Recently there have been a large amount of companies jumping onto the coral calcium bandwagon. The problem with this is that they sell a cheaper inferior grade coral calcium. Most people think all coral calcium is the same and only look at the price. Don't be fooled! There are big differences.

There are three different grades of coral calcium being sold to the public. These are land or beach grade, low marine grade, and high marine grade also known as SMP. Land grade or above sea level coral calcium is coral rock. The Japanese can't believe that people actually put this into their mouth. It is mainly used as construction material or land fill. They can sell it cheap because it is DIRT CHEAP!

Then there are two type of marine grade coral calcium (below sea level) being sold. The Japanese mine thousands of tons on marine coral calcium each year. Out of this there are only 2-3% that will qualify as SMP marine grade. This SMP grade is the only coral calcium that has the preferred biological ratio of 2 parts calcium to 1 part magnesium.

The rest of the below sea level coral calcium has a very low percentage of magnesium and is not recommended by Bob Barefoot for good health. A lot of companies will buy this cheaper marine grade and fool you by adding other man made magnesium to it. This way they can still claim that theirs has the 2 to 1 ratio. Again, this is not the right stuff.

So how can you tell if you are buying the right one? Manufacturers are required by the FDA that they label every ingredient in their products. Bob Barefoot reinforces this by stating that you have to learn how to read the labels. High grade SMP coral calcium contains 24% calcium and 12% magnesium. The low grade marine or land based coral calcium will contain roughly 35% calcium, 2% magnesium. The natural magnesium has been washed out over countless years.

Also, in an attempt to make their cheaper coral calcium look like the SMP coral calcium, they will add magnesium to their product. Look for things like magnesium oxides or magnesium citrate added to their product. The magnesium source should read "from coral calcium" on the label. Remember, the good stuff reads 24% or 240mgs (per 1000mgs of coral calcium powder) calcium from coral calcium and 12% or 120mgs magnesium from coral calcium on the label.

We our proud to state that both Coral Calcium 1 and Coral Calcium “Supreme” meets these high quality standards and are made from 100% pure SMP grade coral calcium.

Other grades of coral calcium

Although still considered marine grade, coral calcium powder (CCP) has six times less magnesium and only a 17:1 ratio.

Beach grade coral calcium has been washed up on shore, where it has been baked in the sun and weathered by the elements. (24:1 ratio)