The Truth About Gelatin

NAC and glutamate and relevancy to gelatin:

If free glutamate is an excitotoxin, it sounds like someone with anxiety or sleep issues should avoid gelatin. I have those issues and take a lot of supplements so will have to try to cut down on those in gelatin capsules by opening them up as suggested, except the ones like fish oil and Q10 are harder to deal with. My doctor has me taking NAC for anxiety which apparently lowers glutamate levels in the brain, don't know how that might be relevant or helpful.

Hi Donna,

The veggie caps are also toxic to me. Serrapeptase and Bromelain are in vegetable capsules. The Bromelain alone caused my prolapse.

KT

As far as a natural stool softener / laxative goes w/o any gelatin or MSG just use a tsp / tbs. of wheatgrass with meals, before going to bed or as needed, adjust the dose as needed. This will do both very quickly speaking from personal experience.

Add activated charcoal as needed to supercharge it, speeds it up and helps with detoxing the body. You are better off buying the activated charcoal & wheatgrass in bulk 1-pound, more or less according to personal need, just sprinkle both on some yogurt or kefir, coconut oil, avocado oil, olive oil, something thick to absorb it, so you don't inhale it.

Donna,

Unless you find that your compounded meds are bothering you, I would not worry about it. (Worry is an afib trigger, too! ) MSG is naturally in foods. I think if the capsule thing were a significant risk, other natural health websites would be sure to have info about it. I have tried to research this and haven't found info enough to convince myself that I would be better off not using capsules.

Sue-zee-q

China grass is another name for agar-agar, which is derived from algae, and thus a vegetarian product. By and large vegetables contain relatively little protein, but if the algae are subjected to a process that will break protein into its constituent amino acids, glutamate will be produced. The only way to tell if there is glutamate in a product is to get a free amino acid analysis and look for the free glutamic acid (aka glutamate) content. Bottom line is there will be little, if any, glutamate in china grass, and certainly less than in gelatin.

If by “safer” you mean containing less glutamate, a safer alternative would be capsules made from vegetable cellulose. Cellulose is basically plant fiber, and one of the most common sources is wood pulp. Manufacturers grind up the wood and extract the cellulose.

Since the ingredient list names glutamic acid and aspartic acid, one could assume they are both ingredients of collagen. There's nothing deceptive about that.

I have my blood pressure meds compounded into gelatin caps because I'm allergic to pine and sulfites and they may be in veggie caps. Omg now what? Msg is an afib trigger for me!

Hi Pamela,

I am sorry I don't know anything about collagen peptides. I had been informed by the late Jack Samuels that magnesium and vitamin C can provide some protection against MSG toxicity.

KT

I believe capsules are only a convenient way to take meds/vitamins and don't need to be ingested. For decades, I have been opening capsules and pouring contents in a mouthful of water or mixing in applesauce. If a gel cap, l bite it to remove contents and spit the capsule out.

I don't know anything about China grass, sorry.

KT

I open capsules and pour out contents. If it is a gel cap, I bite it open to remove contents.

KT

Well that article was an eye opener. I have used kosher vegetarian gel caps in my turmeric and other supplements for over a decade. What is a safe healthy alternative?

What about using china grass instead of gelatin?

What about collagen peptides from cowhide? I see the ingredients list both glutamic and aspartic acid on the jar I've been using. Supposed to be for hair skin nails & joints. Is this bogus?

I am in my sixties and discovered that gelatin capsules are what caused my prolapse. I could not tolerate ingesting capsules. I always opened them and took the contents. When I started to use the stool softeners I had to swallow the capsule(s). I then experienced the prolapse... This was just this past Dec.

When I stopped using the gelatin capsule stool softeners, the prolapse began to subside. I juggle between probiotics, magnesium powder and the stool softeners. When I walk, go up and down the stairs or stand at the kitchen sink I do Kegels. I also do them when I lift ten lbs. from the floor... As you come up, tuck & squeeze your butt. I was fortunate to recognize this early enough to fix it (just a few months), so if anyone has ingested supplements in capsules for a period of time it may take longer.