Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body, and has several important functions. More than 99% of total body calcium is stored in the bones and teeth providing the necessary support to their structure. As a normal function of biology, the living cells of the body absorb new calcium to replace lost calcium or to build upon existing structure as in the case of childhood growth or in healing.

Coral calcium is a salt derived from fossilized coral reefs. The living coral reefs are endangered and most major reefs are protected by law as they cannot be harvested without severe damage to the ecosystem. Coral calcium is harvested by grinding up above-ground limestone deposits that were once part of a coral reef.

Coral calcium itself is composed primarily of calcium carbonate with small amounts of magnesium and other trace minerals. Chemically, calcium carbonate from coral sources is no different than from other sources of calcium, despite the claims otherwise by some companies. However, the addition of trace minerals, which may be deficient ones diet, could explain why some claim benefits of coral calcium over more refined sources of calcium supplements.

While the calcium component of coral calcium is identical to any other limestone deposit, fossilized coral reefs may contain trace minerals helpful to the human body. Though it's unlikely that a well-fed individual would be deficient in any of these minerals, clear dietary data shows that while the average American diet may be providing abundant levels of calories, salt, fat and preservatives, it is otherwise low in nutrition. Therefore, many people may benefit from a basic level of supplementation of all essential and necessary nutrients, including calcium.

There have been many unsubstantiated claims made regarding coral calcium, perhaps the most controversial of which is the suggestion that coral calcium cures cancer by increasing pH of the body. Scientific studies have been performed indicating that cancer cells cannot survive at sufficiently high pH levels. However, while this may be true when tested in a Petri Dish, the pH required to kill cancer cells also kills healthy human cells.

Another problem with the "body alkalinization" concept is that the body pH doesn't change, regardless of how much calcium carbonate is ingested. The human body can only function properly within a narrow pH range. It has been shown that if alkalinizing agents are ingested, the body promptly excretes the alkaline components in urine. Attempting to increase the pH of bodies only appears to succeed in raising the pH of the urine. The same applies if acidic foods are ingested in that the urine becomes more acidic.

Calcium itself is an essential mineral for human life, and coral calcium is an effective source of it, though by no means the only one. When researching any supplement, keep in mind that supplements are intended to improve nutrition. They are not designed to treat, cure or mitigate any disease. However, high quality supplements are an excellent way to supplement, but not substitute, the benefits of a good diet.

About the author: Dave Saunders is a professional lecturer, and certified nutritional educator. You can find out more about coral calcium at www.aboutcalcium.net

Don't be fooled by his clever disguise. D is no vitamin. He's a steroid hormone, slipping through your body under guise of a vitamin. And he doesn't have dozens of functions, like vitamin C or vitamin E, just one vital mission – to mineralize your bones!

Mineralization is a key objective of every body. Imagine if we all had flabby bones. The world would look like a Salvador Dali nightmare. Vitamin D saves us from having flabby bones.

More importantly, vitamin D saves us from having brittle bones. He prevents us from rickets and osteomalacia by balancing the calcium and phosphorous in our blood. Ooh, that D is a clever one. Not only is he a master of disguises, but he is a master chemist, constantly monitoring, measuring and balancing the mix so it just right to ensure everybody has strong and healthy bones.

Word on the grapevine is that 30% to 40% of hip fractures in elderly people are the result of insufficient vitamin D. So we caught up with D, and managed to slip away with a rare interview transcript:

"D, some of your fans can't get enough of you. What should they do?"

"Get plenty of sun. That is the key. Where the sun touches your skin, that's where I will be."

"But, D, what about people who can't? What about people in the far north, or those who wear head-to-toe clothing or who are stuck indoors?"

"If you find yourself overdressed in a dungeon in Mongolia, get a good multi-vitamin supplement."

"D, that's a wonderful idea."

"Or drink lots of milk, fortified with me, of course. Some breakfast cereals are fortified with me, too. I also hang out in a lot of saltwater fish, like tuna and sardines and herring and salmon. And I love to slip around in the ol' cod liver oil."

"So if we can't get enough sun, milk and fish will do the trick."

"That's right, but be careful about milk products. Not all of them are made with fortified milk. I make no commitment to be there if they are not."

"What about the supplements, D?"

