Creative Ways to Use Eggshells

If you’ve paid a little extra for healthy food, or even produced it yourself, you know the value of using up every last bit. Many of my recipes rely on eggs as a healthy protein source, but have you ever thought about holding on to those eggshells?

And I’m not just talking about throwing them into the compost pile!

The Incredible, Edible…Eggshell?

The egg is a pretty incredible little package. Versatile, protein-packed, and–especially if from a pastured flock with quality feed–high in riboflavin, phosphorus, and vitamins D, A, and B12, as well a complete amino acid source. (1)

But what about the shell? It’s composed almost entirely of calcium carbonate–the same material in our nails, teeth, and bones. If you’re trying to get enough calcium without dairy or currently take an over-the-counter calcium supplement (which I don’t necessarily recommend), “eating” your eggshells may be for you!

How to Make (Edible) Eggshell Calcium Powder

Follow these simple steps to transform your eggshells into a high-quality, food-derived supplement:

• Save your eggshells (you can do this right in the egg carton if you like). Surprisingly, they really don’t smell. You can leave the membrane in the shells but be sure to rinse out any egg white.
• Once you have a quantity of eggshells, sterilize them for a few minutes in boiling water. Strain, spread them on a baking pan or two, and leave them to dry overnight.
• Bake eggshells at a low temperature in the oven for 10 minutes or so to dry them out. For efficiency’s sake you can put them in oven when you are going to cook or bake anyway. I just take them out before the temperature gets too high.
• Grind the eggshells to a very fine powder. A coffee or spice grinder works best.
• Store in a tightly closed mason jar in a cool, dry cupboard.

Simply add about ½ tsp. eggshell powder per day to your favorite foods for 400-500 mg of additional bioavailable calcium. (2)

You may notice a slightly gritty quality when added to some foods, but I find it very tolerable in smoothies or yogurt, and undetectable in baked goods and heavier foods. Chia Seed Energy Bars or Breakfast Burgers work well.

Whenever supplementing calcium, be sure to get adequate magnesium and vitamin D in your diet for better absorption.

The Perfect Garden Companion

Not up for eating your eggshells? Calcium is equally important for your garden! Calcium-deficient soil causes slow growth and diseases like blossom end rot (when tomatoes, squash, or peppers turn black on one end). Use leftover eggshells as a:

Soil Amendment

The key to using eggshells in the garden: give it time. Plants take calcium in through the roots, so work the crushed or powdered shells deep into the soil in the fall or at the very least early spring to allow them to dissolve.

Pest Deterrent

Crush your leftover eggshells into small shards and sprinkle over the soil in your planters or garden beds. Slugs and other pests will find the sharp shells inhospitable and find greener pastures (hopefully!).

Seed Starters

While peat pots and simple seed starter kits are not expensive to purchase, half an eggshell makes an ideal and totally renewable seed planter!

Save the eggs that break more or less evenly, wash them out, and poke a small hole in the bottom. Fill with seed starting soil and plant as usual. Plant grown seedlings in the garden right in the shell! (Sidenote: My kids love drawing faces on the eggshells so the seedlings look like “hair.” Thank you Pinterest!)

This post has a handy chart to look up planting times for your zone.

But on to another great use for eggshells…

The DIY Beauty Booster

Of the many DIY uses for eggshell powder, here are some I’ve personally tried:

Facial

Mix 2 TBS of finely powdered eggshell into an egg white. Gently apply the paste as a natural facial mask, letting it dry for 10-20 minutes. Wash off with warm water and a circular motion to exfoliate. I really notice firmer, smoother skin after this treatment.

Homemade Toothpaste

Use eggshell powder in the place of the calcium powder in my DIY remineralizing toothpaste recipe. It will both whiten and remineralize. It can also be used as a calcium powder replacement in any of my homemade toothpaste or tooth powder recipes.

Body Scrub

Add several tablespoons to a homemade body scrub recipe for a double-duty exfoliant–great prep for a summer pedicure!

First Aid

Red, irritated skin, or bug bites? Let crushed eggshells soften in a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Once it liquifies, apply with a cotton ball for a soothing effect.

What do you think? Would you ever eat your eggshells? Are there other ways you’ve found to use them?

Sources:

(1)Self Magazine, http://ift.tt/27f069q
Eggshells- A Bioavailable Source of Calcium
(2)Eggshell calcium in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.

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