What is a Vegetable Capsule?
Vegetable capsules, also referred to as veggie capsules, are a popular form of ingestible supplementation. Unlike traditional gelatin capsules, veggie capsules are completely animal-free and made from plant-based ingredients – most commonly from the hypromellose family. Many health-conscious consumers prefer them for their sustainable, plant-based nature and non-animal source.
What is Hypromellose?
Hypromellose is a modified cellulose compound. It is a semi-synthetic, non-toxic, odorless and tasteless product. The specific form used by most veggie capsule producers is referred to as hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (HPMC).
Advantages of Vegetable Capsules
Vegetable capsules have multiple advantages over traditional gelatin capsules. These include:
- Vegan-friendly: Completely plant-based and suitable for everyone, regardless of dietary preference.
- Gentle on Stomach: They are gentler on the stomach, with no lactose, no fat, no sugar and no cholesterol.
- Biodegradable: They are fully biodegradable and do not harm the environment.
- Free from Preservatives: Vegetable capsules are preservative-free, compared to traditional capsules which contain various preservatives.
Disadvantages of Vegetable Capsules
Although vegetable capsules have many advantages, they come with some drawbacks. These include:
- Cost: Vegetable capsules are generally much more expensive than traditional gelatin capsules.
- Fragility: They are much more fragile than traditional capsules and prone to breakage.
- Difficult to Fill: Veggie capsules are more challenging to fill than traditional capsules as they are much thinner and more fragile.
Conclusion
Vegetable capsules are a great alternative to traditional gelatin capsules, and a preferred choice for many health-conscious consumers. They are completely vegan-friendly, biodegradable and gentle on the stomach. However, they are considerably more expensive and fragile than gelatin capsules, and more difficult to fill.
