15 Brilliant Uses For Eggshells In The Home & Garden + How To Eat Them

All of us throw away the egg shells once they are done with cooking the eggs, but apparently, they provide important health benefits.

Namely, egg shells are the best natural source of calcium, and the body easily absorbs it and digests it. These shells are also high in other minerals.

This calcium present in these shells is actually the same as the calcium in our teeth and bones, and it is of high importance for our nerves, muscles, and bones.

Half a tablespoon of eggs shells powder contains about 1000-1,500 mg calcium, which is nearly 90 percent of the recommended daily intake for an adult.

Numerous studies done in the US National Institutes of Health have shown that the body easily absorbs the calcium from the egg shells powder. This powder also strengthens the bones, reduces cholesterol levels, and regulates blood pressure.

This is how to simply use the eggshells:

You should boil the eggs for 10 minutes to destroy bacteria, leave them to cool, and then crush the egg shells to make a powder.

Then, store the powder in a sterilized jar, and you can freely add it to your smoothies and cereals as a natural calcium supplement.

1. Use eggshells to start seedlings indoors

2. Garden mulch

After a hearty breakfast, or the baking of a delicious cake, crush your eggshells and carry them straight out into the garden!

As they slowly decompose, they will not only help to aerate the soil as they improve water flow, the eggshells will also release calcium over time. The finer you crush them, the faster they will break down.

3. Nourish your tomatoes with a boost of calcium.

While you can place eggshells directly under your tomatoes as you transplant them, sometimes a volunteer tomato plant from last season pops up and you wish to save it. Think of it as a survivor, and give it some extra love and attention.

4. Feed eggshells to your chickens

If you want healthy eggs from your chickens, just toss the eggshells right back at them!

5. Use crushed eggshells in the garden to deter pests

6. Add them to the compost

Again, it is the calcium content that comes into play.

7. Wild bird food

8. Boil eggshells in your coffee

This is wonderful for two reasons.

Firstly, if you are making campfire coffee over high heat, crushed eggshells will help keep the grounds from boiling over. This isn’t a common problem unless you are roughing it, but now you know how to avoid a ruined coffee if the situation ever arises.

9. Toss eggshells in your bone broth or stock pot

It is not just calcium that you will be receiving, eggshells also contain small amounts of other minerals:

• magnesium
• fluoride
• selenium
• zinc
• iron
• phosphorus

It won’t change the flavor, though you will feel the nutritional boost!

10. Add them to your apple cider vinegar

11. Homemade eggshell toothpaste

12. Make an eggshell face mask

13. Whiten your laundry

14. Scrub your tough-to-clean pots

15.Eat your eggshells

The best way to eat your eggshells? Powder them finely and add to juices, smoothies, soups and stews.

Don’t go overboard though, if you are already getting enough calcium in your diet, you may want to find another use for them. Half an eggshell a day covers your basic calcium needs, more than that is unnecessary.