Health Benefits of Bird’s Nest Soup for Pregnancy and How to Cook Properly

Health Benefits of Bird’s Nest Soup for Pregnancy and How to Cook Properly

In the world of natural cuisine, there are few items that could match the nutritional value of Bird’s Nest Soup. It has few dietary restriction and is suitable for all ages. Bird’s Nest Soup is considered an elixir of youth. It's said to improve complexion and helps skin retain its natural beauty. It is the gold standard and a favorite among women.

1. Is Bird’s Nest Soup good for pregnancy?

Studies from ancient Oriental medicine as well as modern western medicine show that Bird’s Nest Soup contain essential nutrients that could potentially benefit the health of the baby and mothers during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
The health benefits of Bird’s Nest Soup are well-documented and it is a widely-consumed food, especially amongst pregnant women as it can help promote cell division whilst strengthening both the mother’s and the baby’s immune system.

2. What are benefits of Bird’s Nest Soup during pregnancy

As the stomach swells during pregnancy, stretch marks are a normal occurrence. Bird’s Nest Soups are believed to help relieve stretch marks thanks to the natural collagen contained within, ensuring smooth, supple skin for the mother-to-be.
Comprising many restorative properties, Bird’s Nest Soup is also beneficial for promoting healthy growth to the foetus by stimulating cell growth, increasing blood supply and boosting the immune system while providing rich antioxidants to help eliminate free radicals.
Glycine substances in Bird’s Nest Soup can help reduce the risk of pre-eclampsia in pregnant women, decreased risk of neural tube defects in the fetus and promote the overall development of children.

The tryptophan, a precursor of serotonin and melatonin, found in Bird’s Nest Soup has antidepressant effects and can help reduce stress, anxiety and fatigue in mothers as well as promoting the recovery process after birth. In addition, tryptophan promotes the optimal growth for the child.
Mothers that consume Bird’s Nest Soup regularly can give birth to healthy babies that are free of lung diseases and respiratory organ failures.
The threonine found in Bird’s Nest Soup important in the formation of elastin and collage which help prevent aging of the skin. Daily consumption of Bird’s Nest Soup can help the skin retain its radiance and natural beauty to help skin from aging as well as reducing the appearance of stretch marks during pregnancy.
The largest benefit of Bird’s Nest Soup is that it contains amino acids that are essential but the human body cannot synthesize such as: Leucine, Phenylalanine, Tyrosine, Arginine, Histidine... Bird’s Nest Soup contain a large amount of proline which is important for the recovery muscles, tissues and skin after a traumatic event like giving birth.

3. Using Bird’s Nest Soup for Pregnant Mother: when to eat Bird’s Nest Soup during pregnancy?

Bird’s Nest Soup is NOT recommended in the first trimester (the first 3 months pregnancy). The embryo needs time to firmly embedded into the uterus and establish all the important connections for growth. Best time to drink Bird’s Nest Soup during pregnancy is from the 4th month onwards.
The recommended amount is 5-10g of dried cleaned Bird’s Nest Soup used every day or every other day. To save time, you can cook a couple at a time, portion and store in the refrigerator for daily use.
You should not consume large amount of Bird’s Nest Soup at once. For best results, eat a small amount everyday.

4. Using Bird’s Nest Soup after giving birth

The health of post-partum women often substantially reduced. This is because a large amount of blood is loss during childbirth, either by Caesarean section or natural birth.
Compounded by the lack of sleep and hormonal imbalance cause women to feel tired and stressed out and have a weak resistance to infections.
Valuable nutritients in Bird’s Nest Soup will accelerate the process of recovery for the mother. Bird’s Nest Soup can also enhance milk supply and scientific evidence show that breast milk is the best food for babies.
In addition, the connective tissue under the skin dilate to meet the weight gain during the pregnancy. Mothers with Caesarean deliveries suffer added injuries during birth.
Using Bird’s Nest Soup after birth can help mothers get back in shape as well as quickly regain smooth skin.
Dosage & Administration:
Bird’s Nest Soup can be used immediately after birth. It is recommended that the mother should try a small amount to test for allergies.
A few slices of fresh ginger can be added to keep the body warm and good for digestion. If mother and baby respond well, then use 5-10g dried cleaned Bird’s Nest Soups every day or every other day.

5. Bird’s Nest Soup recipe for pregnancy

Ingredients:
- 1 piece Hello Nest Bird’s Nest Soup or 10gram of dried, cleaned Bird’s Nest Soup
- 1 cup drinking water or boiled then cooled water, for soaking.
- 5-6 pieces Rock/Lump sugar.
Method:
- Soak the dry Bird’s Nest Soup in a bowl of water for about 3-5 hours. Use drinking water or water that has been boiled and cooled down to soak the Bird’s Nest Soup. After that, carefully strain the Bird’s Nest Soup and throw the water away.

6. Useful Tips for cooking Bird’s Nest Soup

- Rather than weighing the Bird’s Nest Soup, go by pieces per person. For one person, use 1 piece of Hello Nest Bird’s Nest Soup. This equates to about 9-12 grams per person. We use 1 rice bowl of water per person.
- Although red dates are a common addition in Bird’s Nest Soup, we wouldn't recommend using it. According to our own experience, the cheap red dates will act like a sponge which absorb the goodness of the Bird’s Nest Soup (though it’s not so bad if you eat the red dates).
- We highly recommend to enjoy Bird’s Nest Soup in the purest way – just Bird’s Nest Soup, water and rock sugar. You may also add American ginseng slices. If you find ginseng bitter or intend to consume at night (it improves alertness/ 提神), omit it.
- Don’t fuss over prepping the Bird’s Nest Soup, because our products are usually very clean. Simply soak the Bird’s Nest Soup pieces in water overnight until fully expanded and softened, but not so long that the Bird’s Nest Soup disintegrates into small bits.
If there are any impurities such as debris and feathers (which is very normal, as it proves that it is 100% authentic Bird’s Nest Soup), pluck them out using a kitchen tweezer, drain, and they are ready for cooking.
- Avoid boiling Bird’s Nest Soup for too long. Boiling them for too long will remove the solid chunks in the Bird’s Nest Soup, and cause it to become very watery. It will also remove all the proteins and good nutrients inside the Bird’s Nest Soup.
The older folks especially dislike it when the stewed Bird’s Nest Soup do not have solid chunks after cooking (i.e. very watery). We highly recommend boiling house nest for 20 minutes max. Please see below for more details.
- For best results, use the traditional way of double-boiling instead of an electronic double-boiler slow cooker. However, an electronic slow cooker is an alternative, subjected to personal preference.
- It is said that Bird’s Nest Soup is best consumed at room temperature, or chilled, on an empty stomach (such as just before bed, or when you wake up in the morning). For maximum absorption, do not eat “heaty” snacks or medication a few hours before and after drinking Bird’s Nest Soup.