Nutritional product manufacturing lends itself to all forms of capsules, liquids, powders, and much more. The human body comes in all shapes and sizes, so why shouldn’t your dietary supplement? Not to mention, everyone’s body is a little different, which means the form that works best for some might not work well for others. Luckily, the nutritional manufacturing industry offers a healthy variety of supplement forms to meet everyone’s preferences and needs. Here are a few to keep in mind on your next trip down the vitamin aisle.
Tablets: There is a wide assortment of tablets on the market, ranging from coated lozenges to sustained release tablets. They are traditionally designed to dissolve in the stomach over time, though for some, this form of supplement can be hard to swallow. Luckily, tablets also come in the form of chewables, which make them a great alternative for kids.
Soft Gels: Sometime referred to as gelcaps, this form of supplement is commonly used to deliver liquid-based supplements to the body. They are often used for fish oil supplements, as they do a remarkable job masking the taste and smell of the fish oil. Their oblong shape and smooth texture also make them easy to swallow and digest.
Capsules: Another of the most common supplement delivery methods, capsules have a two-part casing that comes in a variety of sizes. Similar to the softgel, they are oblong and usually very easy to swallow, even in the case of larger sizes. The capsules dissolve in about 30 minutes submerged in water, and they are rarely used for time-release supplements.
Powders: Powders must be stirred into a liquid, such as water, a smoothie, or a protein shake. Protein powder is often preferred by the bodybuilding industry as it can easily be measured out to meet individual needs and quickly added to a healthy concoction on the go. Vitamin C is also a popular powdered supplement for the same reason.
Liquids: While a supplement manufacturer must be very intentional with the mixing of liquid supplements, they provide a unique alternative to pills and powders, but they also present unique challenges, such as long-lasting mixing and secure bottling. The pay off, however, is that liquid supplements are easy to drink and enjoyed by much of the fitness community for its convenience.