MadSci Network: General Biology
Query:

Re: What is the nutritional value of bird nest?

Date: Wed Aug 15 16:55:45 2001
Posted By: Elizabeth Kunkel, Faculty, Food Science and Human Nutrition, Clemson University
Area of science: General Biology
ID: 995914123.Gb
Message:

According to the Oxford Companion to Food, bird's nest blong to a species 
of swiftlet, "Collocalia whiteheadi," found in the Phillipines and New 
Guinea.  The book explains, "In making their nests, the birds cement a 
scaffolding of tiny twigs together with a sticky substance which has been 
variously identified as coming from regurgitated seaweed, such as 
agar-agar, or as being simply the bird's own saliva."  The high cost of 
these nests have "tended to rule out any analytical research" on their 
nutrient composition.  I couldn't find any information on its effect on 
skin, but extracts of some types of seaweeds are components of some types 
of cosmetics and skin care products.

Reference:  Alan Livingston.  "The Oxford Companion to Food"  1999.  Oxford 
University Press.


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