Coral Calcium plus Magnesium Chelate

here are entire books written on the value of coral calcium -- something of a marketing 'buzz word' for fossilized stony coral -- which contains well over 70 'marine coral minerals' -- of which over 40 of these minerals are known to be essential to human nutrition. (Many agree, however, that it is stony coral's two primary elemental components, calcium and magnesium, in which most people are at least mildly deficient, that provide the greatest benefit. We add additional magnesium chelate to provide a calcium-to-magnesium ratio that is optimal for human ingestion.)

There are a host of coral products on the market now, so we wanted to be careful in our sourcing decisions. We chose Okinawan stony coral for a variety reasons (which are actually "mined" from the Rukuyuku Islands of Okinawa - where the fossilized stony coral sits in the same pure, pollution-free state in which remained for thousands of years). First, fossilized Okinawan stony coral minerals come from a pure, single uncontaminated source --- invertebrates and their limestone casing. Moreover, the source material is not harvested from polluted sea water. It was derived from the land where the sea used to be, well over 2,000 years old. Okinawa is over 1,000 miles away from where atomic radiation contamination took place on other Pacific islands (largely through nuclear weapons' testing).

According to medical researcher, Dr. James Chappell (author of The Miracle Elements: Fossilized Stony Coral Minerals), "Stony corals are sea animals, which includes the hydroids, jellyfish and sea anemones. By secreting a highly mineralized limestone, the stony corals build a housing of protective cups into which the soft polyp animals can retreat when disturbed. The limestone housing is made of all the minerals available in the ocean." These minerals amount to over 70 different minerals, many of them rare trace minerals used by the body, plus "antibiotic, anti-viral, and anticancer substances in some of the different corals."

Bioavailability and acceptance by the body is an important issue when dealing with mineral supplementation. Dr. Chappell goes on to note: "Fossilized stony coral minerals are so easily accepted by our body that surgeons can use pieces of coral in bone transplants without rejection. It is almost impossible to overdose... and there are no known side effects."
Coral Calcium - capsules

Health Claims:
Separating Fact From Fiction

Several prominent physicians, including Dr. Stephen Holt (M.D.) have written monographs on the confirmed health benefits of 'coral calcium'. Even so, given the hype that is currently being generated in the U.S. (particularly within infomercials where it is touted as a cure for cancer, heart disease, AIDS, diabetes, etc.) should be viewed with some skepticism. On the one extreme, you have Robert R. "Bob" Barefoot, whose informercials in the U.S. paint a picture of coral calcium (specifically, HIS coral calcium) as a cure-all. (This kind of overreaching eventually caught the attention of the FTC, FDA, and U.S. Postal Inspector in the U.S. which filed lawsuits in June, 2003). On the other extreme, you have Dr. Bruce Halstead (M.D.), who has been decidedly more conservative, though still quite positive, in his assessment of coral's health-giving properties.

"I believe that coral calcium is neither a medical panacea nor a scam. Coral calcium is a valuable, holistic, mineral, dietary supplement which poses many important issues, ranging from discussion about our current mineral-depleted Western diet to concerns about the ecology and future of coral reefs.... (also) I find no credible evidence whatsoever that one form of high quality coral (collected above or below sea-level) is superior or inferior to other forms, despite unsubstantiated claims to the contrary."

Dr. Stephen Holt, M.D.

The foundation for health claims gets its initial impetus from Okinawan culture itself --- Okinawans are strong believers in the health benefits of taking coral. (A common method of use is the use of stony coral in teas.) We also believe, as do the Okinawans, that there is a benefit to using only above sea-level product. Dr. Halstead himself believes that the potential risk of modern marine pollutants, such as plutonium, in below sea-level coral, make it a less desireable choice.
Robert R. Barefoot

One of the common health claims concerning coral calcium is that it bestows longevity -- wherein the longer lifespans of Okinawans as compared to their mainland Japanese cousins (as well as Chinese or Koreans) is the result of coral consumption. Although quite possible, Dr. Holt points out that Okinawan lifestyle and diet differs substantially from other populations. The argument that other populations with long average lifespans (i.e. people of Hunza, Vilcabamba, etc.) also have mineral-rich diets provides gist for further investigation, but without factoring in unique lifestyle and dietary aspects of these groups as well, such speculation is not positive proof.

Nonetheless, taking into account modern farming methods and Western diets, which, relative to the diet of our ancestors living just a century ago, are mineral deficient, we feel there is no doubt that "coral calcium" may be one of the most important supplemental additions you make to your diet --- anywhere.