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Why Should Children Eat Bird’s Nest?

When it comes to natural treats, few things are as interesting and healthy as bird’s nests. These nests are known for their delicious taste and unique texture, but they also have a very special secret: they have a lot of benefits that help children grow and develop.

Edible bird’s nests are a sought-after superfood because they are full of essential nutrients and promise both a delicious dining experience and a valuable addition to the health of our children. In this piece, we explore the world of edible bird’s nests and look at the many reasons why they are a great addition to a child’s diet, combining taste, tradition, and excellent nutrition.

Develops a Healthy Body

Including tasty bird’s nests in children’s meals is a great way to help them build a healthy body. These nests have a lot of different kinds of nutrients which helps them grow and stay healthy. It has every important nutrient a child needs for healthy growth and development, including calcium, iron, potassium, sodium, phosphorus, sialic acid, and amino acids.

For instance, calcium helps bones, teeth, the heart, muscles, and nerves grow. While iron aids in moving oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. It also helps muscles store and use oxygen. Essentially, these nutrients are the building blocks for strong bones, strong muscles, and a strong immune system.

Boosts Immune System

In TCM, eating bird’s nests regularly can help keep colds and flus at bay. Bird’s nests help the body’s immune system by making the lungs and kidneys work better. This makes the body more resistant to environmental factors, such as viruses and bacteria. 

Since children enjoy exploring new environments and can be exposed to such factors, having a strong immune system is especially important for them to stay healthy and strong.

Polysaccharides found in bird’s nests may help control how many immune cells are made. While glycoproteins in edible bird’s nests help the immune system work better. This gives children an extra layer of protection against common illnesses.

Bird’s nests may also help develop more white blood cells, which are an important part of the immune reaction. By helping these immunity cells grow, the body is better prepared to fight off diseases. This could lead to a more healthy and effective immune reaction and keep the immune system from being too weak or too strong.

This natural supplement is a nutrient-dense way to support the general health of children as a whole. It’s no wonder that bird’s nests have been known to boost our immune system in TCM!

Enhances Brain Development

Did you know that bird’s nests also help to enhance brain development?

There are a lot of proteins and important amino acids in bird’s nests that can be consumed and they are the building blocks of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are chemicals that send messages between nerve cells in the brain and are very important for thinking, controlling mood, and making memories.

Bird’s nests can also be a reliable source of energy because they contain protein and carbohydrates. The brain is a highly busy structure that needs a steady flow of energy to work well.

Doctors have found that sialic acid is a major carbohydrate in bird’s nests that can be taken in by the body. This nutrient is important for brain health and function, because it makes people smarter and more intelligent, both when they are young and when they are older. Because of the presence of sialic acid, bird’s nests help children develop their brains by improving their memory and getting them to think more actively while they are young.

Improve Skin Health

Did you know that bird’s nests also contain collagen?

Collagen is the protein that your body has a substantial amount of, so we all know that collagen is an important component of our skin. It actually makes up 30% of the protein found in your body!

Collagen is the main part of skin, muscles, bones, tendons, ligaments, and other connective tissues in your body. It is also in your cells, blood vessels, and the inside of your intestines.

Collagen can be naturally found in edible bird’s nests and can keep your children’s skin healthy as well as form and repair cells. Children often get cuts, scrapes, and other small injuries, so the presence of these proteins could help the skin heal and grow back faster.

Bird’s nests also have moisturizing glycoproteins that dissolve in water. For healthy skin, it’s important to stay hydrated, and these chemicals may help the skin hold onto water, avoiding redness and promoting a smooth appearance.

Can Babies Eat Bird’s Nest?

The short answer is no, especially for babies under the age of 1.

Babies should not eat bird’s nests because their systems and digestive processes aren’t fully developed yet. If they were to eat bird’s nests before they are ready, it could give them stomach pain, diarrhea, or indigestion.

So, we think you should wait until your baby is at least 1 year old, when their digestive system is fully formed, before giving them bird’s nests.

You may be wondering, “But my child has passed their first birthday, can I feed them bird’s nest now?”

Of course you can! But before you start preparing bird’s nests for your 1 year old, there are some precautions that you should take note of.

Things to Note Before Feeding Bird’s Nest to your Children

  1. Amount of bird’s nest needed

Although adults should eat between 3 to 5 grams of bird’s nests every day. Doctors advise that children only need 2 grams each time. Additionally, they should only consume bird’s nests twice a week.

As the child grows, the amount and frequency of consuming bird’s nests can be slowly increased.

  1. Your child could be allergic to bird’s nests

Bird’s nest is an allergenic food that can cause signs like puffy lips or eyes, a tight throat, or trouble breathing.

It is advisable not to give your children bird’s nests, especially if they are allergic to proteins. Charlotte Lin, a dietitian at the National University Hospital (NUH), says that after your child turns one, you can give small amounts of bird’s nest to test for allergies.

Essentially, we should try to test for any allergic reactions before allowing your child to consume bird’s nests in larger quantities.

Healthier Choice for Bird’s Nest

Bird’s nest is a good source of nutrition, but you have to be careful that your child does not have an allergic reaction when you feed it to them. If you want them to benefit from the nutrients it contains, you can boil it for a longer period of time and cut it into smaller bits, which makes it easier to digest for younger children. 

Alternatively, you can purchase bottled bird’s nests, which tend to taste sweeter than self-boiled bird’s nests without added sugar to it. Furthermore, there are bottled bird’s nests that have a variety of flavors such as coconut or honey and camomile, which further entices your beloved children’s taste buds.

However, if you’re worried about the added sugar and preservatives to the bottled bird’s nest. Bonback Plus Real Bird’s Nest Beverage Xylitol Formula uses xylitol, which is a natural sugar alcohol found in plants, including many fruits and vegetables. It has a sweet taste and is often used as a sugar substitute. This way, you don’t have to worry about your child consuming too much artificial sugar!

We understand that every mother wants the best for her child and always wants them to be healthy and strong. It’s important to remember that different people react to natural supplements differently. If you’re still anxious about the effects bird’s nests have on your child, you can talk to a pediatrician to ease your worries.