There is great controversy about which type of coral calcium is the best. Thirty-five percent of the body’s mineral makeup is calcium. There are over 2,500 grades of coral calcium. The best coral calcium in the world is from the coral reefs surrounding Okinawa, Sango Coral. It is considered premium calcium for its organic composition identical to that of the human skeleton including: calcium, magnesium, sodium and potassium.

There are two types of coral calcium:

1. Fossilized (beach sand or above sea coral)
2. Marine bed coral (sea-bed)

Depositions, found on the landmass or washed along beaches, are referred to as fossilized coral calcium. Marine bed coral is taken directly from the sea-bed. It is the coral formulated by reef inhabitants. The composition of marine bed coral is closer to the living form of coral.

Above-sea coral has ten percent more calcium (35 to 38%) then the marine variety (20 - 24%). According to fossilized coral suppliers, there is an aragonite form (a mineral identical in composition with calcite or carbonate of lime). Certain researchers consider above-sea coral to be more pure. It is more soluble than the marine grade that is heat-treated.

On the contrary, marine coral suppliers say that sea-bed is advantageous. Based on Barefoot’s study, he says, “The natural, magnesium enriched, marine coral calcium is to be strongly preferred as a health giving supplement over land based (fossilized coral calcium), which contains less than 1% magnesium. This superiority is due to its retained, ideal, ionic balance of calcium and magnesium in a 2:1 ratio, and the fact that a host of other nutrients were also washed out of fossilized coral calcium during weathering processes.”

In summation, both marine-bed and above-sea coral (fossilized) are beneficial for overall well-being. Fossilized is favored for its purity and solubility. Marine-Bed is valued for its ideal 2:1 calcium and magnesium ratio.