Do we or Dont we digest the GELCAPS or CAPSULES?

Can we or can't we absorb from gel caps. It seems that now a days everything is made in gel caps and capsules. My new DR. (I have regained 45lbs and started seeing a new Dr), says that we cannot digest gel caps or capsules. That means that every medication I have been taking for years was a WASTE of time and did not work!!

Is this true? Do we not digest gelcaps or capsules. If you think we DO...How do you know we do?

I can eat sugar with no effects, I can eat rice, bread, anything without getting sick. I have gained 45 lbs, so I think I am definitely absorbing EVERYTHING.

Please help!  I am starting the 5DPT and I am staring to drink Green Tea Gelcaps, Dual Action Colon Cleanse Capsules and Stackers3 in Capsules, Anything to STOP gaining, but I dont know for sure if all this pills are actually being absorbed by my body, or I am waisting my money and time?

Capsules are no problem.  What we can't have is anything in oil, it must be in dry form.  Also  timed released meds are wasted on us, we'll only absorb the initial dose.

Michele

I have accidently kept a gel cap of omega3 fish oil in my mouth while I filled  large 32 oz cup of water at the fridge door  And another time I ran to answer the phone and it melted a hole in such a short time...What a nasty little surprise filled mouthful that was! (TWICE!)  If it melts that fast in my mouth...With the little bit of acid we do have in our pouches, I'm sure it gets melted...But some gel caps might be longer to melt...*****ally knows?  As far as capsules go...I open them and take the powder...I cannot afford to not absorb my vits and supps...I have a hard time swallowing large capsules, but I am getting bettter at it...I swallow the gross tasting powders that I can't stand the taste...Others have no real taste, so I just open them and take with or after a meal with a tiny bit of water and let it sit on top of the food so it stays longer in my pouch...That's what I hope for anyway...I really don't know if that helps or not...They are usually made of glycerin and melt super fast.  Test one in some luke warm water and see how long it takes to melt...

Then again...I've also gotten other gel caps stuck to my throat and had to sip hot tea to "unstick" it and it took quite a while to let loose...But I could taste the stuff inside the cap immediately as it repeated on me...So the warm tea dissolved it for certain!  LOL  Just took a while to dislodge the entire pill from my throat...I have a really hard time swallowing pills...So often I end up tating what's inside because they do melt so fast!  LOL

I'm pretty sure we can absorb powders in gelcaps. I take my iron in a powder filled gel.  My iron labs came back, and though they're low, they're low-normal. I'm within a healthy range, just the very bottom of afore mentioned range. I'm betting this is due more to the fact that I have difficulty eating iron rich foods then my vit. consumption. One of the B vits I ewas takiung was a solid pill- and I don't think that was working because I was getting woozy ALL the time then switched to sublingual and taking the liquid B complex.  Now Things are improving. 

I have used the green tea gels, I find I like the liquid green tea extract better. I hold a few drops under my tongue, figure if my B's absorb there anything benificial in the green tea will absorb there too.

I'd also advise not to go overboard on the pills. Take ALL nessesary vits, keep in touch with your doctor, hydrate and try one thing at a time. That way if something works you'll know which one it was so you can either keep using it or use it next time you need it.

Test any medications or vitamins you take before you take them.

Put in some luke warm water.  If they begin to dissolve within 30 minutes, they are OK.  Otherwise, they'll pass on through and become bedpan bullets.

Deb

There is a difference between a gel cap dissolving and your body having the enzymes to breakdown gelatin or vegetable cellulose coating.

You can have an non-allergic hypersensitivity reaction to either of these substances if you don't have sufficient enzymes to digest them...

I take Tylenol gelcaps or capsules for Arthritis pain. If I didn't absorb them then I would always be in pain. I take pills that warn drowsiness and sure enough, I'm drowsy.  So I would say we absorb them.