Comment · Thu, October 6, 2022 · ND Owner
Does anyone else find the blue 50mg Apigenin caps off-putting?
Original post in this thread
GTechBoi · 3 points
Just opened my 50mg Apigenin bottle and was disappointed to see the bright blue caps. I know it's trivial but I guess the food coloring aesthetic clashes with my concept of a health-promoting substance. Maybe it's just me.
What they were answering
GTechBoi · 2 points
I think natural food colors would be okay! Honestly if a capsule was dyed with something natural that I was familiar with, like turmeric or beet juice, it might even make it more appealing to me than an un-dyed capsule, even though it makes just as little sense, haha.
u/MisterYouAreSoDumb · ND Owner
We have some samples of naturally dyed colored capsules we are testing right now. We will try to move to those where we can. The main issue is that you can't make nearly as many colors, or as solid of colors, with the available natural dyes. Also, many people underestimate how complex capsule chemistry is. Most people think it is just a simple thing. However, you need to make sure the capsule is strong enough to not break in the encapsulation process and stable enough to not break down after encapsulation, along with not interacting with the active compounds you put inside them. This is easier with gelatin capsules, as that is more inert. Veggie capsules are a lot more difficult. We just had a pilot batch of a new product we are coming out cause the capsule shell to become brittle and break after only a few hours. It's something to do with the way the powder interacts with the cellulose material in the capsule shell. That's only after a few hours, too. We need to ensure products are stable in the capsule for years! We've tried many different types and manufacturers of capsules over the years, and have found the sweet spot for stability. We will just need to ensure the naturally colored versions maintain that same stability.