We’ve all been told time and time again that we
must consume calcium in order to have healthy bones. Many of us were made to
drink a glass of milk with dinner as a kid, and probably include calcium in our
supplement regimen. In fact, the United States is one of the highest consumers
of dairy products per capita worldwide, and calcium is one of the country’s
best-selling supplements.
It may come as a surprise that the incidence of
osteoporosis in America is actually amongst the highest in the world, despite
all the dairy and calcium consumption that should supposedly guarantee good
bone health. This would suggest that there is a flaw in the strategies we are using
to prevent osteoporosis. With one in four American women aged 65 or older
diagnosed as having lost at least 50 percent of their bone mass, we are sorely
in need of better ways to preserve healthy bones.
This is where eggshells come in! Let’s explore the
importance of sufficient calcium in the body, and why eggshells might just be
the ideal go-to source.
And no, we don’t expect you to start eating
scrambled eggs “with a crunch”! Read on to find out how to integrate this
nutritional powerhouse into your diet, rather than just chucking it in the
trash.
How calcium functions in the body
While most of our calcium resides in our bones and
teeth, it’s also important for muscle contraction, nerve health, enzyme
activity, hormone signaling, maintenance of heartbeat and circulation, and the
formation of cells. Almost every cell and mechanism in the human body makes use
of calcium in some way.
There is a certain amount of calcium floating
around in the blood at all times. Our bones are built of calcium (and other
things), but they are also able to store extra calcium in case the blood
calcium gets too low.
Problems if you are lacking calcium
The body pulls calcium from the bones and teeth
when levels in the blood are not sufficiently high for all the important
activities for which calcium is needed. This “leaching” of calcium from the
bones can happen even if there is a lot of calcium being consumed in the diet
or via supplements — if it’s not being consumed in a way that the body can use
or absorb.
While not having enough calcium can cause issues
such as increased risk of fractures, numbness and irregular heart rhythms,
over-consuming calcium can also result in health problems.
This is especially true when calcium’s cofactors
are not present. Calcium needs enough magnesium and vitamin D to be used by the
body. It also requires vitamin K2, which acts as a dispatcher for calcium,
telling it where to go in the system. If there is too much “free” calcium
floating around without those other regulating nutrients, the calcium can end
up forming deposits, such as kidney stones, gallstones, or calcification in
soft tissues.
We should take care to consume vitamin D3 along
with calcium for the best absorption. Studies show this combination has the
best result in increasing calcium metabolism. This is because vitamin D
increases the mechanisms for absorbing calcium in the intestines.
Problems caused by calcium
supplements
Researchers have found that calcium supplements
function differently in the body than calcium from food sources. Studies have
found that people who consume high amounts of calcium, particularly from
supplements, might have an increased risk of heart disease. This is likely
because the overload of chemically isolated calcium causes calcification, or hardening,
of the arteries and heart muscles. The incidence in kidney and gallstones has
also been found to be associated with high calcium consumption from
supplements, but not from food.
It is much better to get calcium from food
sources, such as organic dairy products (milk, yogurt and cheese), leafy green
vegetables (kale, broccoli or cabbage), or fish with edible soft bones (canned
sardines and salmon often have bones soft enough to consume). Powdered egg
shells are also a fantastic source of whole food calcium.
Why eggshell calcium is good
Eggshell powder is a natural source of calcium, 27
nutritional elements, and other bone-strengthening constituents, such as
strontium and fluorine. In fact, the composition of eggshell is very similar to
that of our teeth and bones. These nutrients are highly bioavailable, meaning
the body can digest and use them effectively since they are in the form of a
whole food.
Studies have shown a number of positive properties
of eggshell powder, such as the ability to prevent and cure rickets (a bone
deformation disease) in rats and humans. Animal studies also showed a positive
effect on bone density in those with osteoporosis, and increased cell
production and growth in cartilage. Similar findings from another study
included reduced pain and improved mobility for osteoporosis sufferers.
Although studies have focused on disease
conditions, we can definitely use eggshell calcium in a preventative way as
well, to hold off any tooth, joint or bone problems.
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