In addition to beauty and skincare, boosting immunity, anti-aging, and preventing miscarriage are also common marketing labels for bird's nest.
In outpatient clinics, gynecologists often encounter pregnant women asking questions like: Should I eat bird's nest now that I'm pregnant? Can eating bird's nest prevent a miscarriage? The stance of gynecologists is not to advocate for or recommend it.
A gynecologist says: "From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, bird's nest is neutral in nature and sweet in taste. It can nourish the lungs, replenish Qi, and moisten Yin. It is most suitable for symptoms such as deficiency fatigue, coughing, and coughing up blood, much like for tuberculosis patients, for whom bird's nest can moisten the lungs and is beneficial for stopping coughs and bleeding."
However, in terms of nutritional content, dried bird's nest contains about 50% protein, 30% carbohydrates, 10% water, and some minerals, and does not contain any magical ingredients. While the protein content of bird's nest is high, it is lower than that of tofu skin and pigskin. Some studies show that the protein in bird's nest does not include all the essential amino acids required by the human body, and compared to milk and eggs, it cannot be considered a high-quality protein.
"Eating bird's nest during pregnancy is not a timely help, let alone having effects like preventing miscarriage or whitening. The nutritional value of bird's nest is overestimated," says the gynecologist.
Furthermore, bird's nest is not suitable for consumption at every stage of pregnancy and postpartum.
The gynecologist says that the first trimester of pregnancy is prone to morning sickness, and eating bird's nest may worsen it. After childbirth, when lochia has not yet cleared, a warming nourishment is needed, making bird's nest unsuitable. Additionally, if a pregnant woman has a weak spleen and stomach, poor appetite, a thick tongue coating, or diarrhea, eating bird's nest will加重 the burden on the digestive system.