Calcium that doesn't make me gag
July 30, 2009 9:23 AM Subscribe
Which calcium supplements are easiest to swallow?
I have very low calcium/vitamin D levels and need to take a supplement containing both. Because of their absorption properties I have to take multiple pills 3 times a day. The ones I have, from GNC are gigantic and swallowing them is an ordeal. I've made things more manageable by substituting Emergen-C bone health powder in afternoon and evening, but I find the taste sickeningly sweet.
Any suggestions for making Calcium go down easier? I'd be eternally grateful.
I have very low calcium/vitamin D levels and need to take a supplement containing both. Because of their absorption properties I have to take multiple pills 3 times a day. The ones I have, from GNC are gigantic and swallowing them is an ordeal. I've made things more manageable by substituting Emergen-C bone health powder in afternoon and evening, but I find the taste sickeningly sweet.
Any suggestions for making Calcium go down easier? I'd be eternally grateful.
I can heartily recommend Viactiv calcium chews, or generic equivalents of them. They come in multiple flavors and taste more like candies than yucky supplements. However, they do leave a bit of a metallic aftertaste so I generally eat a little something (even just a cracker or two) afterward to keep from feeling like I've been sucking on a dime.
posted by DrGail at 9:28 AM on July 30, 2009
posted by DrGail at 9:28 AM on July 30, 2009
Seconding Tums
posted by xdeliriumx at 9:36 AM on July 30, 2009
posted by xdeliriumx at 9:36 AM on July 30, 2009
Salmon!
posted by Number Used Once at 9:42 AM on July 30, 2009
posted by Number Used Once at 9:42 AM on July 30, 2009
I get tired of swallowing pills. There are plenty of liquid calcium/vitamin D/magnesium supplements. I use Bluebonnet’s Liquid Calcium Magnesium Citrate Plus Vitamin D3 . It tastes like blueberry yogurt.
Whole Foods carries a store-brand liquid supplement as well.
posted by lunalaguna at 9:45 AM on July 30, 2009 [1 favorite]
Whole Foods carries a store-brand liquid supplement as well.
posted by lunalaguna at 9:45 AM on July 30, 2009 [1 favorite]
Is there any reason why plain ol' regular milk would be out of the question? Plenty of calcium and vitamin D in there.
Also, remember to get a good amount of exposure to the sun if you're not already. You probably already know this, but UV exposure is essential for vitamin D synthesis, and subsequently calcium absorption.
posted by Willie0248 at 9:52 AM on July 30, 2009
Also, remember to get a good amount of exposure to the sun if you're not already. You probably already know this, but UV exposure is essential for vitamin D synthesis, and subsequently calcium absorption.
posted by Willie0248 at 9:52 AM on July 30, 2009
Ditto lunalaguna. I use this stuff and I love it! No metallic aftertaste/sensation.
posted by peep at 9:53 AM on July 30, 2009
posted by peep at 9:53 AM on July 30, 2009
Tums are far and away the easiest way to get calcium into your tummy.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 9:57 AM on July 30, 2009
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 9:57 AM on July 30, 2009
I get tired of the chalky taste of Tums, so I went back to calcium pills. The liquid supplements sound good too, but if you decide you want something with no taste at all, I find these softgels to be small and easy to swallow.
posted by redfoxtail at 10:07 AM on July 30, 2009
posted by redfoxtail at 10:07 AM on July 30, 2009
Best answer: Tums are calcium carbonate and are not the best source of calcium, especially not for someone who is decifient. Beyond that, there's only 200mg of elemental calcium per Tums - about the same as 8 ounces of milk.
You would need to drink 40 ounces of milk a day to get the RDA of calcium.
Sometimes getting vitamins and minerals from food sources isn't possible - this is doubly true when someone is deficient.
I agree with lunalaguna. A liquid Cal-Mag-D supplement would help. The one I use is from the Vitamin Shoppe and tastes like pineapple.
posted by elsietheeel at 10:11 AM on July 30, 2009
You would need to drink 40 ounces of milk a day to get the RDA of calcium.
