The best calcium gummies in the world?
June 11, 2014 10:58 AM Subscribe
My lactose intolerance has worsened in the past year and so I've gone from eating yogurt/ice cream/cheese a few times a week to more like 1-2 times a month. Dairy and calcium intake has always been bad (i.e. low), but I have a new resolve to fix the problem... please help me find the perfect supplement or strategy!
I'm lactose-intolerant and prefer to eat a naturally dalry-free diet, minimizing lactase pills and dairy substitutes (I cook Asian style so I've been lucky to be able to eat most of the same things I always did). But it's obvious to me that I need to supplement my calcium intake, because it was an issue before my dietary restriction and is even more of a problem now.
Approaches I've already tried and failed:
1) Drinking milk. I have a lifelong aversion to the taste and consistency of milk. I refused to drink it as soon as I was old enough to argue about food, and Lactaid milk isn't any more appealing. Nor do I enjoy eating or drinking creamy foods. So adding milk to my diet is out.
I do have a fondness for fancy cheeses (uncooked) and yogurt. I have tried goat's and sheep's milk yogurt, and while they upset my stomach less than normal yogurt, I can't eat them every day without feeling sick.
2) Calcium supplement pills. Problem: they're huge, even cut in half, so half the time the pill gets painfully stuck in my throat and I can't keep up the habit of taking them.
I do have Vitamin D pills that are very small in size and I could take those daily, but will it do any good if I'm getting little calcium?
3) Calcium chocolate chews. Had an unpleasant aftertaste that turned me off.
4) Calcium gummy supplements. I can only seem to find one brand, designed as gummy bears for kids. I LOVE gummy multivitamins and would happily eat those like candy, but the ones I've seen contain <10% RDV calcium. The calcium-only kind are a markedly different consistency and some of the flavors are pretty bad. I suppose I could buy a bottle and throw out half of it, only eating the flavors that are okay, but that seems like a waste. I'm also hoping that there are more options out there in this realm, something closer to the taste and consistency of regular multivitamin gummies...
I think #4 is probably my best hope, although maybe there's a lactaid-milk Greek yogurt product that I don't know about. I'm also open to any other ideas!
I'm lactose-intolerant and prefer to eat a naturally dalry-free diet, minimizing lactase pills and dairy substitutes (I cook Asian style so I've been lucky to be able to eat most of the same things I always did). But it's obvious to me that I need to supplement my calcium intake, because it was an issue before my dietary restriction and is even more of a problem now.
Approaches I've already tried and failed:
1) Drinking milk. I have a lifelong aversion to the taste and consistency of milk. I refused to drink it as soon as I was old enough to argue about food, and Lactaid milk isn't any more appealing. Nor do I enjoy eating or drinking creamy foods. So adding milk to my diet is out.
I do have a fondness for fancy cheeses (uncooked) and yogurt. I have tried goat's and sheep's milk yogurt, and while they upset my stomach less than normal yogurt, I can't eat them every day without feeling sick.
2) Calcium supplement pills. Problem: they're huge, even cut in half, so half the time the pill gets painfully stuck in my throat and I can't keep up the habit of taking them.
I do have Vitamin D pills that are very small in size and I could take those daily, but will it do any good if I'm getting little calcium?
3) Calcium chocolate chews. Had an unpleasant aftertaste that turned me off.
4) Calcium gummy supplements. I can only seem to find one brand, designed as gummy bears for kids. I LOVE gummy multivitamins and would happily eat those like candy, but the ones I've seen contain <10% RDV calcium. The calcium-only kind are a markedly different consistency and some of the flavors are pretty bad. I suppose I could buy a bottle and throw out half of it, only eating the flavors that are okay, but that seems like a waste. I'm also hoping that there are more options out there in this realm, something closer to the taste and consistency of regular multivitamin gummies...
I think #4 is probably my best hope, although maybe there's a lactaid-milk Greek yogurt product that I don't know about. I'm also open to any other ideas!
Soy milk? It doesn't taste exactly like milk but you get used to it.
posted by desjardins at 11:03 AM on June 11, 2014
posted by desjardins at 11:03 AM on June 11, 2014
Misread - how about soy ice cream then?
posted by desjardins at 11:03 AM on June 11, 2014
posted by desjardins at 11:03 AM on June 11, 2014
Response by poster: rabbitrabbit: The L'il Critters calcium gummies from Costco are exactly the ones I've tried. The consistency is totally different from their regular gummy multivitamins though (which I prefer), and the cherry flavor reminds me of traumatizing Tylenol syrup from my childhood.
