How to Extract Minerals and Joint Supplements From Eggshells
June 2012 Information and recipe sheet for THE HEALTHY HAPPY KITCHEN
Sue Visser: Health Researcher & product developer
Eggshells are made out of 19 minerals. The most abundant is calcium and it is easy to extract a good bone and joint supplement from them. Three eggshells will deliver enough calcium to meet your daily requirements for a week. On average about 7 x 250mg of elemental calcium. It will also provide other minerals that are present in our bones and teeth such as magnesium, boron, copper, manganese, molybdenum, sulphur, silicon and zinc. The eggshell membrane is made out of collagen for connective tissue support and sagging skin, glucosamine and chondroitin to build cartilage in joints and hyaluronic acid – a substance that draws moisture into the joints and skin. Hyaluronic acid and collagen are present in expensive skin creams.
When we can obtain organic farm eggs, it is certainly worth using every bit of natural goodness. Here are two methods that will deliver an acidic and therefore more absorbable form of calcium to keep your bones and joints from crumbling and will also give you a free natural face lift! The creamy residue can be used as a rejuvenating facial treatment. You will immediately feel the effects.
1 Leech Calcium from an Eggshell With Vinegar
Place one or two hard boiled eggs in a jar of white vinegar for a few days and the calcium carbonate will dissolve off the shell and into the vinegar, along with many of the trace elements. It is best to use a boiled egg because cooking will kill off any bacteria that may be present. You can also peel the eggs and then place the shells in the vinegar. A creamy white and quite sour solution will be the result after a day or two. Strain it off and keep it in the fridge. Drink some before your main meals. This provides a substantial source of calcium as well as other minerals and trace elements. When calcium is delivered in an acidic carrier it is easier to assimilate. Some people object to the taste, so they may prefer the second method, using citric acid. With this technique you can also get eggshell membrane extracts.
2 Extract Calcium from Eggshells With Citric Acid
This method produces a creamy, bland tasting liquid, rich in extracts from the shell as well as membrane. Three eggshells provide a week’s supply of calcium citrate – plus all the extra minerals that may be assimilable at this pH. It also provides valuable joint and connective tissue support.. The liquid can be added to your cottage cheese or smoothies or taken as is. The gritty residue after filtration makes an excellent skin exfoliator and rejuvenating face pack. It works miracles for the tired, patchy skin on your face and hands. After you rinse it off you will understand what I mean about the “secret” ingredients in the membrane!
1 Keep your eggshells and when you have about a dozen, (for 1 month) bake them in the oven on a metal tray at a low temperature to sterilize them. This is best to do when you switch off the oven after a baking or roasting session. Be careful not to burn them! The residual albumen and membranes burn easily and let off a ghastly smell and will taste awful.
2 Crush the eggshells and place them in an electric coffee grinder or blender attachment. Process them to make a fine powder. If you don’t have such a device, place the shells in a plastic bag and crush them as fine as you can, using an empty glass bottle or rolling pin. But try and pulverize them.
3 Take a large, deep bowl of at least 3 litres capacity and tip 100ml of the eggshell powder into it. Add 100ml of citric acid and 1 litre of water.
4 Give the mixture a stir from time to time. It will fizz up each time. After two days, you will see the water become white and creamy. Allow 2 – 4 days soaking time. It can then be strained through a fine cloth, placed in a sieve above a bowl. You need to squeeze out the milk and it is very messy. Keep it in a bottle in the fridge and take a dose (about 25ml) before dinner every day or add it to yoghurt, amasi or a smoothie.
5 The residue inside the cloth is a gritty paste that becomes your facial treatment. Slap some onto your face and hands and massage it in well. You can also roll it into clay balls and dry them out to use every day. Dip them in water and use as a skin scrubber.
Alternatively, try our Nature Fresh Calcium and Magnesium complex powder
https://naturefresh.co.za/products/nf-010-calcium-complex-300g-powder/
Online links for more information
http://nourishedmagazine.com.au/blog/articles/how-to-make-calcium-using-egg-shells
http://egcel.com/pages/the-nem-story