Eggshells - A Useful Food Supplement

Author: Maryam Ayres Time for reading: ~2 minutes Last Updated: August 08, 2022

Eggshells are extremely rich in calcium in the form of digestible CaCO3, as well as glucosamine and hyaluronic acid.

There are many foods that are more than healthy - not only contribute to the normal function of the body, but also have therapeutic effects. Many green leafy vegetables have proven anti-cancer properties, spices such as turmeric actively help to suppress inflammatory processes, some nuts ennoble memory ... The list is extensive. It also includes egg shells.

Huge amounts of them are thrown away by households every day. In countries such as the United States, where such statistics exist, the food industry alone discharges about 150,000 tons per year. Instead of garbage, these useful shells should find their place in home food.

The main reason is that they are filled with useful substances. Only one shell contains about 2 grams of calcium , enclosed in the molecule of calcium carbonate CaCO 3 .

This compound represents about 95% of the total mass of the shell. It is present in almost all calcium multivitamin tablets , as well as in prescription medications against heartburn . In the food industry, the compound is known as E170 - used as an acidity regulator, anti-caking agent, added to soy and almond milk and approved for use as a safe additive in the EU, USA, Australia and New Zealand. In almost all tablets and pills, it is used as a harmless stabilizer or aid.

CaCO 3 is so popular because it is easily broken down and absorbed by the human body. Intake of calcium is rapidly incorporated into the metabolism and has a healing effect on bone and tooth tissue. In addition to CaCO 3 , the eggshell contains more than 20 useful minerals. These include glucosamine and hyaluronic acid , which improve joint elasticity and improve their ability to absorb mechanical shocks without injury.

However, care must be taken with the dosage . The recommended daily dose of calcium is between 1.2 and 1.5 grams each day. One teaspoon of ground shells contains about 800 mg of calcium. As other daily foods also contain calcium, it is advisable not to consume the shells more than 2-3 times a week.

However, they should not eat raw. First, they should be immersed in boiling water for about 5 minutes - the water should cover them completely. Then put in the oven at at least 200 degrees for 15 minutes until they become noticeably more brittle. This is done in order to kill all pathogenic microorganisms that can be found on them. The last step - grind to a powder, maybe in a coffee grinder. There are plenty of recipes on the Internet on how to use shells as a healthy food and beverage supplement.

Eggshells - A Useful Food Supplement

Related Articles