Coral Calcium
Center for Natural Medicine Dispensary
Coral calcium products are derived in a variety of ways from
the coral reefs in the sea. The hard outer shell of live
coral is composed of calcium and other minerals. Through the
normal wear-and-tear of life in the sea, coral reefs "shed"
tiny bits and pieces known as coral sand. This coral sand is
what is used to make coral calcium supplements. (While some
conservationists have suggested that harvesting of coral
calcium damages coral reefs, most manufacturers specify that
they use only coral sand, which is essentially already
"dead" coral.)
People started talking about coral calcium in relation to
the extraordinary health and long life of people in Okinawa,
Japan. Okinawa is located in a chain of coral islands called
the Rukuyuku Islands, and some scientists suggested that
their amazing good health might be due to the high coral
content in their water.
Research has shown that coral calcium contains between 24
and 40 percent calcium carbonate, between 1 and 18 percent
magnesium, and as many as 70 other trace elements. For this
reason, some experts have suggested that "coral calcium" is
a misnomer, and that the terms "marine coral minerals" and
"fossilized stony coral minerals" are more accurate.
In today's world, many people's bodies have developed an
overly acidic pH, due to forces like stress, low water
intake, and poor diet. When the body is overly acidic, it
is difficult for the body to properly utilize other
important nutrients. This can result in a variety of
serious problems, including fatigue, increased
susceptibility to chronic disease, increased sensitivity to
pain, poor sleep quality, osteoporosis, and
gastrointestinal problems. But coral calcium contains high
levels of alkaline minerals, which can help reverse the
body's pH and move it to a more alkaline state.