidney, lung, heart and stomach. Consumption of bird's nest is also recommended to complement other treatments to combat degenerative diseases such as cancer and also for convalescence or to recover health after illness or surgery.

I am Dr Tan Boon Siong,Chairman of Johor Birdnest Merchant Association. We are having 2000 members and having 3000 bird's house. It is the biggest association in the industry. We are able to produce edible bird's nest of 5000kg per month. We are doing research on Edible bird' nest. The new formulation of anti-wrinkle skin lotion and cream are now in the market. If you try you will love it. We longevity Wellness Industries Sdn Bhd, ready to serve you.

resource: http://ezinearticles.com/?New-Anti-Cancer-...)&id=644899

[chao vivi]

yea when i broke out my mom made me eat that too...its expensive. even though its popular for being very good for you, i dont think its been scientifically proven.


i have a rich aunt who stack on that stuff. she eats it like water.
but she still look like she did before. and she's always sick. T_T

[QWERTY.]

i saw that guy on that show "skjdfhskdjhf werid food"
eat that. but yea. that's all i have to say lol

i wouldnt eat it even if it does clear up your face cause its just so weird

[TSignature]

I think it's because it has anti-inflammatory effects? There are nutrition sites out there that tell you the inflammatory effects of different food such as http://www.nutritiondata.com/

[hi_alison]

"The tonic powers of bird's nests are believed to improve skin complexion, slow down the aging and prevent cancer cells from mutation."


isn't that only a belief? also, there are pricey kinds and relatively cheap kinds that are sold at like, 99 ranch market. personally, i don't believe that it clears your skin... i ate it for a few months last summer (the expensive kind) but my skin still sucks.

[evolution_]

I dunno about skin, but my dad used to eat it a lot as a child and he said it helped him clear up bad coughs lol

[tinatran_]

my mom buys alot of those in Vietnam ($800 worth) and when we got our luggages checked at the airport, the security people confiscated it all. =__= my mom says if i eat it, it'll help lose weight and make your skin lighter. coughliescough. XD

[GRRRf00]

my sister used to eat it all the time and she had such pretty, smooth skin. XD
i tried it before and i think its delicious. :]

[Cin De]

its suppose to be good for you... idk about preventing cancer.
i have this rich aunt that will eat that daily and she passed away cos of cancer.

[Ducky^^]

So did you get prettier?

[suzushii]

If you have acne, go to a dermatologist. Edible birds nest? *is not impressed with "alternative" cures*

[Explicitj0yee]

Chinese people always eat those. It's really expensive though. I think like 200 dollars at least for like a few pieces of it in New York. It tastes good though, you can make it salty or sweet.

[AoiAi]

I tried it before. My parents loves them. ><