Health Benefits of Edible Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

Edible Swiftlet’s Spit Soup has been an esteemed food tonic due to its highly evaluated function of being nutritious (water soluble protein, carbohydrate, iron, inorganic salt and fiber) and of medical benefit (anti-aging, anti-cancer and immunity-enhancing).

One of the major glyconutrients in Edible Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is sialic acid (9.0%). Sialic acids have beneficial effect on the neurological and intellectual of infants. As an excellent immune system moderator, sialic acid affects the flow resistance in mucus which in turn repels bacteria, viruses and other harmful microbes. In terms of nutritional contents, the main components of edible bird‟s nest includes water-soluble proteins, carbohydrate, trace elements such as calcium, phosphorus, iron, sodium and potassium and amino acid which play a vital role in promoting body health.

Health Benefits of Edible Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

The health benefits of edible Swiftlet’s Spit Soup can be summarised as follows:

1. Improves Skin Complexion

This is the best known fact about Swiftlet’s Spit Soup consumption. It is reputed to maintain youthfulness and improve skin complexion. Someone who consume Swiftlet’s Spit Soup on a regular basis often radiates a clean and clear facial complexion.

2. Improves Body Immunity System

If you consume Swiftlet’s Spit Soup on a long term and regular basis, it helps to improve general body well being. It strengthens every aspect of the body: bones, tissue and cells. Naturally, you will feel healthier. It energises the immune system and leaves you with lower risk of contracting any disease. Swiftlet’s Spit Soups fortify the entire human immune system, making the weak and old stronger and improving the respiratory system in children and adult. Studies have shown that Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is rich in epidermal growth factor(EGF). This substance is responsible for skin and tissue repair.

3. As a health supplement for Pregnant Women

Swiftlet’s Spit Soup provides a rich source of nutrients for Pregnant Women and their unborn children (fetus). During the pregnancy or pre-natal period, eating Swiftlet’s Spit Soup will help to strengthen the body of the pregnant woman. Women that consume Swiftlet’s Spit Soup during pregnancy always recover faster and better after childbirth. Such women experience lesser or no loss of hair, become stronger, and experience better sleep after childbirth. The unborn child too also benefits from the Swiftlet’s Spit Soups the mother consumes. Pregnant women that eat Swiftlet’s Spit Soups give birth to healthier babies with beautiful and smoother skin.

4. A good supplement for growing children.

Swiftlet’s Spit Soup contains proteins, amino acids and minerals that are essential for the healthy development of growing children. Regular consumption helps prevent colds and flus. By improving the function of the Lungs and Kidneys, Swiftlet’s Spit Soup helps boost the body’s immune system and increase resistance to external environmental factors.

5. As a treatment for ailments

For many centuries, Swiftlet’s Spit Soup has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) for treating certain ailments. It is strongly recommended for the treatment of asthma, cold, cough. It is widely believed that Swiftlet’s Spit Soup has anti-aging and anti-cancer properties.

Trivia and Nutritional Facts About Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is a popular and rather expensive soup that originated in China. This soup used to be served to the affluent. But thanks to China’s booming economy, nouveau riche is able to afford this specialty soup. For a soup that has a mild flavor and very little nutrients, it commands hundreds of dollars per bowl. What’s so special about the soup anyway?

The soup’s main ingredient is an edible swiftlet’s nest. Instead of collecting twigs and leaves, the swiftlets would use their saliva to create white or black colored nests. The bird’s saliva hardens when exposed to air.
Swiftlets are high-flying birds that nest in the walls of caves. There are four species of swiftlets, three of which are native to Southeast Asian countries like the Philippines.
Using bamboo sticks, gatherers would harvest the gummy nests on steep cave walls by hand. One wrong move and the nests could cost a gatherer his life. There is a high demand for Swiftlet’s Spit Soup in China. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the nests are used to treat diseases. The difficulty of harvesting the nests coupled by the high demand for it, made Swiftlet’s Spit Soup a rare and prized commodity.

Facts About Swiftlet’s Spit Soup

It’s Virtually Flavorless

Just like shark’s fin, Swiftlet’s Spit Soup has no flavor of its own. When making a soup, the chef relies on other spices to flavor the dish. Essentially, the Swiftlet’s Spit Soup adds texture and minimal nutrients to the soup. Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is best consumed on an empty stomach. This way, the body can absorb the nutrients.

Quality by Color

Swiftlet’s Spit Soups are sorted according to their color. The whitest of all are the most expensive. Grayish or even red-colored Swiftlet’s Spit Soups are often more affordable. The color of the nests did not come from the swiftlet’s blood. It’s caused by two things: oxidation or absorption of chemicals.

No Proven Healing Benefits

Although revered in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is not proven to cure any disease. However, the nest contains a type of protein that may strengthen the immune system. But scientific evidence is needed to support this claim.

May Accelerate Recovery

The Chinese usually serve Swiftlet’s Spit Soup to sick people. According to TCM specialists, the pre-digested proteins in the soup may help speed up recovery. But again, there is no scientific data to back this up.

The Dark Side of Destroying Swiftlet’s Natural Habitat

Tons of Swiftlet’s Spit Soups are being exported to China from Southeast Asian nations per year. Over- farming and habitat exploitation caused a sharp decline on swiftlets population – particularly in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
In Malaysia where Swiftlet’s Spit Soup is an emerging industry, business owners started building swiftlets farms. Unfortunately, conditions have to be perfect for the swiftlets to nest. According to one study, “internal airflows, relative humidity, air temperature distributions and light intensity are needed to create the right environment for swiftlets to breed.” Without taking these factors into consideration, Swiftlet’s Spit Soup farming will fail.
Conservationists around the world warn about the dangers of exploiting the population of swiftlets. The caves in which they live have fragile, self-sustaining ecosystem. The dwindling population of swiftlets will also affect the other animals that live in these caves.