Guest guest Posted March 22, 2003 Report Share Posted March 22, 2003 There is a confusing array of Coral Calcium Products on the market with widely ranging prices. Naturally every company tries to position their brand as the premium form of Coral. Claims include " most absorbable Coral on the market " " clinical grade Coral " " Fossilized Coral " , " Sango Coral " , " Ionized Coral " , " Robert Barefoot's formula " and so on. Some argue over who was first to bring it to America and who has the " exclusive rights " . Others suggest Coral is a " scam " on the one hand, and the " fountain of youth " on the other. What is the truth? Let's separate Coral Facts from Fiction: Coral: " Fountain of Youth " or " Scam " Coral is neither a fountain of youth, nor a scam. Coral Calcium is an excellent source of calcium and minerals which are in an exceptionally bio-available form. When people lacking calcium and trace minerals finally absorb them, some exciting benefits may occur creating this fountain of youth idea. No clinical trials of any significance have been done, so there is no medical evidence one way or the other. Lab assays show the mineral content is real, hundreds of doctors (at this stage mostly Chiropractors and Naturopathic Doctors with only a small handful of MD's) now recommend the product, personal testimonials attesting to benefits number in the thousands. We categorize coral as a very good health supplement - nothing more and nothing less. One should take it with the expectation it will support your body like any other excellent health supplement. Robert Barefoot Mr. Barefoot, often confused as a Doctor, is not an MD or other type of medical practitioner. He is a chemist who has specialized in the study of calcium, an author and a dynamic lecturer. Like other excellent promoters, Mr. Barefoot has been known to oversimplify certain issues and overstate certain benefits of the type of coral he gets paid to promote, in our opinion. We think his overstatements may ultimately bring criticism to an excellent health supplement. It should be noted that there are other less-visible experts on coral calcium that offer balancing perspectives. Method of Action Most agree that coral works very well, but how is really up for debate. The method of action for Coral is unknown. Some say it is by regulating body pH, others claim a homeopathic action, some espouse a cell salt theory. We favor the view that the synergy between the minerals found in coral plus the fact that they have been pre-digested by the coral polyps and hence in an organic form that is easy to assimilate has more to do with how it works than anything. Okinawan Coral Most coral calcium products on the market are from the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa. A few are beginning to blend coral from other countries in their formulas without telling the consumer. Some of the countries that either currently market coral in America or soon will are, Caribbean, India, Brazil, and China. No blended product is included in our recommended list of coral products. Sango Coral What about Sango - some say Sango is the best. Actually Sango is simply a local Okinawan reference to Coral in general - so all Okinawan Coral is Sango. Ionized Coral All Okinawan Coral is ionized too - that just means it takes on a charge (a positive one to be specific) so don't be fooled by companies claiming to have a superior product because it is " Ionized " Coral Calcium. The important thing is that this ionization makes it far more useable for humans compared to regular calcium supplements. Clinical Grade Some claim to have " clinical grade " but no explanation is offered as to how this is different from any other. Coral is a whole food source of calcium and minerals and there is no standard grading system including " clinical grade " . Something that does matter more is particle size. It comes in a range of sizes from 2 microns (like flour) up to 44 microns. The smaller, the better for absorption. Physician Formulated The Coral formulas on the market are very simple formulations based on Dr Carl Reich's work from 1950 through 1992 where he combined Calcium and Vitamin D to work miracles in patients. A physician's involvement is arguably overkill. Choose your coral product by the criteria listed on our " Coral Product Comparison " page. Robert Barefoot Formula Several companies, each with a different formula, either have Bob Barefoot's name on their formula or advertise that they represent him in one way or another. Robert Barefoot has licensed his name to a company which has developed several brands and markets through several distributors. Confusing matters further, Mr. Barefoot has represented most of the Coral companies at one time or another as his mission is to help America heal itself and he tends to hop from company to company. If you see his name on a bottle of coral, one thing is certain - Bob Barefoot is not producing it as he has parted company with the licensor of his name. Not that it really matters - plain ground up coral in powder form works very well on it's own. Any formula containing some Vitamin D and maybe a few other goodies is a bonus with or without Barefoot's name on