The Truth about Coral Calcium

You see more and more companies showing up with cheap coral. They say, "We can afford to sell cheap, because we sell direct to the public," ...... but what are they selling? They like to say that all coral calcium from Okinawa is about the same. Nothing could be further from the truth! To understand better let's first divide Okinawa coral calcium into three categories:

• Mountain or Land Grade

• Beach Grade

• Marine Grade

What do they mean by "Mountain or Land Grade" Coral?

The land coral company in Okinawa , Japan is in actuality an offshoot of a limestone mining company. The "Land Coral" division was created as a way of finding a use for the rubble that is left over in the mining of limestone for the construction industry. This petrified coral rock is less than half of the price of the Marine Grade coral used in Sango Mineral Powder (SMP). It has higher calcium content, but is much lower in the minerals that are so important in this product. To compare the mineral rich coral grains from the ocean's bed to their "mountain rocks" is ridiculous. If all you want is high calcium content, you can take their limestone carbonate. There is no such thing as bad minerals, but for your best state of health, to incur the highest curative effects and to get the maximum benefit, what you need to ask yourself is: Would you rather take a certified food supplement or the refuse from a limestone mine?

What do they mean by "Beach Grade" Coral?

Beach grade refers to the coral calcium grains that have washed up on shore. There they have been baked in the sun and weathered by the elements. They have also been exposed to man-made pollutants and acid rain. Although this grade of coral maintains a high amount of calcium, most of the precious sea minerals have been lost. This grade coral is commonly used in "sachets" or tea bags. This is an excellent product for purifying water but does very little to replenish your mineral profile or to address your calcium needs.

What do they mean by "Marine Grade" Coral?

Marine grade coral calcium is the natural coral grains that have accumulated in the Okinawa tidal basin over the millennia. Due to the unique dynamic of the eco system (virtually no wave action) there is a vast supply of these mineral rich grains to be harvested. Coral calcium is composed primarily of the shells and skeletons of reef-building coral and microscopic sea life such as star sand that inhabit the area. To form their shells and skeletons, these organisms ingest minerals (mainly calcium and magnesium) from the ocean. As a result, the grains are mainly calcium, but they are also abundant in many sea minerals important to maintain good health.

Is all "Marine grade" coral the same?

The majority of the "Marine Grade" coral is referred to as "CCP" or "Coral Calcium Powder". These natural coral grains come in a ratio of approximately 35 : 4, calcium to magnesium. In the Okinawa basin there are pockets of much older coral grains. These pockets are referred to as "SMP" or the "Sango Mineral Powder". SMP is the mineral rich grains with the natural 2 : 1 ratio of calcium to magnesium. Although the calcium content is less than any other coral product ( 23 : 11 ) its mineral content dwarfs them all.

Which grade has the highest quality?

There has been a lot said by different companies claiming product superiority. Some claim their product is better because you mix it with water, some because it has crystallization, and other's because they have someone's name on their label. While all these products can help replenish our mineral profile and balance pH, the recognized indicator of quality is the product with the highest amount of natural magnesium and sea minerals. Sango Mineral Powder (SMP) is the clear winner in that regard. For the maximum benefit to your body, choose the calcium product that gives you the best mineral rich formula available, Sango Mineral Powder (SMP) . The second best choice would be Coral Calcium Powder (CCP), which contains more of the sea mineral then land grade. This form of marine grade is also 100% absorbable.