Headlines like “Stop throwing them away. Boil eggshells and say goodbye to…” are usually clickbait. Boiling eggshells has a few practical uses, but it is not a miracle remedy for health or household problems.
Here are some evidence-based uses for boiled eggshells:
- Garden fertilizer: Eggshells are mostly calcium carbonate. Clean, dried, and crushed shells can add a small amount of calcium to compost or soil, though they break down slowly.
- Compost: They can be added to a compost pile, especially if crushed into small pieces.
- Calcium supplement (with caution): Some people grind sterilized eggshells into a fine powder for calcium. While eggshells do contain calcium, this is not routinely recommended because improper preparation can lead to bacterial contamination or sharp particles, and the calcium content is difficult to measure accurately.
- Crafts and DIY projects: Eggshells can be used in mosaics, decorations, or seed-starting pots.
Claims that are not well supported
There is little or no reliable evidence that boiled eggshells:
- Cure joint pain or osteoporosis.
- “Detox” the body.
- Melt belly fat.
- Treat kidney stones.
- Significantly improve plant growth on their own.
- Repel pests effectively in all gardens.
If you boil eggshells…
Boiling can help clean and sanitize them before using them for gardening or crafts, but it doesn’t transform them into a special health remedy.
If you’ve seen a version of this headline that ends with a specific claim (for example, “say goodbye to joint pain” or “say goodbye to pests”), let me know the full title or share the video, and I can assess that specific claim based on the available evidence.
