Choosing Between Vegetarian And Gelatin Capsules For Your Herbal Supplement
Capsules are one of the best ways to deliver an herbal supplement, especially a blend of different herbs. The clear capsules let the customer see what they're taking, then they dissolve quickly and easily in the stomach to release the contained materials within minutes. Since capsules are easily filled with powder, liquid, or even relatively whole herbal material, they're the most commonly used form of delivery for herbal supplements. Yet you'll need to decide between vegetarian and gelatin capsules before putting in a manufacturing order for your formula. Make the right choice by considering the following facts.
Vegan-Friendly Marketing
With millions of people committing to a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle around the world, choosing to use animal-based gelatin could limit your target audience for your product. Many vegans also prefer natural health supplements such as herbal remedies, so this fact alone may be worth choosing plant-based vegetarian capsules. Instead of being made with gelatin extracted from animal bones and hooves, vegetarian capsules rely on cellulose extracted from plants. If you want to use gelatin capsules for their other benefits, consider developing two lines of each herbal formula so you can still appeal to vegan and vegetarian customers.
Capsule Cost
When it comes to the bottom line, saving money on the capsules containing your herbal supplement formula can make the difference between a profit or loss on the product. Gelatin capsules are definitely less expensive than vegetarian ones, largely due to the easier production process for the gelatin used as raw material versus cellulose extraction. While it's sometimes possible to charge a higher price based on the use of vegetarian capsules alone, there's no guarantee that will work. If you're concerned about getting a product line started on a budget, gelatine capsules are likely the best choice.
Filling Form
The form of your herbal supplement plays a large role in the capsule you use to contain it. If you have a liquid or gel mixture you need to deliver, vegetarian capsules are your only option because gelatin will dissolve from the inside out if exposed to any moisture. This is rarely a concern with herbal supplements since they are almost always crafted in the form of mixed powders or crushed dried plant material. Most liquid herbal supplements are offered as tinctures or other bottled products and not in capsule form, but if you absolutely need to encapsulate a liquid, stick with vegetarian capsules.
Supplement Durability
All forms of capsules are susceptible to breakdown or toughening of the material if they're exposed to high temperatures, direct light, or too much humidity. However, vegetarian capsules are also more fragile than gelatin ones and can crack open or crumple when the packaging is shaken or dropped. If you plan to ship your products to customers rather than selling them in a store, the increased durability of the gelatin capsules will ensure they arrive intact and ready to use rather than broken open inside the bottle. Thicker vegetarian capsules are also more durable, but they also come with a higher cost.
Design Choices
This is one category in which gelatin and vegetarian capsules do not differ very much. Both types of capsules are available in practically any color and shape combination you need to contain your product. Opaque and colored capsules are a good choice if you're concerned that the appearance of your herbal supplement mixture will discourage customers from taking it. Very large capsules are still easier to swallow than tablets of the same size, allowing you to deliver practically any dose you want without having to require customers to take multiple pills all at once.
For more information, get in touch with a herbal supplement capsule manufacturing company.
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