Calcium Facts and the Truth about Coral Calcium
Angela Marks

Many of us grew up hearing the relentless pleas from our moms to drink our milk before we left the table, because that was our main source of calcium. As if to take the place of our mothers beckoning call, we are now seeing creative billboards with movie stars sporting their milky mustaches with the catchy phrase "got milk?". Now, however, there are so many calcium-fortified products besides milk, that it is quite simple to meet calcium requirements.

Adequate levels of calcium are essential for strong bones and teeth, and for a variety of other important functions in the body such as the proper functioning of the enzymes in the digestive tract. This mineral is vital in protecting us from decreasing bone mass and osteoporosis as we get older, and may help in the prevention of colon cancer. According to the National Academy of Sciences, women should get between 1,000 and 1,300 mg a day. The requirements for men is a little controversial because studies from Harvard School of Public Health suggest that men who consume more than 700 mg through food or supplements may actually increase their risk for prostate cancer. As such, many physicians, including some at Cooper Clinic generally do not recommend calcium supplements for men.

If you normally do not consume dairy products or calcium-fortified foods, then you might consider a supplement, especially if you are a woman or if it has been recommended by your personal physician due to low bone mass or the onset of osteoporosis. In such cases, there are a wide variety of products to choose from, which can make choosing a supplement difficult. Products that contain calcium citrate or calcium carbonate are your best choices. It is important to note the difference between these two supplement choices when it comes to food. Calcium carbonate supplements need to be taken with food because gastric acid is needed for the absorption of this form of calcium. However, calcium citrate does not need this acidity and can be taken on an empty stomach.

When you visit the store, you might want to look for brands such as Citracal or Caltrate, or even the Viactiv chews. Each of these products contains the preferable sources of calcium as mentioned above. Are there products you should avoid? As a matter of fact, if you have been enamored by the magnificent advertisements on coral calcium, you are not alone. A company that manufactures this product has done a fabulous job of branding and selling it. However, you should be leery of the claims that are made and avoid it altogether.

Coral calcium, according to promotional material, is derived from "remnants of living coral that have fallen from coral reefs, as a result of wave action or other natural processes." It is supposedly mined from the ocean beds at the base of the coral reefs in Okinawa, Japan. 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 limestone that no longer contains live organisms. Why would you want to take limestone? That is a good question because limestone has no unique health properties. It is merely calcium carbonate, with some magnesium and trace amounts of many other minerals. Nevertheless, advertisements would have you to believe that limestone obtained from Okinawa provides "the scientific secret of health and youth" and can cure cancer. These claims are complete quackery and have no studies to support them.

The best thing to do is to follow your physician's guidelines about your calcium requirements and supplementation or speak to a registered dietitian to get assistance in developing a diet that includes food sources that are rich in this important mineral.

Contact Us

Ordering Info:
(877) 2-HEALTH
(888) 393-2221

 

General Info:
12200 Preston Road
Dallas, TX 75230
Phone: 972/560-2702
Fax: 972/560-3260
Send us an e-mail