Eating eggshells? This fitness trend may have benefits and risks

In our house, eggshells were always crushed and given to the hens. They have a lot of calcium and help the animals with the formation of shells in new eggs. But I never thought there would be a dietary trend where humans would also consume this seemingly waste food. On the one hand, it makes sense that eggshells have some benefits for the human body, but do the benefits outweigh the risks associated with consumption?

You’ve probably had a piece of egg shell in your scrambled eggs or omelette. Biting into it is painful and can ruin a person’s appetite. At least, that’s how I feel. Now imagine that there are people who eat eggshells on purpose. Why?

Benefits of the eggshell diet

It’s not just about the fact that one is consuming the shell. In fact, this so-called shell diet involves throwing a whole raw egg into a blender. This makes a protein drink that has many benefits for your body.

• Egg white is almost pure protein, it contains all the essential amino acids that the body needs for muscle regeneration, enzyme and hormone production.
• The yolk contains vitamins A, D, E, K as well as cholesterol and healthy fats that the body uses for hormone balance.

There are more of these substances in raw form than if you cook the egg. It also gets more of the minerals that the egg contains into the body better. These are magnesium, phosphorus, iron and zinc.

• The shell is almost pure calcium carbonate and also contains trace amounts of minerals. When properly ground and sterilized, it can supply the body with calcium, magnesium, phosphorus and small amounts of zinc.

This diet was first promoted by Arnold Schwarzenegger. “This drink could be served in any health bar or any other type of bar. I wish I could pour it regularly and share it with all the people because it’s very tasty,” he let it be known. And following his lead, many influencers are now drinking it too.

Risks of consuming shell and raw eggs

Although this protein drink may have benefits for the body, experts rather warn of the dangers it brings to humans. Raw egg whites contain avidin, a protein that binds biotin (vitamin B7) and can block its absorption if consumed over a long period of time. It is therefore advisable to boil the egg briefly or combine it with a boiled egg. In addition, undercooked eggs are dangerous due to bacteria.

“Do not eat raw eggs under any circumstances,” warns Suzy Weems, food and nutrition expert. She warns that even though the incidence of Salmonella in eggs is relatively low, there is a risk because the bacteria can be present on the shell and inside the egg. Consuming raw eggs thus increases the likelihood of food poisoning, which manifests itself in abdominal pain, diarrhoea, fever and other symptoms typical of salmonellosis.

As for the shells themselves, they are of course also dangerous. In addition to containing bacteria, poorly ground shells can damage your esophagus or intestines, and larger pieces even have the ability to cause organ ruptures that will lead to the need for immediate medical intervention.

Although this is how the diet is often presented as positive and many people accept raw eggs eaten with shells, experts tend to be against it. And I personally also think that the egg gives a person quite a lot even in cooked form and without shells. If you’re low on calcium, try yogurt or some of those leafy greens instead.