If anyone knows of a different brand, I'd love to hear it!
posted by serelliya at 11:07 AM on June 11, 2014
If anyone knows of a different brand, I'd love to hear it!
posted by serelliya at 11:07 AM on June 11, 2014
Best answer: These Vitafusion Fiber+Calcium Prenatal Support gummies are awesome, I think they're delicious (and I hate the chocolate calcium chews as well). They're marketed as a prenatal vitamin, but I see no reason why - they're just fiber, a little phosphorus, and calcium. Each chew is 25% of the (nonpregnant) RDA.
posted by insectosaurus at 11:08 AM on June 11, 2014
posted by insectosaurus at 11:08 AM on June 11, 2014
Best answer: Green Valley Organics makes lactose-free dairy yogurt in 5-6 flavours
Finlandia makes lactose-free dairy cheeses: swiss, havarti, and muenster
Also, you say "it's obvious to me that I need to increase my calcium intake" - has any doctor confirmed this?
posted by elizardbits at 11:08 AM on June 11, 2014
Finlandia makes lactose-free dairy cheeses: swiss, havarti, and muenster
Also, you say "it's obvious to me that I need to increase my calcium intake" - has any doctor confirmed this?
posted by elizardbits at 11:08 AM on June 11, 2014
Lactaid also makes ice creams, although only in chocolate and vanilla.
posted by elizardbits at 11:09 AM on June 11, 2014
posted by elizardbits at 11:09 AM on June 11, 2014
Best answer: I didn't like the calcium chocolate chews either, but the Viactiv Caramel flavor was pretty good the last time I had it. No weird aftertaste.
posted by belladonna at 11:09 AM on June 11, 2014
posted by belladonna at 11:09 AM on June 11, 2014
Have you tried almond milk? There are many other non-dairy foods that contain calcium, just use the google to find them.
posted by mareli at 11:11 AM on June 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by mareli at 11:11 AM on June 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I dislike milk as well, but I like almond milk in my smoothies just fine.
What about adding more leafy greens to your diet? Kale and spinach have calcium. Broccoli has quite a bit too.
Has any doctor told you that you need to supplement your calcium intake? I ask because I also avoid dairy, don't drink milk, don't take supplements, and get plenty of calcium from almond milk, tofu, and veggies--I track what I eat daily in myfitnesspal, which also tracks calcium intake. You might want to track what you eat for a few days to get an estimate about the calcium you are consuming from the food you eat.
posted by inertia at 11:21 AM on June 11, 2014 [3 favorites]
What about adding more leafy greens to your diet? Kale and spinach have calcium. Broccoli has quite a bit too.
Has any doctor told you that you need to supplement your calcium intake? I ask because I also avoid dairy, don't drink milk, don't take supplements, and get plenty of calcium from almond milk, tofu, and veggies--I track what I eat daily in myfitnesspal, which also tracks calcium intake. You might want to track what you eat for a few days to get an estimate about the calcium you are consuming from the food you eat.
posted by inertia at 11:21 AM on June 11, 2014 [3 favorites]
Excerpted from this, "Dairy is not the only good source of calcium.
http://whole9life.com/2012/02/what-about-calcium/
You can find calcium (in bioavailable forms and significant amounts) in a wide variety of non-dairy, nutrient-dense foods, including vegetables, meat and seafood, nuts and seeds.
Vegetable sources of calcium include kale, spinach (cooked), collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens and bok choy, and sea vegetables like nori.
Meat and seafood sources include organ meats, bone broth, small fish (like sardines), shrimp, oysters and canned salmon (with bones).
Nut and seed sources include almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts."
posted by ms_rasclark at 11:23 AM on June 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
http://whole9life.com/2012/02/what-about-calcium/
You can find calcium (in bioavailable forms and significant amounts) in a wide variety of non-dairy, nutrient-dense foods, including vegetables, meat and seafood, nuts and seeds.
Vegetable sources of calcium include kale, spinach (cooked), collard greens, mustard greens, turnip greens and bok choy, and sea vegetables like nori.
Meat and seafood sources include organ meats, bone broth, small fish (like sardines), shrimp, oysters and canned salmon (with bones).