Sometimes getting vitamins and minerals from food sources isn't possible - this is doubly true when someone is deficient.
I agree with lunalaguna. A liquid Cal-Mag-D supplement would help. The one I use is from the Vitamin Shoppe and tastes like pineapple.
posted by elsietheeel at 10:11 AM on July 30, 2009
Seconding Viactiv. It has Vitamin D as well and tastes like a Tootsie Roll.
posted by anderjen at 10:13 AM on July 30, 2009
posted by anderjen at 10:13 AM on July 30, 2009
Trader Joe's Chocolate Calcium Soft Chews are like candy, and each one has 50% of your RDA of Calcium along with healthy dollups of Vitamins D and K.
posted by mullingitover at 10:51 AM on July 30, 2009
posted by mullingitover at 10:51 AM on July 30, 2009
Seconding Viactiv. Easy to eat and tastes pretty good. I chomp on these when I'm giving platelets.
posted by radioamy at 11:55 AM on July 30, 2009
posted by radioamy at 11:55 AM on July 30, 2009
If you find yourself out of calcium one day and need to run to Wal-Mart or something, I will suggest Citrical Petites. They are about half the size as the giant calcium pills, and they are calcium citrate, which is better for absorption. The downside is that you have to take 5 to get 1000mg of elemental calcium. Still, they are good as an emergency option.
posted by cabingirl at 12:07 PM on July 30, 2009
posted by cabingirl at 12:07 PM on July 30, 2009
Viactive has a lot of sugar, so I found some similar chews that are sugar-free. I'm actually eating one right now. They're Kroger brand, if you have a store nearby that carries Kroger products.
posted by Aleen at 12:26 PM on July 30, 2009
posted by Aleen at 12:26 PM on July 30, 2009
You would need to drink 40 ounces of milk a day to get the RDA of calcium.
Really? The 12 oz. bottle of nonfat milk I drink says it has 90% of the RDA, which should be about 900mg, pretty close to the normal RDA. Am I misinterpreting this?
(I understand that this example is an "enriched" version of milk, but even the regular nonfat milk I looked at wasn't going to require 40 oz. to get the RDA.)
posted by fuse theorem at 12:56 PM on July 30, 2009
Really? The 12 oz. bottle of nonfat milk I drink says it has 90% of the RDA, which should be about 900mg, pretty close to the normal RDA. Am I misinterpreting this?
(I understand that this example is an "enriched" version of milk, but even the regular nonfat milk I looked at wasn't going to require 40 oz. to get the RDA.)
posted by fuse theorem at 12:56 PM on July 30, 2009
Sorry, my math was off.
8 ounces of milk has about 300 milligrams of calcium. RDA for calcium is 1000-1200 mg (if the OP is deficient they may need more).
That's 28-32 ounces.
12 ounces of milk should have about 450. Maybe you have some supermilk.
posted by elsietheeel at 1:15 PM on July 30, 2009
8 ounces of milk has about 300 milligrams of calcium. RDA for calcium is 1000-1200 mg (if the OP is deficient they may need more).
That's 28-32 ounces.
12 ounces of milk should have about 450. Maybe you have some supermilk.
posted by elsietheeel at 1:15 PM on July 30, 2009
Flora/Floradix have a liquid calcium supplement that might be worth trying. I've never tried it, but I take their liquid iron supplement and have been very pleased with it. Iron is apparently notoriously hard on the digestive system, but with the liquid I've never experienced any trouble.
A shotglass of sweetish liquid (made from fruits and herbs) has got to be easier to swallow than a handful of pills, I'm guessing.
posted by Lexica at 8:51 PM on July 30, 2009
A shotglass of sweetish liquid (made from fruits and herbs) has got to be easier to swallow than a handful of pills, I'm guessing.
posted by Lexica at 8:51 PM on July 30, 2009
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posted by amro at 9:26 AM on July 30, 2009