Getting enough dietary calcium is easy for most people.
However, others do not meet their daily requirements because of restrictive diets, low food intake or food shortage. For these people, cheap sources of calcium like eggshells may prove useful.
Not to mention, using eggshells is an excellent way to reduce your kitchen waste, even by just a little bit.
This article takes a look at the risks and benefits of eggshell supplements
An eggshell is the hard, outer covering of an egg. It consists mostly of calcium carbonate, a common form of calcium. The rest is made up of protein and other minerals.
Calcium is an essential mineral that is abundant in many foods, including dairy products. Lower amounts are also found in many leafy and root vegetables.
In the past decades, eggshell powder processed from hen eggs has been used as a natural calcium supplement. Eggshells are roughly 40% calcium, with each gram providing 381–401 mg.
Half an eggshell may provide enough calcium to meet the daily requirements for adults, which is 1,000 mg per day.
Eggshells consist of calcium carbonate, along with small amounts of protein and other organic compounds.
Calcium carbonate is the most common form of calcium in nature, making up seashells, coral reefs and limestone. It is also the cheapest and most widely available form of calcium in supplements.