About Swiftlet Nests

The nests are about the size and hardness of teacups; are essentially made from hardened saliva mixed with feathers, grass and twigs; and look like congealed strands of vermicelli. The noodle-like fibers are used to bond nesting materials together and attach the nest to a vertical walls of caves or cliffs or hollow tree nesting sites.

There are two kinds of nests:

White nests made up mostly of saliva and black nests with plant materials and feathers mixed in. White nests are the most valuable. They are generally made by swiftlets that nest deep inside the caves and are ideally collected before a female lays her eggs. Generally the whiter and purer a nest is the more tasty and valuable it is. Black nests are also collected. These nests can not be eaten until they have been properly cleaned.
The edible-nest swiftlet often build their nest in the most inaccessible of places: on the roofs and upper walls of high caves and even overhangs. Other species build nests the in buildings and bridges and chimneys but not the edible-nest swiftlet. Sometimes the eggs and young of edible-nest swiftlets are placed in the nest of an other species, the uniform swiftlet, which lives in buildings. There are some claims that a third of nest form Indonesia are taken from swiftlets that have made their nests in buildings.

About Swiftlet Nests

Making Swiftlet Nests

To make a nest a swiftlet moves its head back and forth like a weaving bobbin. David Attenborough wrote: “The bird starts by flying persistently in front of its chosen site and repeatedly dabbing the rock with its tongue, laying down a curved line of saliva which marks the lower edge of the nest-to-be. The saliva dries and hardens quickly and with repeated flights, the bird slowly builds up the low line into a low wall. As soon as this is big enough to cling to, the speed of construction accelerates and within a few days the wall has become a semicircular cup of creamy white interlacing string that is just big enough to hold the customary clutch of two eggs."
The swiftlet are so small they don't have the strength to pick up nesting materials such as twigs and leaves from the ground like other birds. Instead they pick up pieces of feather, fragments of dried grass and other small things they find floating in the air and affix the to a surface their "sticky spittle." Nests near the entrance to the caves have large amounts of feathers. Those that are deeper inside are made primarily of spittle, and are thus more desirable. .
The swifts can take up two months to build a nest. Ideally the nest is collected after fledglings have take wing rather than before eggs of hatched. That way there are more birds o create nests. After the nests are harvested they are soaked in water ti soften them up and a magnifying glass is used to pick out loose impurities like twigs and feathers. After being steamed or boiled the nest separate into long chewy strands. About half the material in protein. What health benefits might be found in the nests are believed to be lost during the cleaning process.

Bird Saliva Soup – Seaweed

Seaweed or Bird Saliva Soup collagen content is 10 times higher than Bird Saliva Soup and it's calcium is 37 higher than fish liver. Collagen makes up about 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content.

Seaweed Nutrition Data

- Seaweed could be found in vegetables while the remaining 64 minerals “only” exist in seaweeds. This includes Omega-3 and 6, which is crucial for mental development/function for growing children. Seaweed can maintain Acid/Base homeostasis in circulation and lymphatic system. It also prevent Cardiovascular, Bony and mental ailments, for example memory loss and depression. It further helps to reduce blood sugar level and control High Blood Pressure. Fucoidan and retinol in seaweed has anti-cancer and anti-viral properties. While Fucosterol reduces cholesterol by loss of bile acid, thereby prevent arteriosclerosis. Seaweed contains essentials nutrients and can act as nutritional supplements for vegetarians and also helps to alleviate post menopausal symptoms. Seaweed also contains multivitamins which is essential for all. Seaweed increasingly used as a health supplement in an attempt to prevent both chronic and lifestyle diseases including obesity related disorder. Until today, Seaweed is the only natural and complete food for human needs. The seaweed consumption benefits us in 2 categories : Health & Beauty.

