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One of the foundations of alternative medicine is "living water." Dozens of methods have been invented to endow it with so-called healing properties. Some of these methods involve dissolving certain substances in water, while others use devices to influence it. Often, such methods either lack an evidence base or the publications present in scientific sources indicate that the substances, if not harmful, certainly offer no benefit.
Several times during our study of "living water," we came across something called Coral Mine, or coral calcium for water, priced at $20-30 for 30 sachets, which is enough for 45 liters of water. There are probably analogs of it, but we haven't encountered them. Today, we will discuss the composition of these "magical sachets," the benefits of coral water, and whether it exists at all.
Coral Water: Composition and Properties
We spent a long time trying to find the composition of this mysterious powder. The first dozens of materials in the Russian-language internet search results are filled with marketing, while the English-language results mainly consist of articles about the environmental dangers of coral reef destruction.
Some sites claim that the powder consists of calcium and magnesium, at 40% and 3%, respectively, as well as potassium, sodium, silicon, zinc, copper, iodine, iron, and others. On other sites, we found descriptions that mention only the calcium (174 mg), magnesium (56 mg), and sodium (18.8 mg) content in two sachets (1990 mg). If you want to drink water with calcium, magnesium, and sodium, you can choose one of the mineral waters available on store shelves, from both Ukrainian and imported brands. This way, you will at least save money and get a safe composition with less harm to the environment.
Can coral water be harmful?
Since corals are inhabitants of the natural environment, it is significant that they can contain not only useful biogenic elements but also quite toxic heavy metals that have entered marine waters due to human activity or are components of seawater. As is known, corals can accumulate various heavy metals: aluminum, iron, manganese, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, which can be found in different regions. For instance, strontium is a common element in seawater and is present in all corals regardless of their habitat. Radioactive elements are also often found in coral reefs. In this case, all components are present in trace or small quantities, but calcium and magnesium preparations obtained from other minerals usually do not contain such a wide spectrum of components, as confirmed by the American FDA, which included coral calcium in the list of fake cancer drugs to avoid. Therefore, coral calcium in sachets, tablets, and other forms does not offer any positive effects.
Coral Mine water and redox potential
Some alternative medicine enthusiasts carry a device called an ORP meter to measure the redox potential of water. As we have previously written, this parameter is generally not applicable to drinking water; its control is necessary in some technological processes. It indicates the amount of reductants (negative potential) and oxidants (positive potential), but this potential does not indicate water quality. For example, hydrogen sulfide, which has a foul odor, will provide a low potential but offer no benefits.
Coral extraction and environmental harm
Live coral reefs are under threat of extinction, so fortunately, they are not used to produce coral calcium. Instead, limestone deposits from long-dead parts of reefs are used. This supposedly poses no threat but alters the landscape that has formed over millennia. Extraction, packaging, and transportation of calcium over thousands of kilometers cannot help but leave a carbon footprint.
Not everything that sounds good is beneficial. This statement applies to coral water: there is no proven benefit from it, nor is there any harm, apart from the basic assumptions about the toxicity of its composition.
So, coral water does not cure cancer, diabetes, does not improve metabolism, and does not aid in weight loss. Perhaps the only difference between coral calcium and regular calcium is its price.
