Review: Trader Joe’s Calcium Chews

In light of my recent foot injury, my doctor has asked me to make sure that I am getting enough calcium. I have a sensitive stomach, in addition to Celiac, so it is tough for me to add pills to the mix. I love that I can always count on Trader Joe’s for a good, solid product, so when I saw their Calcium Chews, I picked up a box.

Per Trader Joe’s website:

Trader Joe’s supplements and protein powders are gluten -free with the following exceptions:
Very Green Drink Powder*
Very Green Capsules*
Chocolate Whey Quick Dissolve Protein
Powder*
Vanilla Whey Quick Dissolve Protein
Powder*
*NOT Gluten Free

I am happy to report that I have had no issues whatsoever stomach-wise with these calcium chews. There are 75 chews for $6.99 and the box says to take 1 chew up to two times daily. The chews do contain dairy and soy lecithin. Each chew has:

Calories – 20
Fat – 1g
Carbs – 3g
Sugar – 2g
Vitamin D (as ergocalciferol) – 200 IU
Vitamin K (as plylloquinone) – 40 mcg
Calcium (as calcium carbonate) – 500 mg, which is 50% of the RDA
Sodium – 5 mg

The ingredients are:

Glucose syrup (corn), sucrose, sweetened condensed whole milk (whole milk, sugar), palm kernel oil, whey, chocolate, mono-and di-glycerides, and soy lecithin.

While these may be more expensive than calcium pills, the cost is worth it to me, because my stomach has disagreed with too many of the pills. I have wasted a lot of money on vitamins that I end up having to give away to family or toss. Trader Joe’s has a store policy that they will take back any product if you are not 100% satisfied with it. I don’t hesitate to try new things from Trader Joe’s for that very reason.

Not only is calcium (and many other vitamins) important for those with Celiac Disease, but it is particularly essential for women. Osteoporosis, the thinning of bone tissue and loss of bone density, is not to be taken lightly. If not prevented or detected, osteoporosis can progress painlessly until a bone is broken. Regular daily recommended doses of calcium and vitamin D are the primary weapons in the arsenal against this deterioration. While women are four times more likely than men to suffer from osteoporosis, men can also be afflicted. Here is a risk factor questionnaire from the National Osteoporosis Foundation that can help you determine if you are at a higher risk. The questionnaire does not mention Celiac Disease as a risk factor, but it should, in my opinion. When Celiac Disease goes untreated, vitamins and nutrients are often not being absorbed properly. This can lead to low levels of many different vitamins and minerals. Low levels of Iron and vitamin D are two elements that seem to go hand-in-hand with Celiac Disease. If you have been diagnosed with Celiac Disease, it is a good idea to have a bone density scan to make sure that you aren’t in the early stages of Osteoporosis, also called Osteopenia -lower than normal BMD (bone mineral density). Even if the scan turns out to be normal, at least your doctor then has a baseline to refer back to in the future.

Do you take calcium supplements? If so, which ones?