1. Beauty Benefits

a. Correct fine lines, wrinkles, age spots and even your skin tone
b. Anti-aging and have younger-looking skin
c. Brighten and smoothen your skin
d. Smooth the cracked and dry heels
e. No more pimples
f. Say good bye to eye bag/ dark circle eyes
g. Firm up your saggy breasts
h. And more…

2. Health Benefits

a. Cancer Protection :
Lignans have been shown to inhibit angiogenesis, or blood cell growth, the process through which fast-growing tumors not only gain extra nourishment, but send cancer cells out in the bloodstream to establish secondary tumors or metastases in other areas of the body.
In addition, lignans have been credited with inhibiting estrogen synthesis in fat cells as effectively as some of the drugs used in cancer chemotherapy. In postmenopausal women, fat tissue is a primary site where estrogen is synthesized, and high levels of certain estrogen metabolites are considered a significant risk factor for breast cancer. In addition to lignans, seaweed is a very good source of the B-vitamin folic acid. Studies have shown that diets high in folate-rich foods are associated with a significantly reduced risk for colon cancer.
b. Healthy Thyroid Function :
The health benefits of sea vegetables are not limited to cancer protection. Seaweed is also nature's richest sources of iodine, which as a component of the thyroid hormones thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3), - both of which are essential to human life. The thyroid gland adds iodine to the amino acid tyrosine to create these hormones. Without sufficient iodine, your body cannot synthesize them. Because these thyroid hormones regulate metabolism in every cell of the body and play a role in virtually all physiological functions, an iodine deficiency can have a devastating impact on your health and well-being. A common sign of thyroid deficiency is an enlarged thyroid gland, commonly called a goiter. Goiters are estimated to affect 200 million people worldwide, and in all but 4% of these cases, the cause is iodine deficiency.
c. Nutrient Prevention of Birth Defects :
Additionally, the folic acid so abundant in sea vegetables plays a number of other very important protective roles. Studies have demonstrated that adequate levels of folic acid in the diet are needed to prevent certain birth defects, including spina bifida. Folic acid is also needed to break down an intermediate dangerous chemical called homocysteine. The chemical Homocysteine can directly damage blood vessel walls, and high levels of this chemical are associated with a significantly increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.
d. Cardiovascular Disease :
Sea vegetables pack a double punch against heart disease. In addition to their folic acid, sea vegetables are also a very good source of magnesium, which has been shown to reduce high blood pressure and prevent heart attack.
e. Seaweed for Stress Relief :
Seaweed also has been proven to provide support through stressful situations by supplying not only magnesium, but pantothenic acid and riboflavin--two B-vitamins necessary for energy production. Pantothenic acid is especially important for the health of the adrenal glands. The adrenals control many body functions and play a critical role in resistance to stress. When supplies of necessary nutrients like pantothenic acids are inadequate, stressful times can exhaust the adrenal glands resulting in chronic fatigue, reduced resistance to allergies and infection, and a feeling of being overwhelmed or overly anxious.
f. Others :
Such as obesity, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, psoriasis, migraine, high blood pressure, diabetic and other degenerative diseases

How to use this seaweed ?

It can be used as face mask and consume as dessert, pudding, salad, soup or adding into your favorite juice. Upon your purchase we will provide you the usage instructions.

How much seaweed should you be eating?

Consume 5 to 15 grams (1/6th to 1/2 ounces ). Another words, 3 spoonful before meal in the morning and before sleep.

Who is seaweed NOT good for?

Although packed with nutrition, seaweed can be problematic in those with weak digestive strength. How do you know your digestion is weak? Some clues are loose stools, and chronic fatigue. These people need to be careful with their seaweed intake since seaweed is energetically cold (and digestion is a warm process). Also, consult your doctor if you are on thyroid medications.
Seaweeds also lower plasma glucose levels, so if you’re new to seaweed in your diet and you take diabetic medications, you need to be careful that your blood sugar levels don’t drop too low. The flip side of this is that if your blood sugar levels are too high, one of the benefits of eating seaweed is that it can help lower it! Not suitable for pregnant and confinement female.