From Binders to Fillers: What Are Excipients?

Have you ever grabbed your favorite nootropic, looked at the 'Other' or 'Inactive’ ingredients list, and thought, “What the heck is Parabens (Methylparaben, Propylparaben)?” Or ever wondered why there's Talc in a nootropic for cognitive support? Well, maybe it’s time to meet the nootropic world's heroes (and villains): Excipients.

Excuse me, what are excipients?

Simply put, excipients are 'inactive ingredients’—substances that do not directly contribute to the therapeutic action of the nootropic.

These 'inactive ingredients' typically don't offer any health benefits but may contribute to the intended nutritional effect of the nootropic and serve various auxiliary roles—like binding, flavoring, preserving, stabilizing, enhancing, and coloring.

Nutrients vs. excipients: know the difference.

Quite a list, right? Well, while many nootropics can contain one or more excipients, only the active nutrients are the MVP—the reason you're taking the nootropic. In fact, all claimed benefits are typically linked to the nutrients inside.

Excipients, on the other hand, their role is to support the MVP. They may help the tablet or capsule hold together or make it taste better.

But here's the catch: Not all excipients are created equal.

Carefully selected excipients can serve several roles.

For instance, they may enhance the solubility (or bioavailability) of the active nutrients.*

But that's not all. Some excipients, for example, can change how certain nutrients are released in your body. This property can make them a good option for certain sustained-release formulations. Others may protect, stabilize, or enhance the nutrients' stability. This way, you get a consistent dose every time.*

And let's not forget the ones typically added to nootropics to improve taste or aesthetics, making the capsules or tablets you take a tad more enjoyable.

Now, here's the truth—most nootropics need excipients. There's no way around it.

At HCF®, we are committed to clean label principles. Our 7 Advances® go beyond simply avoiding unnecessary fillers, binders, and additives and we prioritize using only ABSOLUTELY necessarily excipients that meet our high standards for quality and safety.

That's why our advanced nootropics are free from Hydrogenated Oils (which may contribute to heart health challenges), Magnesium Stearate (often sourced from inexpensive palm oil and questioned for its long-term safety). Titanium Dioxide (for which long-term effects still need to be studied), Propylene-Glycol (whose internal effects are still under review), or Talc (which has been under scrutiny for its potential links to respiratory challenges and other potential health concerns).*^1,2,3,4 Just to name a few.

But can nootropics be both safe and effective?

Absolutely! At HCF®, we're not just about delivering advanced nootropics that can feed & nourish your entire brain system (head, heart, and gut). We're dedicated to ensuring that every nutrient, every inactive ingredient (and yes, every excipient), are meticulously selected with the health and well-being of our consumers in mind. And our 7 Advances® reflect this dedication to transparency and quality.