Coral Calcium FAQs

What is coral?

Live coral is comprised of many colonies of living polyps, which are marine animals in the class Anthozoa. They’re typically protected by a hard shell, composed primarily of calcium carbonate along with other minerals, which are secreted by reef-building hermatypic corals. These hard shells form the basis of a coral reef.

Once coral dies the hard shell is left, and this shell is a rich source of at least 74 naturally balanced organic coral minerals.

Our coral minerals (1,000 mg  Veg Capsules, Plus Veg Capsules) are taken from above-sea coral deposits that have been pulverized into an ultra-fine powder, maintaining the natural balance of the various minerals. This is important, because each mineral relies on the others to provide maximum efficacy.

Coral minerals are highly absorbable due to their natural ability to become ionic upon contact with moisture. This natural ability to ionize, combined with the full spectrum of trace minerals present, makes coral a desirable form of calcium.

Where does NOW's coral come from?

Our coral calcium is harvested from an above sea area in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Thousands of years ago, this coral was a thriving, live coral reef. Over time, this coral was naturally pushed above sea level, before the oceanic pollution of the industrial era occurred.

Harvesting involves collecting this ancient coral and removing the protective layer of soil that’s accumulated over the years. Only the pristine white coral heads are harvested. After the coral is collected, it’s ground into fine powder. The ground coral is purified in a vacuum ozone chamber and then shipped.

This harvesting method protects living coral reefs and ocean environments from the effects of ocean floor vacuuming, which is an undesirable and unsustainable method of harvesting coral calcium.

How do coral minerals work?

From our bones to the multitude of enzymatic activities within and outside our cells, minerals are the keys that open the door to optimum health. The calcium and other naturally occurring minerals in coral support the delicate pH balance of body fluids and tissues.* Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body, making up 1.5-2% of its total weight. Coral calcium contains mostly calcium carbonate, though the presence of other trace minerals is important to the action of this mineral supplement.

Coral calcium is often used to increase the alkalinity of blood and other bodily fluids, as some of the mineral compounds are even more alkaline than the calcium carbonate portion.*

Many today are mineral deficient because soil has become depleted through unsustainable farming practices and the regular consumption of processed foods. When minerals are supplied naturally, in an absorbable form, health can improve. Coral contains trace amounts of every mineral needed by the body.*

Is NOW's Coral Calcium tested for heavy metals?

Yes. Coral Calcium is tested for lead and other heavy metals to assure safety.

Is your Coral Calcium from Japan, where there is a risk of radiation exposure?

No, our coral calcium is from the Caribbean Sea, not from the Pacific Ocean.