it. Again, choose your product using criteria other than who's name is on it or who formulated it. See product comparison . Exclusive Rights If any company owned the exclusive rights to Coral calcium there would not be so many competing companies creating such confusion now would there? Coral Calcium was first introduced to America about 9 years ago through a Multi-level Marketing company selling it in tea bag form. Later the capsules became more popular as the entire mineral content could be swallowed. Over time about 7 or 8 other MLM companies started marketing Coral products and several regular distribution companies have recently joined in. Magnesium Content There are several schools of thought on how much Magnesium should be in calcium supplements. An article in the JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) indicated there should be absolutely no magnesium in calcium supplements. Other experts claim a 2:1 ratio of Calcium to Magnesium is ideal. The Okinawan race, noted for their longevity due to the minerals they ingest from the giant fossilized mineral reef they live on do not add magnesium at all. What we know for sure is the medical community is undecided - and that all pure coral products works extremely well with or without a 2:1 ratio. Coral Microbes Although super qualities have been attributed to these microbes, we do not believe they exist in commercially available coral, if at all. Marine coral is heat treated and Fossilized coral is ozonated. Both processes will kill any living microbe. The coral works, but not because of microbes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2003 Report Share Posted March 23, 2003 From a post on another list, you can now put to rest the hype and claptrap regarding coral calcium. Morton Here are the observations on coral calcium by a real scientist: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >From the desk of Takuo Fujita, M.D. Coral Calcium Debunked! Back to AdvaCAL Dear Friends: I am the founder of Japan's Calcium Research Institute, past president of my country's Osteoporosis Foundation and author of over 400 scientific papers on calcium. Having dedicated nearly 50 years of my life to calcium research, I am generally recognized by the world's scientific community as an expert on calcium. I have researched many calcium compounds. I understand that numerous " miracle " health claims are being promoted about coral calcium by a U.S. television infomercial company. Scientific critique is required to put this topic in perspective. Calcium, generically speaking, is an essential mineral with abundant health benefits. However, the calcium from coral acts no differently than calcium from any other source. The key to obtaining the health benefits of calcium is to make that calcium highly available to the body. Therefore, a calcium with better availability will have a greater health benefit. Unfortunately, coral calcium, chemically defined as calcium carbonate, has been shown in scientific studies - including those on humans - to be no more available to the body than other forms of calcium. As such, the infomercial claims about calcium from coral being a " superior " calcium are simply not true. Other infomercial claims need to be corrected. Any calcium will reduce the acidity or increase the alkalinity in the body, not just coral calcium. Also, the mineral concentrations found in coral calcium have not been clinically proven to offer any greater health benefit than calcium alone. Additionally, coral calcium alone is unlikely to be the reason for unusually low cancer rates of Okinawan inhabitants. Okinawan diets, rich in fish and vegetables, may be considerably healthier than those of my fellow Japanese Citizens, as well as Americans. Moreover, Okinawans enjoy less stress and pollution. Much of the published human clinical studies on calcium focus on its ability to build bone density. Calcium that is well absorbed generally builds bone better than a less absorbable form. Studies have shown repeatedly that calcium carbonate, from sources such as coral calcium, are no better than other forms of calcium in building bone. As such, coral calcium is not likely to offer better overall " calcium-health " benefits than other forms of calcium. Coral calcium is a supplement of reasonable quality. Other calciums have demonstrated better activity. Takuo Fujita, M.D. Osaka, Japan Note: Dr. Fujita's calcium research is available at www.publishedresearch.com and www.pubmed.com. Yahwist wrote: > > > >There is a confusing array of Coral Calcium Products on the market with >widely ranging prices. Naturally every company tries to position their >brand as the premium form of Coral. > >Claims include " most absorbable Coral on the market " " clinical grade >Coral " " Fossilized Coral " , " Sango Coral " , " Ionized Coral " , " Robert >Barefoot's formula " and so on. Some argue over who was first to bring it >to America and who has the " exclusive rights " . Others suggest Coral is a > " scam " on the one hand, and the " fountain of youth " on the other. What >is the truth? > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2003 Report Share Posted March 23, 2003 .. Other calciums have