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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.

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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?

>

>

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.. 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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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?

>

>

 

 

 

 

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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.

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