7 Amazing benefits of swallow's nest to try

Swallow's nest has long been processed into exotic food at fantastic selling prices. But behind the exorbitant price, swallow nests are also hunted because they are believed to have various benefits for the body. What are the benefits of swallow's nest for health?

What is Swallow's Nest made of?

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As the name implies, swallow nests are produced by swallows who live in Southeast Asia. One of them is in Indonesia.

The swallow makes a nest from its saliva which will gradually harden on its own. These birds usually live in caves, so the saliva also serves to glue the nest to the ceiling or top wall of the cave so that it doesn't fall easily.

Interestingly, swallow saliva is not just ordinary saliva. Swallow saliva is made of protein, which is also high in calcium, iron, potassium and magnesium. That is why many people think that swallow's nest has many health benefits.

What are the health benefits of swallow's nest?

Source: Premium Nest

The nests produced by swallows are popular for processing as soup. Even so, many also reap the benefits by turning their nests into desserts. Often also used as a base for making cosmetics.

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that eating swallow's nest can ward off aging, fight cancer, stimulate the growth of healthy cells and tissues, and increase concentration.

But besides that, there are still many potential benefits of other swallow nests that are a pity to miss. For example:

1. Rich in essential amino acids

Saliva to make a nest is made of special proteins that contain various kinds of amino acids, such as:

Aspartic acid and proline are useful for cell regeneration.
Cysteine and phenylalanine, to improve working memory, work of nerve impulses, and work of absorption of vitamin D from sunlight.
Tyrosine, to speed up recovery after illness.
Glucosamine, to help the cartilage recovery process.

Some of these are amino acids that cannot be produced by the body and must be obtained from food. That's why swallow's nest is the right choice to meet your amino acid needs.

Swallow nests also contain glycoproteins which are more soluble and contain higher levels of antioxidants than those in chicken and fish soup.

2. Good source of minerals

Swallow's nest is also enriched with various minerals needed to maintain a healthy body. These include manganese, copper, zinc and calcium.

Manganese minerals are responsible for helping bone growth, wound healing, as well as accelerating the metabolism of carbohydrates, cholesterol and amino acids in the body. Manganese also functions to activate and ensure enzymes work properly in your body.

While copper plays a role in maintaining heart health by lowering cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Copper also optimizes immune function, as well as increases collagen production in the body.

For the body, adequate calcium intake plays a role in maintaining healthy bones and joints, and regulating the blood clotting process. Do not forget that there is the mineral chromium which plays a role in helping the absorption of nutrients in the intestine.

3. Prevent insulin resistance

A study found that regular consumption of swallow nest can prevent insulin resistance in people who are accustomed to eating fatty foods. Insulin resistance is one of the biggest risk factors for diabetes.

The nutritional content in swallow nest can help prevent the brain from releasing signals that increase insulin production in response to excessive fat intake. Swallow nests also have the potential to maintain the body's metabolic work to break down fat more effectively.

Although this research has only been tested on lab animals, it is possible that it will have similar results when consumed by humans.

4. High in antioxidants

A study published in the journal Letters In Health and Biological Sciences reports that swallow nest is a high-antioxidant food. Antioxidants are active compounds that are useful for fighting the effects of free radicals, which cause various chronic diseases.

5. Reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease

Another benefit of swallow's nest is a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. Research published in the journal Drug Design, Development and Therapy in 2015 reports that swallow nests have the potential to reduce the risk of blood clots (hypercoagulation) due to high cholesterol. Blood clotting problems are one of the most common causes of cardiovascular disease.

The study also showed that swallow nest had an effect similar to simvastatin (a cholesterol-lowering drug). However, swallow nests do not show a tendency to worsen metabolism.

6. Increase endurance during chemotherapy

Swallow's nest has long been considered an immune-boosting food in its home country, China (PRC). Well, research published in the journal Drug Design, Development and Therapy in 2016 found that swallow nest specifically helps endurance during chemotherapy.

The results showed that regular consumption of swallow's nest for 30 days can increase immunity in the intestine which is weakened due to chemotherapy. Compounds in swallow saliva are also reported to work to reduce injury to intestinal tissue caused by the side effects of the drug cyclophosphamide.

7. Relieves inflammation

Autoimmune disorders such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis (rheumatism) and inflammatory bowel disease have been associated with increased levels of TNF-α (Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha).

A study from Malaysia published in the journal International Food Research Journal in 2011 reported that regular consumption of swallow's nest was effective in helping reduce TNF-α production. TNF-α is a special protein that triggers systemic inflammation in the body.

However, it should be understood that the potential for the various health benefits of swallow's nest is still limited by a small study. Whether it's done in lab mice or on human tissue cell samples. There is not much valid scientific data that can actually prove the therapeutic claims of swallow's nest.