How Does Our Body Process Gellan Gum? Balancing Digestion & Absorption

Did you know that unlike most thickeners (typically derived from plants), Gellan Gum is produced by a good bacteria—Sphingomonase elodea? And that—unlike most thickeners—Gellan Gum may also offer some health benefits (like supporting your gastrointestinal health and influencing dietary transit time)?*¹

In fact, Gellan Gum was an obvious choice for HCF®'s compact Size 0 capsules because of its unique properties and added potential health benefits. Its stability and resistance to environmental factors make it ideal for our next-level nootropic technology.

And one more thing many don't know about Gellan Gum...

...it has some pretty unique properties when it comes to breakdown in the stomach (and small intestine) and absorption.*

Now, you may be scratching your head, asking, "Why does this matter for a nootropic?" A perfectly valid question. Because let's be honest here. Many often overlook the "Inactive" ingredients and choose their favorite nootropic based solely on the active nutrients, right?

But here's the thing: when done right, certain additives (like Gellan Gum) can serve more purposes than just fillers or bulking agents. They can support the active nutrients and potentially make them work better.*

So, what happens with a Gellan Gum capsule after you ingest it?

Step 1: Ingestion

When you swallow a Gellan Gum capsule, it makes its way down your esophagus and into your stomach.

Did you know?

Digestion starts in your mouth, not in your stomach! When you take that first bite, your saliva kicks in with enzymes that start breaking down carbohydrates right away. So, the process of digesting your food actually begins the moment you start chewing.

Step 2: Stomach environment

Your stomach is a pretty intense place, filled with acid and digestive enzymes—an environment with an acidic pH. However, (depending on the capsule's composition and formulation design) Gellan Gum can react quite well to an acidic environment and is less likely to fully break down in the stomach when designed accordingly.^2,3 Unlike Gelatin capsules—which typically start breaking down immediately—Gellan Gum capsules can better withstand this harsh environment.*

Step 3: Intestinal release

The change in pH from the stomach (highly acidic) to the small intestine (slightly alkaline) helps the Gellan Gum break down fully and release the capsule's contents depending on the composition design.^4,5,6

Step 4: Absorption

As the capsule completely releases its contents in the small intestine, the neuro-nutrients inside are absorbed through the intestinal walls into your bloodstream.

Step 5: Nourish the three brains