Eggs are a staple in most American households. Whether cooked on their own or used in baking to bind ingredients, a lot of the health benefits in these protein packed spheres are lost in the trash. The thought of eating an eggshell may scare you, but it’s packed with nutrients and vitamins that are sure to improve your health!
There are great ways to use eggshells that go beyond the garden.
In fact, the shell of an egg and its membrane can have powerful effects on relieving the pain of osteoarthritis as well is a great source of calcium.
So why have we been trained to freak out when we find a crunch in our egg scramble?
The dangers of salmonella poisoning are real and eating untreated eggshells is never a good idea. However, consuming an eggshell that has been cooked in temperatures of 160 degrees (just as you cook the yolk and white to kill bacteria) can prove a healthy and natural way to supplement your daily calcium intake.
The whole food movement in an eggshell.
The growing influence of nutraceutical companies has driven the price of natural vitamin and mineral supplements through the roof. Not to mention the excess packaging and plastic waste that has resulted from a push in “natural” pharmaceuticals.
Eggshells are a great alternative to so called whole food supplements, saving you money and minimizing your participation in America’s growing culture of waste.
Many gardeners have long seen the benefit of using eggshells as fertilizer in composts, but there are a number of other household uses for this nutrient rich throwaway. Toxic cleaning products have nothing on the power of eggshell.
Here are 6 great ways to use eggshells that are beneficial to your health, your wallet, your garden and your carbon footprint:
1. Nutrition Supplement
It is important when ingesting eggshells that they are properly sterilized. The best method is to boil and bake the shells so they are completely clean and dry. Once you’ve baked them, toss them into a grinder and pulse until you have a coarse powder. Keep this in the fridge and using a spoonful a day, you can add it to just about any smoothie or juice blend for a dose of calcium that is sure to improve muscle and bone strength.
2. Household Abrasive and Natural Drain Cleaner
The health risks of store bought cleaners are never greater then in harsh abrasives and toxic drain cleaner. Packed with powerful chemicals, these powders have no problem mixing in with the air you breathe and can leave your lungs aching post clean. Coarsely ground eggshells mix well with lemon to make a great shower, toilet and tub scrub.
3. Face Mask and Skin Healer
Eggshells are a great and healthy topical treatment for skin irritation and severe dry skin. Dissolve two eggshells in apple cider (takes about two days) and use this on areas of intense irritation. Another great treatment mixes part of the egg white and pulverized shell to make a paste that serves as a great facial mask.
4. DIY Seed Starters
Instead of the plastic go-to, you can use sterilized eggshells as small seed starters. Pop your eggshell halves in the oven at 200 degrees for half an hour to remove harmful bacteria. Then fill them with appropriate soil as you would a normal seed starter to get your spring garden off to a healthy start.
5. Natural Garden Pesticide
Crush several eggshells into very small pieces (no need to use a food processor, just mash with a spoon or throw them into a paper bag and crush them with by hand). Scatter the pieces in your backyard garden to ward off certain insects. This will also work on deer, if you have them in your area.
6. Natural Fertilizer
Crush your eggshells and combine them with your soil before winter. As they break down, they will contribute calcium to your soil and encourage growth in your garden come spring. Alternatively, you can include eggshells in your DIY compost mix.
