Let’s start with a few fun facts about eggshells:
- An eggshell is made of calcium carbonate, which is also the main component in some antacids (a medicine that prevents or corrects acidity, especially in the stomach). Each medium-sized eggshell contains about 750-800 mgs of calcium.
- The shell makes up 9-12% of an egg’s total weight, and contains pores that allow oxygen and carbon dioxide to get in and moisture to get out.
- The shell color of an egg is representative of the breed of hen that produces the egg. White hens produce white eggs and brown hens produce brown eggs.
Eggshells support various types of health
Eggshells do not have a very complex composition, right? Yet, it’s amazing how something as simple as eggshells can have a tremendous impact on your health. So if you normally fill your garbage can with your broken eggshells, you might want to read this.
Eggshells can support gastric health and your thyroid gland health simply by mixing crushed egg shells with lemon juice and allowing them to soften in the healthy lemon juice. In the same way, you can add softened eggshells to hot milk to help treat ulcers, and promote good digestive health.
Eggshells are actually 90% pure calcium, and this calcium is almost chemically identical to the same calcium that makes up our teeth and bones. Because of this chemical similarity, the calcium from eggshells is easy absorbed into our tissues. It’s a common medical truth that healthy bones do not get osteoporosis. The rich calcium content in eggshells not only helps strengthen bones, but also helps the bone marrow produce more and healthier blood cells.
Calcium has been proven to lower cholesterol and help lower blood pressure too. Health benefits from eggshells do not stop at their richness in calcium. Eggshells also make a great source of other minerals such as iron, zinc, copper, manganese, fluorine, phosphorus, chromium and molybdenum.
Sterilize eggshells before use:
For most eggshell uses, it is better to make sure they are clean and free from bacteria. You can grind your eggshells either wet or dry. I personally find grinding them dry to be easier, but decide which method works best for you in your kitchen
To grind eggshells wet, simply take all of your eggshells, place them in a blender and fill the blender with water to about ½ way up the eggshells. Then whiz and drain. What to do next is where I find the difficulty. Small bits of wet shell are not necessarily cooperative, and most uses for eggshell are easier to implement when the shells are dry.
To grind eggshells dry, you can either leave them sit in a bowl until they are thoroughly dry (I keep a pretty bowl next to my sink and simply stack eggshells), or you can bake them. You can do it in the oven or in the microwave.
OVEN: Put them on a cookie sheet in a 250 F degree oven for 10 minutes until dry, but not brown. (Note: some people use a 350 F oven, but since commercial oyster shell producers use 250, I figure that is sufficient.)
MICROWAVE: put them on a plate or paper towel in the microwave on high for about 1.5 to 3 minutes (for a dozen, go 3-4 minutes.) If you don’t rinse them first, be prepared for some loud popping noises from residual egg whites.
Prepare this eggshell drink for you to promote your overall good health:
EGGSHELL DRINK RECIPE
Ingredients:
5 eggshells
3 liters of water
Directions: Crush the eggshells into a fine powder. Add that powder to the water, and let it sit in the fridge for a week in order for shells to dissolve. You can also add a little bit of lemon juice for flavor.
Consummation: Drink 2-3 glasses of the mixture every day.
Make this eggshell nourishing face mask:
Pulverize dried eggshells with a mortar and pestle, then whisk this fine powder with an added egg white. Use it for a healthful, skin-tightening facial gel. Allow the face mask to dry before rinsing it off.
You can also treat skin irritations with this recipe:
Drop an eggshell into a small container of apple-cider vinegar and let it soak for a couple of days. Apply the mixture to minor skin irritations or to itchy skin.
