Calcium is Found in Milk Bones and many other Food
But Then A Really great Way to get your Calcium for 99percent Free is ??
Getting enough dietary calcium is easy for most people.
However, others do not meet their daily requirements because of restrictive diets, low food intake or food shortage. For these people, cheap sources of calcium like eggshells may prove useful.
Not to mention, using eggshells is an excellent way to reduce your kitchen waste, even by just a little bit.
This article takes a look at the risks and benefits of eggshell supplements.
What Is an Eggshell?
An eggshell is the hard, outer covering of an egg. It consists mostly of calcium carbonate, a common form of calcium. The rest is made up of protein and other minerals (1Trusted Source).
Calcium is an essential mineral that is abundant in many foods, including dairy products. Lower amounts are also found in many leafy and root vegetables.
In the past decades, eggshell powder processed from hen eggs has been used as a natural calcium supplement. Eggshells are roughly 40% calcium, with each gram providing 381–401 mg (2Trusted Source, 3Trusted Source).
Half an eggshell may provide enough calcium to meet the daily requirements for adults, which is 1,000 mg per day (2Trusted Source, 4Trusted Source).
Summary
Eggshells are commonly used as a calcium supplement. Just half an eggshell may provide enough calcium to meet the average daily requirements of an adult.
Eggshell Powder Is an Effective Calcium Supplement
Eggshells consist of calcium carbonate, along with small amounts of protein and other organic compounds.
Calcium carbonate is the most common form of calcium in nature, making up seashells, coral reefs and limestone. It is also the cheapest and most widely available form of calcium in supplements.
Studies in rats and piglets confirm that eggshells are a rich calcium source. Moreover, they are absorbed as effectively as pure calcium carbonate (2Trusted Source, 5Trusted Source, 6Trusted Source).
Some even suggest its absorption is better than that of purified calcium carbonate supplements.
A study in isolated cells found that calcium absorption was up to 64% greater from eggshell powder compared to pure calcium carbonate. Researchers attributed these effects to certain proteins found in eggshells (1Trusted Source).
In addition to calcium and protein, eggshells also contain small amounts of other minerals, including strontium, fluoride, magnesium and selenium. Just like calcium, these minerals may play a role in bone health (3Trusted Source, 7Trusted Source, 8Trusted Source, 9Trusted Source, 10Trusted Source).
Summary
Some evidence suggests that the calcium in eggshell powder may be better absorbed than pure calcium carbonate, making it an effective calcium supplement.
It May Reduce the Risk of Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a health condition characterized by weak bones and an increased risk of bone fractures. In 2010, it affected an estimated 54 million older Americans (11Trusted Source).
Old age is one of the strongest risk factors for osteoporosis, but inadequate calcium intake may also contribute to bone loss and osteoporosis over time.
If your diet is lacking calcium, taking supplements may help you reach your daily requirements. Eggshell powder is a cheap option.
One study in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis found that taking eggshell powder, along with vitamin D3 and magnesium, significantly strengthened their bones by improving bone mineral density (12Trusted Source).
Eggshell powder may even be more effective at reducing osteoporosis risk than purified calcium carbonate.
A study in Dutch, postmenopausal women found that eggshell powder improved bone mineral density in the neck compared to a placebo. In contrast, purified calcium carbonate did not significantly improve it (13Trusted Source).
Summary
Taking eggshell powder may improve bone strength in people with osteoporosis. One study indicates that it may be more effective than purified calcium carbonate supplements.
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Eggshell Membrane Supplements May Benefit Joint Health
The eggshell membrane is located between the eggshell and the egg white. It is easily visible when you peel a boiled egg.
While technically not part of the eggshell, it is usually attached to it. When making eggshell powder at home, there is no need for you to remove the membrane.
Eggshell membrane mainly consists of protein in the form of collagen. It also contains small amounts of chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine and other nutrients.
The trace amounts of these beneficial compounds in eggshell membrane are unlikely to have any significant effects on your health.
However, some studies show that regular intake of eggshell membrane supplements may benefit your joints. More studies are needed to confirm their potential effectiveness (14Trusted Source, 15Trusted Source, 16Trusted Source, 17Trusted Source).
Summary
The eggshell membrane separates the eggshell from the egg white. Supplements made of eggshell membranes provide nutrients that may improve joint health.
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Risks of Eating Eggshells
When prepared correctly, eggshell powder is considered safe. There are just a few things you need to keep in mind.
First, do not attempt to swallow large fragments of eggshell as they might injure your throat and esophagus. The next chapter gives you a few tips on how to grind eggshells into powder.
Second, eggshells may be contaminated with bacteria, such as Salmonella enteritidis. To avoid the risk of food poisoning, make sure to boil eggs before eating their shell (18Trusted Source, 19Trusted Source).
Finally, natural calcium supplements may contain relatively high amounts of toxic metals, including lead, aluminum, cadmium and mercury (20Trusted Source).
However, the amounts of these toxic elements in eggshells tend to be lower than in other natural calcium sources, such as oyster shells, and is generally not a concern (3Trusted Source, 21Trusted Source).
Summary
To prevent the risk of injury or infection, eggshells should be boiled and ground into powder before you eat them.
culled from healthonline