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.