How to Make Calcium using Egg Shells

http://nourishedmagazine.com.au/blog/articles/how-to-make-calcium-using-egg-shells
by Bee Wilder

Eggshells present healthy, balanced calcium due to trace amounts of other
minerals contained in it. Eggshell calcium is probably the best natural source of
calcium, and it is easier for your body to digest and absorb. Dutch
researchers have reported recently a highly positive effect of eggshell calcium (with
added magnesium and vitamin D) on bone mineral density in a scientific study
(double blind, placebo-controlled). Laboratory test and measures of bone density
were carefully made in these studies. The eggshell supplemented group had
measurable increases in bone density in their hip bones, after one year.

The ideal bone-building combination of eggshell calcium and vitamin D3 was
also well documented in Japanese studies. Researchers at the Japan Women's
University, Tokyo studied a combination of vitamin D3 and eggshell powder in
animals with osteoporosis. Not only was the eggshell powder with vitamin D3 able to
improve bone mineral density, but it did it without significantly increasing
blood calcium levels.

You can use any kind of egg (chicken, goose, duck), but it is best to use
organic or certified organic eggs from free-range birds. If the bird does not get
proper nutrients the eggshells won't contain the nutrients we need.

How much to take?

One whole medium sized eggshell makes about one teaspoon of powder, which
yields about 750 - 800 mgs of elemental* calcium plus other microelements, i.e.
magnesium, boron, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, sulphur, silicon, zinc,
etc. There are 27 elements in total. The composition of an eggshell is very
similar to that of our bones and teeth.

*Elemental amounts are the amounts absorbable.

Most people require a minimum of 400 mgs per day of calcium, in addition to
calcium from other food sources, so you would take 1/2 teaspoon of the powder
per day. Also take 400 mgs of magnesium citrate at the same time. Calcium and
magnesium need to be taken in at least equal amounts, and some people require
more magnesium than calcium depending upon how much they obtain from their
diet.

If you are getting muscle cramps take extra magnesium (about 150 mgs). If
that doesn't alleviate the cramps within an hour take another 150 mgs, and so on.
If you get unusual joint pain and you do not have arthritis, take an
additional 150 mgs of calcium. Do not take more than 500 mgs of calcium at one time
because your body cannot handle it. If you need more than 400 mgs per day split
up the doses during the day.

It is best to take calcium and magnesium with foods to help absorb them.

Don't forget that vitamin D is very important for absorbing minerals, so take
cod liver oil in the winter and get into the sun in the summer! In addition,
all of the trace minerals, sodium and chloride are important for mineral
absorption and to keep minerals balanced so do take a lemon juice and ocean sea
salt drink every day (the juice of 1/2 lemon and 1/4 teaspoon of ocean sea salt
mixed into 6 ounces of filtered water 6 times a day; 3 with meals to aid
digestion).

How to Make Powdered Eggshells:

1. Wash empty eggshells in warm water until all of the egg white is removed,
but do not remove the membrane because it contains important nutrients for
the joints which helps arthritis.

2. Lay broken pieces out on paper towels and allow them to air dry
thoroughly.

3. Break the eggshells up into small pieces, and grind them to into a fine
powder in a food processor, blender, coffee grinder, or a nut mill, or put them
in a plastic bag and use a rolling pin to grind them. Please note that some
blenders will not grind the eggshell into a fine enough powder. A coffee
grinder works the best.

4. Store powdered eggshells in a covered glass jar or container. Keep it in
a dry place, like the kitchen cupboard.

How to take eggshell calcium (this forms calcium citrate) - takes 3 hours:

1. Put 1/2 teaspoon of powdered eggshell into a small dish (approximately 4
1/2 to 5 1/2 inches across) - 1/2 teaspoon equals approximately 400 mgs of
elemental calcium.

2. Add the juice of 1/2 a lemon (freshly squeezed), and mix well - it will
start to bubble and foam, which is what is supposed to happen.

3. Leave it at room temperature for 6 hours - the longer you leave it the
less gritty it will be, but do not leave it longer than 12 hours.

4. It can be taken by the spoonfuls, followed by mouthfuls of water to wash
it down. It is not sour tasting. In fact the taste is quite pleasant.

5. Also take 400 mgs of magnesium citrate at the same time.

Other Eggshell Recipes - here are some other ways to make eggshell calcium
citrate:

# 1 Lemon Eggshell:

1. Place one whole, clean, uncooked egg into a clean, wide-mouth jar and
cover it with freshly squeezed lemon juice.
2. Cover the jar loosely and place it in the refrigerator.
3. A few times a day, gently agitate the jar - the mixture will bubble.
4. After 48 hours, when the bubbling stops, carefully remove the egg.
5. The recipe says to take 1/2 teaspoon of this mixture daily, but with the
added lemon 1/2 teaspoon would not equal 400 mgs of calcium, so it is hard to
judge how much of the mixture to take in order to get enough calcium.

# 2 Lemon Eggshell:

1. Fill a wide mouth jar with 3 clean, whole, uncracked eggs.
2. Cover the eggs with freshly squeezed lemon juice - it important that the
lemons are very fresh or this mixture will not work right.
3. Clove the jar tightly and place it in the refrigerator. You should start
to see bubbles forming on the eggshells. That means the eggshells are being
dissolved into the lemon juice. The mixture will gradually turn white.
4. Gently agitate the jar a few minutes about 3 times a day.
5. As soon as the bubbling stops it is ready to take. It should not take any
longer than 36-48 hours. If you leave the mixture longer it will tend to
get thick and the eggs will begin to absorb more of the lemon juice, or the
eggs may split and leak into the mixture. Occasionally this mixture doesn't work
when the lemons are not fresh enough.
6. Carefully remove the eggs without breaking the membrane, and use them as
you would normally, i.e. in your raw egg drink. There will not be any shell
left on the egg because it has been totally dissolved into the lemon juice,
which is calcium citrate.
7. Place a tight lid on the mixture that remains after the eggs have been
removed, and shake it well.
8. Take no more than one teaspoon per day initially because it can be very
powerful. Start slowly. The amount may be gradually increased over time.

Bee's note: The amount of this mixture to take is not easy to figure out. One
eggshell (size is not stated) yields approximately 1,800 mgs of elemental
calcium (amount that will be absorbed). Therefore 3 eggs would contain 5,400 mgs,
divided by 400 mgs = approximately 13.5 doses.

About the Author...
Bee Wilder has a wealth of knowledge and experience both as a former sufferer
of candida and convenor of the candida support group. Since the 1980s when
Bee could eat only a few types of foods and was so sensitive to yeasts she had
to administer herself an allergy shot every day, she has not only fully
recovered but now is more robust than ever. Bee lives in Calgary, Alberta, Canada and
continues to research natural health and nutrition. You can find more
articles and support at her website: Healing Naturally by Bee
http://www.healingnaturallybybee.com/