We throw away eggshells without thinking about them too much. When we break an egg and use the interior, the shell looks like trash—dry, fragile, and ready to be thrown away. But a lot of people don’t know that this “garbage” is actually worth a lot. Eggshells have minerals in them that can help individuals, gardens, and the environment. With a little bit of work, you can convert them into a natural, valuable, and completely free resource.
You might be surprised to learn that eggshells are made up of about 90–95% calcium carbonate, which is the same thing that many calcium supplements that you can buy without a prescription are comprised of. Calcium is important for keeping bones strong, teeth healthy, and muscles and nerves working right. As we become older, we are more likely to not obtain enough calcium, which can lead to problems like brittle bones or osteoporosis.
Eggshells are a natural way to get the same benefits as synthetic supplements. But it’s crucial to make sure they are safe to eat before you eat them. First, clean the shells well to get rid of any egg white or yolk that is still present. Next, boil the shells for at least five minutes to kill any bacteria, such salmonella. After boiling them, you can leave them in the sun or put them in the oven at a low temperature for about 10 minutes to dry them completely. After they are dry, use a food processor, coffee grinder, or mortar and pestle to turn the shells into a fine powder.
You may easily take this powder by mixing it into smoothies, soups, yogurt, or even just a spoonful of honey. You can get more than 400 milligrams of calcium from only half a teaspoon. That’s more than half of what adults should eat every day. Eggshell calcium is especially promising because the body can easily take it in. Some studies have shown that the body can absorb calcium from eggshells just as well, if not better, than from supplements that are available in stores. Eggshells also include minor amounts of magnesium, phosphorus, fluoride, and zinc, all of which are healthy for the immune system and bones. You should always talk to your doctor before adding a natural supplement to your diet.
Eggshells are great for your health and can also assist your garden a lot. Eggshells might be the natural help you need whether you garden or wish to keep your houseplants healthy. Crushed eggshells are a good source of calcium for plants. When you put them into potting soil or garden beds, they add critical minerals to the soil, stop crops like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants from having blossom-end rot, and help the soil’s pH level stay balanced so that nutrients are easier to get to. Simply dry the shells and then break them into small pieces. Next, sprinkle them directly onto the compost or soil.
Eggshells help improve the soil and keep bugs away. Putting bigger, rough pieces of eggshell around the base of plants can deter slugs, snails, and some soft-bodied pests from getting too close. The jagged edges make it hard and uncomfortable for bugs to climb over, so it’s a simple barrier that doesn’t use chemicals. Eggshells are another fantastic thing to add to compost piles. When you smash them first, they break down faster and contribute minerals. They take a bit longer to break down than vegetable scraps. As time goes on, they add nutrients to your finished compost, which makes it a better and more balanced soil additive.
People who prefer to cultivate plants from seeds can use eggshells as small, biodegradable containers. Cut the shell in half, rinse it, poke a small hole in the bottom for drainage, and then fill it with dirt and seeds. You can plant the complete shell in the ground when the seedling is ready to move. It will break down and give the plant food as it grows.
Using eggshells again is more than simply a clever life hack; it’s a little, genuine way to live in a way that is better for the environment. Finding new uses for things we used to assume were trash is a great way to help with the growing problem of food waste. You toss away less, buy fewer man-made things, and learn more about the natural processes around you.
Eggshells are a free and plentiful resource that we should use again. You can utilize them to give your body important minerals or to give your plants natural nutrition. So, the next time you crack an egg, pause and think about what to do with the shell. Make it usable, clean, and dry. You just have to agree; nature has already done most of the job.
