Calcium is an essential mineral and is required for human life.

However talk about the benefits of coral calcium can be

confusing and may make it difficult to put into context how we

can benefit from appropriate levels of calcium in the diet, be

it from food or from supplemental sources.

Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body, and has

several important functions. More than 99% of total body calcium

is stored in the bones and teeth providing the necessary support

to their structure. As a normal function of biology, the living

cells of the body absorb new calcium to replace lost calcium or

to build upon existing structure as in the case of childhood

growth or in healing.

Coral calcium is a salt derived from fossilized coral reefs.

The living coral reefs are endangered and most major reefs are

protected by law as they cannot be harvested without severe

damage to the ecosystem. Coral calcium is harvested by grinding

up above-ground limestone deposits that were once part of a

coral reef.

Coral calcium itself is composed primarily of calcium carbonate

with small amounts of magnesium and other trace minerals.

Chemically, calcium carbonate from coral sources is no

different than from other sources of calcium, despite the

claims otherwise by some companies. However, the addition of

trace minerals, which may be deficient ones diet, could explain

why some claim benefits of coral calcium over more refined

sources of calcium supplements.

While the calcium component of coral calcium is identical to

any other limestone deposit, fossilized coral reefs may contain

trace minerals helpful to the human body. Though it's unlikely

that a well-fed individual would be deficient in any of these

minerals, clear dietary data shows that while the average

American diet may be providing abundant levels of calories,

salt, fat and preservatives, it is otherwise low in nutrition.

Therefore, many people may benefit from a basic level of

supplementation of all essential and necessary nutrients,

including calcium.

There have been many unsubstantiated claims made regarding

coral calcium, perhaps the most controversial of which is the

suggestion that coral calcium cures cancer by increasing pH of

the body. Scientific studies have been performed indicating

that cancer cells cannot survive at sufficiently high pH

levels. However, while this may be true when tested in a Petri

Dish, the pH required to kill cancer cells also kills healthy

human cells.

Another problem with the "body alkalinization" concept is that

the body pH doesn't change, regardless of how much calcium

carbonate is ingested. The human body can only function

properly within a narrow pH range. It has been shown that if

alkalinizing agents are ingested, the body promptly excretes

the alkaline components in urine. Attempting to increase the pH

of bodies only appears to succeed in raising the pH of the

urine. The same applies if acidic foods are ingested in that

the urine becomes more acidic.

Calcium itself is an essential mineral for human life, and

coral calcium is an effective source of it, though by no means

the only one. When researching any supplement, keep in mind

that supplements are intended to improve nutrition. They are

not designed to treat, cure or mitigate any disease. However,

high quality supplements are an excellent way to supplement,

but not substitute, the benefits of a good diet.