demonstrated better activity. So what other calciums have better activity????The coral calcium I use is TOO expensive...so would welcome an alternative!!! Thank you! Regards, Marsha Bristol - Morton Bodanis Gettingwell Saturday, March 22, 2003 11:56 PM Re: Coral Facts or Fiction: From a post on another list, you can now put to rest the hype and claptrap regarding coral calcium. Morton Here are the observations on coral calcium by a real scientist: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >From the desk of Takuo Fujita, M.D. Coral Calcium Debunked! Back to AdvaCAL Dear Friends: I am the founder of Japan's Calcium Research Institute, past president of my country's Osteoporosis Foundation and author of Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2003 Report Share Posted March 23, 2003 Hmm, and this is the same Takuo Fujita that is marketing a different brand of Calcium as the best???? I think I will keep looking for a different scientist's review. Ken - Morton Bodanis Gettingwell Saturday, March 22, 2003 11:56 PM Re: Coral Facts or Fiction: From a post on another list, you can now put to rest the hype and claptrap regarding coral calcium. Morton Here are the observations on coral calcium by a real scientist: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ >From the desk of Takuo Fujita, M.D. Coral Calcium Debunked! Back to AdvaCAL Dear Friends: I am the founder of Japan's Calcium Research Institute, past president of my country's Osteoporosis Foundation and author of over 400 scientific papers on calcium. Having dedicated nearly 50 years of my life to calcium research, I am generally recognized by the world's scientific community as an expert on calcium. I have researched many calcium compounds. I understand that numerous " miracle " health claims are being promoted about coral calcium by a U.S. television infomercial company. Scientific critique is required to put this topic in perspective. Calcium, generically speaking, is an essential mineral with abundant health benefits. However, the calcium from coral acts no differently than calcium from any other source. The key to obtaining the health benefits of calcium is to make that calcium highly available to the body. Therefore, a calcium with better availability will have a greater health benefit. Unfortunately, coral calcium, chemically defined as calcium carbonate, has been shown in scientific studies - including those on humans - to be no more available to the body than other forms of calcium. As such, the infomercial claims about calcium from coral being a " superior " calcium are simply not true. Other infomercial claims need to be corrected. Any calcium will reduce the acidity or increase the alkalinity in the body, not just coral calcium. Also, the mineral concentrations found in coral calcium have not been clinically proven to offer any greater health benefit than calcium alone. Additionally, coral calcium alone is unlikely to be the reason for unusually low cancer rates of Okinawan inhabitants. Okinawan diets, rich in fish and vegetables, may be considerably healthier than those of my fellow Japanese Citizens, as well as Americans. Moreover, Okinawans enjoy less stress and pollution. Much of the published human clinical studies on calcium focus on its ability to build bone density. Calcium that is well absorbed generally builds bone better than a less absorbable form. Studies have shown repeatedly that calcium carbonate, from sources such as coral calcium, are no better than other forms of calcium in building bone. As such, coral calcium is not likely to offer better overall " calcium-health " benefits than other forms of calcium. Coral calcium is a supplement of reasonable quality. Other calciums have demonstrated better activity. Takuo Fujita, M.D. Osaka, Japan Note: Dr. Fujita's calcium research is available at www.publishedresearch.com and www.pubmed.com. Yahwist wrote: > > > >There is a confusing array of Coral Calcium Products on the market with >widely ranging prices. Naturally every company tries to position their >brand as the premium form of Coral. > >Claims include " most absorbable Coral on the market " " clinical grade >Coral " " Fossilized Coral " , " Sango Coral " , " Ionized Coral " , " Robert >Barefoot's formula " and so on. Some argue over who was first to bring it >to America and who has the " exclusive rights " . Others suggest Coral is a > " scam " on the one hand, and the " fountain of youth " on the other. What >is the truth? > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 23, 2003 Report Share Posted March 23, 2003 Marsh: There are many different companies that carry Coral Calcium and at a cheap price ...And it does not have to have Magnesium and Vitamin D to work Bob Barefoot formula is like a multi-vitamin and has B-vitamins and other vitamins added, if you are taking a good multi-vitamin then any Coral Calcium will work just fine...Coral Calcium is a good product but I call it another " 8 th wonder of the world " when all the hype is over and the smoke clears it will be another dust collector on health food store shelves....MM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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