Numerous well-known nutritional supplements and health foods on the market are available in hard capsule form.

 

And there are two types of hard capsules: gelatin capsules and vegetable capsules, of which gelatin capsules are also known as animal capsules in the industry.

 

Currently, vegetable capsules sell for 3-5 times the price of gelatin capsules.

 

Therefore, for most manufacturers, from cost considerations, generally prefer to use gelatin capsules, then why there are still many high-end health food, but chose to use plant capsules?

 

Companies such as Organix South's Thera Veda's Ajay-Allergy Support Formula, Meiji Pharmaceuticals' NMN10000 beta-nicotinamide mononucleotide loaded NAD+ supplement, and Procter & Gamble's Align Daily ProbioticSupplement Capsule by Procter & Gamble, among others, which use vegetable capsules.

 

What exactly were the factors that led them to make this choice, let's take a look at a professional analysis.

Vegetable capsules are less likely to harbor bacteria

The common ordinary capsules we see, such as the 999 Cold and Flu, which we have all taken, have a capsule shell made up of gelatin, glycerin and water.

 

Gelatin is generally made from the collagen portion of the skin, tendons and bones of animals, which is hydrolyzed and belongs to the class of proteins. Therefore, gelatin capsules are also called animal capsules.

 

We all know that hard-boiled eggs can't be eaten after being left for a long time because proteins are prone to harbor pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria and mold. Gelatin belongs to the protein substances, easy to harbor bacteria, a little mishandling, the number of bacteria will exceed the standard.

 

This is not the case with plant capsules, whose main raw material is plant cellulose, an inert, inactive natural polymer. Therefore, plant capsules are not only less likely to harbor bacteria, but also inhibit bacterial growth.

 

According to industry insiders, the best gelatin is bone glue, and the cost of good bone glue is almost equal to that of vegetable capsules. For high-end health food manufacturers, in the case of cost close to the natural preference for plant capsules.

Vegetable capsules are preservative-free

What about gelatin capsules that tend to harbor bacteria?

 

In order to inhibit the growth of bacteria and microorganisms during the production process, manufacturers usually use two ways to add preservatives and use ethylene oxide sterilization.

 

We all know about disposable masks, which are also sterilized using ethylene oxide gas. Are you also in the habit of taking out your mask and shaking it before using it to shake off any carcinogenic residue that may be present.

 

Vegetable capsules do not have this risk, they do not need to be sterilized with ethylene oxide nor do they need to have any preservatives added to them, and such products do give consumers much more peace of mind.

Vegetable capsules without the risk of heavy metal ingredients

More than ten years ago, the outbreak of the “tainted capsule incident” shook the whole country, involving a wide range of people.

 

Unscrupulous manufacturers use industrial gelatin extracted from leather indiscriminately as medicinal gelatin, resulting in excessive heavy metal chromium content of the capsule shell, so that many consumers are deeply hurt.

 

The raw materials for the plant capsules are extracted from cotton and starch to reduce the risk of heavy metal overload.

 

High-end health food manufacturers choose plant capsules, a big factor is to see its safety, so that consumers can buy more assured.

Vegetable capsules are sealed to enhance the activity of active ingredients

The hard capsule shell is the container of the health food, it does not have efficacy, but it has a protective effect on the content.

 

Health food will change with the temperature, humidity, and capsule interaction, resulting in a reduction in the activity of its active ingredients, the human body to take the absorption rate is subsequently reduced.

 

Because the main ingredient of gelatin capsules is animal protein, the water content of the capsule shell is relatively high, the characteristics of its raw materials will determine that it is more permeable to moisture, and its contents are susceptible to moisture in the air, microorganisms and other undesirable effects, and there is also the possibility of cross-linking reaction, resulting in deterioration.

 

Vegetable capsules rely on their own plant inertia, high chemical stability, not easy to change with the environment, temperature, can better protect the contents, reduce contact with air, water, effectively extend the shelf life.

Vegetable Capsules Expand Range of Applicable Populations

Vegetarians, as well as people of religious beliefs such as Muslims, have a unique choice of food ingredients. For high-end health food manufacturers, this market cannot be ignored.

 

Vegetable capsules, whose raw materials are extracted from plants, are available to a wider range of people without the risk of religious beliefs. It is the ideal choice for forward-looking high-end health food companies.

 

Overall, compared with traditional gelatin capsules, vegetable capsules have the five major advantages of not easily harboring bacteria; no preservatives; no risk of heavy metal ingredients; strong sealing to enhance the activity of the active ingredients; and expanding the scope of the applicable population, which are important considerations for high-end health food.

 

A good capsule to make consumers feel more at ease and health food safer.