Why Blood Birds Nest is Good for Growing Kids

Based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) research, Blood Birds Nest is said to give various benefits, including to children, baby, and kids. What exactly the benefits that Blood Birds Nest has for kids or children?

Containing Amino Acids for Brain Cells

Blood Birds Nest contains 57% of natural and high quality protein suitable for youths, in this case amino acids, which require 3 hours for renewal, so we have to absorb it from the food regularly. As we know, protein has a very important role for stimulation and inhibition of the brain and nervous system, and it also serves as an important nutrients for brain cells to improve its efficiencly, particularly in growing children. Protein can take up tp 35% of the weight of the brains, which the rest of the brains is actually fats.
This acts of improving brain power is very useful for children as essential nutritional supplement for children who have just embarked on learning, such as when facing examinations or learning new skills. It also helps children to learn faster by boosting their concentration and focus level.

Why Blood Birds Nest is Good for Growing Kids

Helping Children with Asthma

As documented in Chinese medication literature Ben Cao Gang Mu, Blood Birds Nest can promoted regeneration of internal organs and brain cells, including as the treatment for asthma, as it nourishes the lungs and reduces lung lesions.

Other Benefits

Besides, Blood Birds Nest is also known to have other numerous benefits, such as:
- Good nutrition to increase body’s immunity and resistance, so children are less susceptible to colds or flu,
- Increase appetite since it improves digestion and absorption of nutrients,
- Contain water soluble proteins so it can be absorbed easily by the body,
- Contain other minerals, such as iron and calcium, which are required to build strong bones and teeth, particularly in growing children,
- Improve respiratory system in children and adults.

Easily Consumed

Blood Birds Nest can be consumed and presented in many manners, including mixed with the rice porridge or dissolve in milk. It can be also be served as a warm soup, or a cold desserts. Thera are many ways to serve Blood Birds Nest for dishes for baby, kids, or children.
Please note that Blood Birds Nest is totally safe to be consumed by children 6 months old and up. For 100 gram portion of Blood Birds Nest is placed as 345 kilocalories energy value

Food Safety Focus

Nitrite and Nitrate Levels in Blood Birds Nest & Nitrites in Blood Birds Nest

Nitrite and Nitrate Levels in Blood Birds Nest

Following up the incident of nitrites in Blood Birds Nest, a local university conducted a study on nitrite and nitrate levels in Blood Birds Nests revealing the presence of both chemicals in all 67 samples of Blood Birds Nests. The amounts varied significantly with Blood Birds Nests having the highest average levels.
In Hong Kong , nitrite and nitrate are not permitted to be added in Blood Birds Nest, but relevant regulation is not applicable to nitrite and nitrate naturally present in Blood Birds Nest. The mechanism of the natural presence of nitrite in Blood Birds Nest is not entirely clear. Some suggested that nitrite may be formed due to fermentation and the levels may vary with the extent of environmental contamination.
To alleviate public concern, the local university study also tested and confirmed that majority of nitrites and nitrates can be removed by washing and soaking. To reduce exposure to nitrites and nitrates, Blood Birds Nest should be washed and soaked for several hours or even overnight before cooking. Soaking water should be replaced once or twice during the process and be discarded.

Nitrites in Blood Birds Nest

Recently, high levels of nitrites were detected in Blood Birds Nest samples in the Mainland market. There were concerns that nitrites might have been added to Blood Birds Nest to produce the desirable red colour.
Blood Birds Nest is made from secretions of Swiftlets' salivary glands and usually consumed as a delicacy in Chinese cuisine. The reason for the red colour of Blood Birds Nest is not entirely clear.
Nitrites are not allowed to be added to Blood Birds Nest in Hong Kong , although it is known that they may exist naturally in Blood Birds Nest under certain conditions. Traders should source Blood Birds Nests from reliable suppliers and ensure all foods they sell or import are fit for human consumption. The common practice of soaking Blood Birds Nests for several hours, or even overnight, and washing them thoroughly with clean water can substantially reduce nitrite levels. Since nitrites are water soluble, The public should discard the water used for soaking Blood Birds Nest before cooking.