Nut and seed sources include almonds, hazelnuts and walnuts."
posted by ms_rasclark at 11:23 AM on June 11, 2014 [2 favorites]
When you take pills, have several sips of water first; it will make pills easier to swallow. The information on dietary calcium tends to be conflicting on what forms are taken up successfully. But eating more leafy, calcium-rich greens, and more Vitamin D is generally recommended. You can also preserve bone by engaging in weight-bearing activity like active exercise, dancing, weight-lifting. Even brisk walking will help.
posted by theora55 at 11:32 AM on June 11, 2014
posted by theora55 at 11:32 AM on June 11, 2014
Here's another Vitafusion calcium gummy, without the "prenatal" label: Vitafusion Calcium, 500mg + Vitamin D. They have kind of a "creamy" flavor that I didn't love, but they're quite tolerable.
posted by teditrix at 11:33 AM on June 11, 2014
posted by teditrix at 11:33 AM on June 11, 2014
Sardines are nature's calcium gummy. Make sure you're getting the bones and skin.
posted by pullayup at 11:41 AM on June 11, 2014
posted by pullayup at 11:41 AM on June 11, 2014
Aren't calcium supplement pills (i.e., "Tums") supposed to be chewed rather than swallowed whole?
posted by Dansaman at 11:49 AM on June 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
posted by Dansaman at 11:49 AM on June 11, 2014 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I know you said preferably no pills but this brand is really good - it is easy to swallow, is in a liquid suspension and has other ingredients with it (not just calcium) to increase absorption.
Soy milk fortified with calcium is also a good bet.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 11:49 AM on June 11, 2014
Soy milk fortified with calcium is also a good bet.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 11:49 AM on June 11, 2014
Yeah, seconding just Tums. Find a flavour you like and have at it. That's what I use for supplemental calcium.
posted by csmithrim at 1:06 PM on June 11, 2014
posted by csmithrim at 1:06 PM on June 11, 2014
Tums have lactose in them, unfortunately.
guess how i know
posted by elizardbits at 1:27 PM on June 11, 2014
guess how i know
posted by elizardbits at 1:27 PM on June 11, 2014
Best answer: Nature Made calcium gummies. I looooove these. Even though I'm not pregnant any more, I still hate milk so I take those. BUt when I was preggo and super nauseated by everything, these were easy on my stomach and didn't gross me out.
posted by data hound at 1:46 PM on June 11, 2014
posted by data hound at 1:46 PM on June 11, 2014
You shouldn't have any problems with hard cheeses (e.g. cheddar) because the lactose is all consumed during the cheese-making process.
Soft cheeses (e.g. mozarella, ricotta) are a different matter.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 1:47 PM on June 11, 2014
Soft cheeses (e.g. mozarella, ricotta) are a different matter.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 1:47 PM on June 11, 2014
elizardbits: my box of Tums Ultrastrength 1000 says this on the ingredient list:
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 1:58 PM on June 11, 2014
Inactive ingredients: sucrose, calcium carbonate, corn starch, talc,mineral oil, natural and artificial flavors, sodium polyphosphate, red 40 lake, yollow 6 lake, yellow 5 (tartrazine) lakeNo sign of lactose in there.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 1:58 PM on June 11, 2014
Lactaid. Their chocolate milk is great. Especially if you put a glass ful in the freezer for two hours. Then eat it with a spoon.
posted by notreally at 2:18 PM on June 11, 2014
posted by notreally at 2:18 PM on June 11, 2014
There's lots of calcium in seafood and fish, particularly the canned varieties that include the tiny bones, like anchovies and sardines and salmon. Of course, you probably don't want to eat these every week. White beans, deep green leafy vegetables and calcium fortified orange juice are things you might want to eat more frequently, to up your food sources of calcium.
Vitamin D is important for calcium absorption, as it increases the intestine's uptake of calcium, but you do need to ingest calcium, either from food sources or supplements in order for vitamin D to help.
posted by citygirl at 3:52 PM on June 11, 2014
Vitamin D is important for calcium absorption, as it increases the intestine's uptake of calcium, but you do need to ingest calcium, either from food sources or supplements in order for vitamin D to help.
posted by citygirl at 3:52 PM on June 11, 2014
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by rabbitrabbit at 11:02 AM on June 11, 2014