There has been much advertising and press lately regarding “Coral Calcium”and how it is a superior health supplement. Many ads say it is derived from “remnants of living coral that have fallen from coral reefs as a result of wave action or other natural processes.” In fact, “coral remnants” are LIMESTONE, which coral organisms originally manufacture as a protective shell. Since coral reefs are protected by law, “coral calcium” is made by grinding up limestone that no longer contains live organisms. It is the dead pieces of coral that have broken off the reefs and are washing up near the shorelines.
Limestone has no unique health properties. It is merely CALCIUM CARBONATE, with some magnesium and trace amounts of many other minerals. Limestone fertilizer, available at garden centers, costs as little as a dollar for an 80-pound bag. Remember - chemically, coral calcium is simply calcium carbonate … a poorly absorbed form of calcium. “Coral Calcium” is really a marketing term. Realize that many different compounds or materials contain calcium. For example, limestone has calcium in it. Calcium is found in milk. Calcium is even found in cereals and grains. The name “Coral Calcium” simply refers to the point that calcium is found in coral - that‘s it. It is purely a marketing term. One might say “Limestone Calcium,” “Milk Calcium,” or “Grain Calcium.” Nothing is special about coral calcium other than it is a material that contains calcium.