The cave nesting Swiflet birds of South East Asia, Aerodramus species, are renowned for their edible nests. For centuries their nests have been gathered as a precious food delicacy and consumed as the main ingredient in soups and desserts for their delicious texture and beneficial health effects to maintain a functional body.
The biological makeup and effects of edible bird’s nest have been widely studied and documented. Recent research has highlighted;
The probable presence in Edible Bird’s Nest of Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF), which plays a pivotal role in cell proliferation and differentiation, explains how EBN may have an enhancing effect on immunity (1)
Rebecca S.Y. Wong. Edible Bird’s Nest: Food or Medicine? Chin J Integr Med 2013 Sep;19(9):643-649.