Many people reach for glucosamine or chondroitin when they think about joint supplements. The ingredient with some of the strongest human research behind it comes from a part of the egg almost everyone throws away: the thin membrane inside the shell.
Carl Pradelli, CEO and Co-Founder of NatureCity, breaks down natural eggshell membrane, known as NEM, and why it may be one of the most underappreciated ingredients in joint health. Subscribe for science-backed health education every week.
Eggshell membrane is different from the single-compound supplement ingredients most people know. It is a naturally occurring matrix that contains many of the same compounds found in the body's own connective tissue, including collagen, hyaluronic acid, chondroitin sulfate, and other glycosaminoglycans, along with a small amount of glucosamine.
There is also a strong origin story. The founders of Stratton Nutrition saw that the shells and membranes from commercially cracked eggs were going to landfills, and developed a patented steam-and-vibration process to separate the membrane and concentrate it into a joint-health powder. NEM is natural, food-sourced, and upcycled.
Carl walks through why the research stands out. To date, 16 published studies have investigated NEM for both safety and efficacy, at a practical dose of just 500 milligrams a day. Research has shown improvements in joint comfort and flexibility in as little as seven to 10 days, which is faster than many joint ingredients ask people to wait, with benefits that can continue to build over continued use.
He also explains how NEM appears to work in more than one way. First, it supplies key building blocks found in joint tissue. Second, research suggests it may support a healthy inflammatory response, including supporting healthy levels of markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP).
Third, and most interesting to Carl is how NEM helps protect healthy cartilage. Urinary CTX-II is a biomarker of type II collagen breakdown. The reduction in urinary CTX- II experienced by many NEM users is considered a sign that cartilage breakdown is being reduced. That points to NEM supporting the structure of healthy cartilage, not just how joints feel.
NEM is a win for the environmental too: it takes the membranes from about 12 eggs to make a single 500 milligram dose, and to date over 250 million pounds of eggshells have been diverted from landfills to make the beneficial NEM powder.
Finally, Carl makes the case for proactive joint support. As he puts it, the smartest joint strategy is not to wait until you’re hurting. NEM and the other key ingredients in TrueJoint FLX can help you stay active and recover from exercise while promoting longer term joint health.
NatureCity was co-founded by Carl Pradelli with a mission to deliver transparent, science-backed natural health supplements, and has served over 500,000 customers over its 20+ year history.
This conversation connects to joint health, cartilage support, collagen, hyaluronic acid, inflammation, and healthy aging.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
What natural eggshell membrane (NEM) is and how it differs from glucosamine
The three ways research suggests NEM supports joints
What CTX-II tells you about cartilage health
How NEM fits into TrueJoint FLX
TIMESTAMPS
0:00 - Why Joints Love Eggshell Membrane
0:53 - What NEM Is and Why It's Different
2:02 - The Upcycled Origin Story
3:13 - 16 Studies and a 500mg Dose
4:01 - Results starting in 7 to 10 Days
5:00 - The 3 Ways NEM Works
6:16 - CTX-II and Cartilage Protection
7:20 - Don't Wait Until Everything Hurts
8:02 - NEM Inside TrueJoint FLX
8:39 - 250 Million Pounds of Eggshells Diverted