"A good multivitamin supplement should do it for most people. Get a liquid supplement, cause those pills just don't digest. You just end up flushing me down the toilet...ooh, I hate that feeling."

"Yuck."

"And you shouldn't need a specific vitamin D supplement, because it is possible to overdose. And you wouldn't want too much of a guy like me around."

That was all we could slip through the lines. But I think we learned a lot about what it is like to live the life of a secret vitamin. To our hero, vitamin D, we offer our best wishes. May everybody get plenty of vitamin D to keep their bones strong and healthy for many years to come.

Author: Visit author David Leonhardt's website selling Essential Nectar natural liquid vitamins. Read more nutrition information or read about Essential Nectar's nutritional supplements ingredients list.

As with all fruits, bananas are good for you on a general health basis. The actual calories in a banana can vary widely as this fruit can range from the tiny to the outsized. But, in very general terms you can expect anything between 70 calories for a small banana through to +/-140 for a particularly large specimen.

Calorie counting your banana can be an important thing to do if you are watching your overall health or if you are on a diet. As a particularly popular fruit many people want to know the impact that eating bananas will have on their diet. So, what can a banana give you apart from 70-140 calories?

Bananas are actually a very rich source of vitamins and minerals. They are, for example, great at boosting your potassium levels and are a good source of calcium, magnesium, fiber, protein and healthy carbohydrates. One of the great things about eating a banana as a snack is that it can take a while for the body to absorb its nutrients which simply means, if you are on a diet, that it can leave you feeling fuller for longer.

In vitamin terms the average banana also gives you plenty of vitamins A, B and C in various forms. They are also low in sodium which is, once again, great news in healthy eating terms. You could almost say that eating one banana gives you access to as many good things as a meal!

The fact that bananas are absorbed relatively slowly also means that they can give you a steady and consistent release of energy after you have eaten them. For this reason they are often the favored fruit of athletes looking for a quick energy surge followed by a long lasting energy boost.

You may also find that bananas also have other health benefits as well as healthy eating ones. Their high potassium content, for example, can be beneficial to your blood pressure and to your overall cardio vascular health. Their fiber content is also thought to work against heart diseases. And, many sufferers from ulcers and related stomach disorders find that they can tolerate bananas over most any other fruits.

So, this fruit could be the ideal health solution for people of all ages. Bananas are also great for children (and adults) as their calcium content helps promote the growth of healthy bones.

And, in the general scheme of things we should all be looking to eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day to stay healthy. Bananas are often the easiest option for us here and they also go great with breakfast cereals and other meals so can be relatively versatile. So, next time you need to reach for an energy snack reach for a banana!

Author Rachel Greene helps people find out about banana nutrition at her website on banana nutrition.

You should try to get the bulk of your protein from actual food sources, such as chicken, beef and fish. However, it can be hard to get all the protein you need just from eating food. You should then use a good whey protein supplement so that you can get more protein into your body.

Will any whey protein supplement do? Not really. The best protein supplement for athletes or weight lifters is a complicated subject and it is linked with whey protein supplements.

What To Look For

When you're looking for the best whey protein supplement for your money, you're going to want a protein supplement that has at least twenty grams of protein per serving, but also one that doesn't have a lot of carbs or fat. You also want to make sure the whey protein supplement doesn't contain any sugar. Your body doesn't need extra sugar for any reason. If you think you need it for energy, you're wrong. The human body uses carbs and fat and other nutrients for energy. The body will use sugar for energy, but sugar goes through the body quickly and you'll only end up crashing after a short boost. So make sure you get a whey protein supplement without sugar for best results.

Taste

It's a myth that healthy eating has to taste bad. You don't need to torture your taste buds in order to live a healthy lifestyle. The trick is to find healthy foods that taste great. They're definitely out there. A case in point is the whey protein supplements that have flavors such as cookies and cream and chocolate fudge. There are some supplements that taste so good they're almost sinful. This can lead people to believe that such supplements aren't good for them, but that's not true.

Read Labels

To determine if the whey protein powder is a good one, you need to learn how to read labels. Make sure the supplement is not filled with junk or fillers and that it is actually a healthy product you can use to supplement your healthy lifestyle. Then you'll get the results you want and deserve.

Remember! It is not about the best tasting protein supplement, but about the protein supplement that works best.

Learn more about Complete Bodybuilding, Best Protein Supplements and Hot Bodies.