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Taste Test: Calcium Chews

Hate to swallow pills? Try chewing your daily dose of calcium

Taste Test: Calcium Chews
Sophie Blackall
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Real Simple testers tried dozens of calcium chew options and found that these six supplements tasted almost as good as candy. All of them contain some vitamin D, which helps the body absorb the calcium. Ready, set, unwrap.

Brand:Viactiv Calcium Chews in Caramel
Content per Chew: 20 calories, 500 milligrams of calcium, and 200 I.U. (international units) of vitamin D
The Verdict: The sweet caramel taste lingers pleasantly after the creamy square is gone.

Brand:Viactiv for Teens Calcium Chews in Fudge Brownie
Content per Chew: 20 calories, 500 milligrams of calcium, and 200 I.U. of vitamin D
The Verdict: Designed to entice pill-wary teens, these fudgy squares were a hit with the (adult) testers.

Brand: Citracal Creamy Bites Lemon Cream
Content per Chew: 35 calories, 500 milligrams of calcium, and 200 I.U. of vitamin D
The Verdict: For those whose taste buds can’t be fooled by faux-chocolate flavors, these lemony squares are a tangy alternative.

Brand: Trader Joe’s Chocolate Calcium Soft Chews
Content per Chew: 20 calories, 500 milligrams of calcium, and 100 I.U. of vitamin D
The Verdict: Testers exclaimed that these chewy morsels tasted like Tootsie Rolls.

Brand: Nutrition Now Rhino Sour Swirlin’ Calci-Bears
Content per Chew: Two bears have 15 calories, 200 milligrams of calcium, and 200 I.U. of vitamin D.
The Verdict: They’re meant for kids, but the sweet-and-sour taste appealed to some adults, too.

Brand: Adora Calcium Dark Chocolate Supplements
Content per Chew: 30 calories, 500 milligrams of calcium, and 100 I.U. of vitamin D
The Verdict: The dark chocolate flavor and the smooth texture made it hard for testers to believe this was a supplement.

Choosing the Right Supplement
There are two basic types to consider. But no matter which you choose, don’t take more than 500 milligrams at once — your body can’t absorb more than that.

Calcium Carbonate: The most common type of calcium and the least expensive, it’s found in Tums, Caltrate, and most of the chewables in the chart. Since stomach acid is required to dissolve it, it’s best absorbed when taken with food. Calcium carbonate can cause gas. If this happens to you, choose calcium citrate.

Calcium Citrate: Because it already has acid in it, you don’t have to take this supplement with food. It’s found in Citracal and Solgar. It doesn’t cause gas, as calcium carbonate sometimes does, but the pills tend to contain smaller amounts of calcium, so you might have to take up to four a day to get your full dose.
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