The swiftlet farming industry has exploded, as more people eat bird's nest soup for supposed health benefits

So, what makes it so expensive? People in China have been eating bird nests for more than a thousand years. It's believed to have near magical properties, from curing cancer to helping children grow taller.

Here in New York City's Chinatown, for example, a couple dozen were selling for more than a thousand dollars.Creighton: Factor one: The locals believe that abundance is related to charity. The more charitable and kind they are to the community, the more the birds will come to build nests in their houses.

Gross, gross, gross.

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