Trying to incorporate more nutrients into your diet but struggling to get enough in by meals alone? Encapsulating superfoods is the answer to all your problems. Creating your own pills provides the freedom to select your own ingredients as well as gain control over what doesn’t go in.
Many over the counter vitamins and supplements contain fillers, artificial colorants like red #40, yellow #5 and #6, artificial sweeteners and many other unnecessary, unhealthy ingredients. By encapsulating your own superfoods you know exactly what’s being included and can customize the pills to your personal needs.
I recently spent the afternoon chatting with a mom of 5 with a newborn, I think this goes without saying but she’s a bit worn out. Usually she would reach for a coffee as an afternoon pick-me-up but her breastfed newborn has stomach issues when she drinks it. We talked about different herbal teas and supplements she has been using for an energy boost and green spirulina came up. She proceeded to tell me she just takes a spoonful and quickly chases it with water… Yikes! What a woman, am I right? When I returned home later that evening I thought about our conversation and how I wanted to figure out a way to help support her, even it if was just by a small gesture. I decided to encapsulate green spiralina for her so she would have easier, grab-and-go pills, versus a mouth full of green teeth!
How to encapsulate
Here’s how to do it. First you’ll need to acquire an encapsulation machine, oddly enough, considering they carry everything under the sun, Amazon does not sell the machine I have, The Capsule Machine. I purchased mine locally at a health food store which I suggest be the first place you look, as typically pretty amazing people work there! If you’re not able to find it locally, The Vitamin Shop online carries it. You’ll also need to purchase the corresponding size empty capsules either 0 or 00 are standard. These are usually available at your local health food store as well in large quantity bags.
When you get your machine you’ll notice there are three main parts: the base, the top and the tamper. Separate the empty capsules and place the larger half into the base and then smaller half into the top of the machine. Once your machine is filled with the empty capsules pour in your powder of choice
Using the card provided or a credit card, spread the powder evenly across the base. Take the tamper and gently compress the powder into the capsule halves. At this point you can move ahead to the next step or add more powder by repeating the above process. Once you have your desired amount of powder in the capsules, combine the top and bottom halves of the machine and gently squeeze. Be sure to apply even pressure across the whole of the machine. This step is important to insure both halves of all the pills come together.
Slowly separate the two halves of the machine. If everything went according to plan, the pill halves SHOULD be together. Don’t get discouraged if it doesn’t work out the first time! I have had more than my fair share of mishaps. Just give them a good squeeze again.
If you were successful, gently push the bottom of the machine to release the pills.
Repeat this process as many times as you’d like and store in a jar in a cool dry place. If you live someplace humid like me, the addition of a moisture absorber would be a wise decision to ensure they don’t start sticking together over time.
What else can I encapsulate?
This process can be used for anything that you can think of! Ashwagandha is one herb in particular that I prefer encapsulation over other means of consumption like including it in hot drinks or smoothies. The flavor and consistency are just not my cup of tea, pun intended. I also always keep activated charcoal capsules on hand for those awful times of excessive vomitting. Other options include elderberry powder, açaí berry powder, even mushroom blends. If it’s a powder, you can encapsulate it!
Let us know in the comments if you decide to try your hand at encapsulating superfoods and what powder you’ll be putting into pills first!