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MyFitnessPal Community

Calcium Supplement for Lactose-Intolerant People

Becoming_A_Butterfly

My doctor recently suggested that I start taking a calcium and vitamin D supplement. I tried a chewable version from Target, and because I am lactose-intolerant, it gave me stomach pains and will not be pleasant to take every day.

I have been searching for a calcium and vitamin D supplement that I can take even if I am lactose intolerant (preferably a chewable or gummy, since I also hate swallowing pills). I haven't found one yet. Does anyone take one that they can recommend or suggest? Thank you!

Replies

neandermagnon

you don't need dairy products to get enough calcium. There's calcium in green vegetables and quite a few other foods. The ability to digest lactose is only found in some of the population, i.e. entire ethnic groups can't digest it, yet they're not suffering from calcium deficiency. Dairy is a good source of calcium, but it's far from the only source.

vitamin D comes mainly from the sunlight, you need to supplement that if you get very little sun exposure or if your skin's too dark to make vitamin D in the lattitude that you live in (but your profile pic shows you have light skin so lack of vitamin D could be due to spending too much time indoors)

You can get vitamin D from oily fish and egg yolks, in addition to getting more sunlight on your skin.

_Zardoz_

I'm a vegan and have no problem getting plenty of calcium without supplements. Dairy is in fact not the best source of calcium. You may find this useful. http://www.vegetarian.org.uk/factsheets/calciumfactsheet.html

TheGymGypsy

Almond milk has more calcium then milk. Also you can get plenty of calcium from fruits and veggies.

occsunray

Take Tums and get outside.

shano25

If you really want to go the supplement route, go to a health store, they'll have vegan vitamin lines. Now and Deva are popular brands. When I do take calcium, I use a local store brand that doesn't have lactose and the pills are very small so they are easy to swallow.

Becoming_A_Butterfly

Thank you for the information, suggestions, and the link to the article, which I am reading right now.

neanderthin

Ground egg shells.

kickivale

I second the almond milk….Almond Breeze unsweetened is perfect as a milk sub.

captmiddy

While it is true you can get a lot of calcium from other sources, if your doctor is suggesting a supplement there is probably a reason. You may want to look at a solid calcium product rather than a chewable, the slower break down may cause less problems for your stomach. You may also be able to find a vegan calcium supplement at a health food store. I know some people even when they have a good intake of calcium from food sources still need a supplement due to their absorption rates so if your doctor is recommending it I would suggest finding something that will work for you rather than ignoring their advice.

Becoming_A_Butterfly

I'm definitely not ignoring my doctor's advice. I called and left a message earlier today for my doctor to see if she has a recommendation besides the one I already tried taking that made me feel sick. I will try a health food store and ask there too. Thank you!

leggup

I'm extremely lactose intolerant and taking lactase enzyme (common brand Lactaid) with dairy allows me to digest it.

Some days I don't have any dairy and still get more than the recommended just from vegetables and tofu.

captmiddy

I missed the chewable item earlier...it may be hard to get that in a vegan product since many chewables are made with gelatin which is not vegan or vegetarian. As a vegetarian I ignore this little hiccup in the world and still consume things with gelatin as my issue is with many animal proteins not really the ethics of it all. But that being said, a vegan supplement would likely not be produced with these products so it may not be easy to find a gummy type product that would meet those requirements.

WBB55

Have you tried "calcium citrate" supplements? They sometimes cost a little more than calcium carbonate supplements. And typically cause less stomach irritation.

Becoming_A_Butterfly

Have you tried "calcium citrate" supplements? They sometimes cost a little more than calcium carbonate supplements. And typically cause less stomach irritation.

I'm not sure if the one I tried was calcium citrate. I will have to check the package when I get home.

neanderthin

Ground egg shells.

Not taken serious and probably the best source and it's free, interesting. Maybe people have lived in the urban landscape too long.