I love eggs. Like, seriously, totally one of my favorite foods. They’re so versatile and, in paleo, are used in just about everything. So, we buy them often. And we fly through them. And I always toss the eggshells. I mean, I cannot begin to count the dozens of eggshells that have seen the inside of my garbage can. Because that’s where they go. I mean, eggshells really don’t have a purpose. Right? I’ll put it this way, if you’re throwing your eggshells away, you’re doing it wrong.
At least half of Americans are deficient in calcium which is interesting, considering each person, on average, consumes approximately 20 gallons of milk annually[1,2,3].
One main reason so many people suffer from cavities and dental decay is because of chronic calcium deficiency. Proper calcium intake promotes nervous system health, bone and joint health, and even helps women in particular. Researchers have discovered that a woman’s calcium levels during her cycle tend to fluctuate significantly[4]. Right before her period, a woman’s body tends to be the lowest in calcium levels. Not by coincidence, this is when many women experience the worst of PMS symptoms: cramps, moodiness, bloating, and food cravings. In 1998, one study compared the PMS symptoms of women before and after adding a regimen of at least 1200 mg/day of calcium[5]. Results were shocking: by the third cycle, women reported significant reduction, and even complete disappearance of PMS symptoms.
Eggshells are especially beneficial in toddlers and young children. Because of their rapid growth and development, children require an uninterrupted flow of calcium. One of the first signs of calcium deficiency is dental decay, and this is especially concerning, with approximately 42% of children displaying some degree of dental disease[6].
Not only are eggshells loaded with calcium, but they actually contain 27 different elements including: magnesium, phosphorus, and essential amino acids. The eggshell membranes have also been discovered to treat joint and connective tissue disorders[7].
Now, enough with the talky talky. Let’s get into the real reason you’re reading this post: the eggshells.
You’re going to want to save your eggshells until you have about a dozen, that way you can make a nice little batch of calcium powder. For your family’s personal ingestion, it really is best to use only organic eggshells, but any conventional eggshells can always be used for pets!
Once you’ve gathered your eggshells, you want to give them a good rinse to get rid of any egg residue. Make sure to leave the membranes intact, remember, this is a very important property of the shell.
Directions
- Rinse all eggshells, being sure to keep membranes intact
- Cover eggshells with about 6 cups water, and bring to a boil
- Allow to boil gently for about 10 minutes. This step is very important to kill all bacteria and salmonella.
- Strain eggshells, and allow to air dry, before laying out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake at 200F for approximately 45 minutes.
- Powder the dried eggshells with a blender
. For a finer powder, a coffee grinder results in an almost unnoticeable texture. - Mix into smoothies or yogurt 1 tsp at a time.
. For a finer powder, a 
Enjoy, and stay healthy.
Until next time,
Savannah
Wow. I’ve never heard of this. Sounds brilliant!
It’s soooo crazy to me how this really is never talked about, because eggshells truly are so beneficial!! Thanks for reading, Susan <3
I had no idea this was even a thing! Maybe I should start buying organic. We fly through eggs too.
YES!!! Definitely buy organic eggs, it’s one area that reeeally makes a difference. Do some reading into the difference in the omegas in conventional eggs vs organic ones. Thank you for reading! <3
I have never heard of this, but I have read about how many women are calcium deficient, particularly during the childbearing years. Thank you for sharing this!
I, too, have heard this Naya. It’s so scary because calcium is sooooo very important for us as women. Thank you for reading <3
Wow, I love learning new things and I always do this when I read your post. Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you so so much for saying that, Stacy! I hope you enjoy and share the knowledge! <3
I can say I’ve learned something new today. I never knew about this process. Thanks for sharing.
Yay! It’s always fun to learn something new-thanks for reading, Erin!! <3
Wow, I just learned a lot about egg shells that I didn’t know before! Our family eats a lot of eggs too.
Eggs are definitely a staple here, we must always have some in the house!! Definitely cuts down on waste too(: Thanks for reading!
OMG this blew my mind. I had no idea you could use eggshells and that they were so amazingly beneficial. Also the stats on calcium levels being low during various times of the cycle, that’s pretty brilliant. I know my calcium levels were all messed up while I was pregnant – I had 6 cavities after!! Totally gonna do this.
Woooow! Yes, pregnancy DEFINITELY affected my teeth as well, as has nursing, and I’m excited to see what difference a natural calcium supplement could take. Definitely give it a try, you won’t regret it! <3
Never thought of this! I keep the eggshells for my garden because of the calcium. I sprinkle them in the dirt. When I read this, I was like DUH! What a totally great idea! I most likely would use a grinder to get the powder extra fine. Thanks for writing this!
Yes, the coffee grinder REALLY made a difference. Smoothies are the perfect concealer, and you can always sprinkle it on food if the texture bothers you! Enjoy <3 Going to steal the garden idea!!
Wow super interesting. I toss out eggshells weekly. Thanks for the share!
This was so cool! I didn’t even know you could do this. Thanks for sharing! #KCACOLS
Never heard of this or thought of it! Great tips!
I had no idea eggshells could be so good for you! Crazy but vey interesting! I am not sure I will chek it out but your post shows a very easy way to do it! Thanks so much for linking up at #KCACOLS. Hope you come back again next Sunday.
Wow! I had no idea you could use egg shells like this or that there were so many beneficial things in them. Such great info, and thank you for explaining how to use them.
This is so interesting! I have never heard of this. I love finding new ways to be healthy. Thanks for sharing. ?
Wow, how interesting. I had no idea and I will have to try this with my smoothies! Thanks so much for sharing.
Wow I never knew you could do this, amazing! Thanks for the tip x #KCACOLS
This is really interesting, another one of your ideas I really must try! #KCACOLS
I never knew egg shells had so much calcium in. I really don’t like eggs so not sure this is something I would try personally but I found it very interesting thanks! #kcacols
I am so doing this! You are amazing! We go through a ton of eggs too!