Take total control over your daily nutrition with NOW® Size "00" Empty Gelatin Capsules (Item N5131). These pharmaceutical-grade bovine gelatin capsules make it easy to pack your own custom vitamin, mineral, and herbal formulas at home while avoiding artificial fillers and high retail markups. Each capsule dissolves rapidly in your stomach acid, ensuring your active powders are released quickly for smooth, dependable absorption.
Quick Specs Snapshot
✓Active Form & Potency: Precision two-piece Size "00" hard capsules engineered to hold 700 mg to 900 mg of most nutritional and botanical powders.
✓Primary Cellular Target: Fast gastric breakdown in normal stomach acid, releasing pure nutrients within minutes for rapid uptake along the intestinal tract.
✓Supply & Value Math: Packaging your own bulk powders cuts your supplement expenses by 50% to 70% compared to pre-encapsulated retail brands.
✓Formulation Purity: Made strictly from 100% BSE-free bovine gelatin and purified water (H2O), free from artificial colors, chemical preservatives, and major food allergens.
Buyer Guide & Capsule Form Comparison
Why the Gelatin Form Matters
Cheaper empty capsules sold by big-box stores and online discount brokers often cut costs by using low-grade animal scraps that turn brittle, crack during filling, or release strong chemical odors. NOW® uses pure, pharmaceutical-grade bovine gelatin that stays supple, snaps shut with an audible click, and dissolves smoothly in warm digestive fluids without causing stomach heaviness or gas.
Ideal For Shoppers Who:
✓Need a larger capacity capsule that holds 700 mg to 900 mg so they can take fewer pills every day.
✓Want to encapsulate custom herbal blends, vitamins, or mineral salts without synthetic lubricants, binders, or artificial dyes.
✓Use manual capsule filling machines or capsule plates that require uniform, precision-locking shells.
Consider Another Option If:
✘You follow a strict vegetarian or vegan lifestyle (choose NOW Veg Capsules in "0" or "00" made from plant cellulose).
✘You plan to encapsulate water-based liquids or fresh juices (liquid water dissolves gelatin within minutes; only fill dry powders or thick oils right before swallowing).
✘You have difficulty swallowing larger pills (consider smaller Size "0", "1", or "3" capsules for smaller individual doses).
Every order is backed by VitaNet®, LLC's unconditional 100% money-back guarantee—even on opened bottles, with return shipping covered—so you can evaluate capsule quality and digestive comfort completely risk-free.
How Gelatin Capsules Work in Your Body
When you swallow a gelatin capsule, your body processes it through a simple, natural enzymatic pathway [1]. Gelatin is an edible protein derived from natural collagen [1]. The moment the capsule lands in your stomach, your warm internal body temperature (37°C / 98.6°F) and acidic gastric juices (hydrochloric acid, or HCl) go to work [2].
Rapid Gastric Dissolution (5 to 15 Minutes)
Unlike rock-hard compressed tablets that take 30 to 60 minutes to slowly break apart, two-piece gelatin shells absorb stomach moisture almost instantly [2]. The walls soften, separate, and dissolve within 5 to 15 minutes of reaching the stomach [3]. This rapid breakdown releases your loose powder so it can dissolve evenly across your digestive tract, promoting maximum nutrient availability [2, 4].
Natural Protein Digestion into Pure Amino Acids
After the capsule opens, gastric enzymes like pepsin break the gelatin protein down into harmless, basic amino acids—chiefly glycine, proline, and hydroxyproline [1, 4]. Because gelatin is completely biodegradable and digestible, the shell simply digests like everyday food, leaving zero synthetic plasticizers, synthetic polymers, or chemical residues to irritate your gut lining [3].
Scientific References:
Gullapalli, R. P., & Mazzitelli, C. L. (2017). Gelatin and non-gelatin capsule dosage forms. Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 106(6), 1453–1465.
Cole, E. T., et al. (2002). In vitro and in vivo pharmacokinetics of gelatin and HPMC capsules. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 17(1-2), 49–57.
Chiwele, I., Jones, B. E., & Fell, J. T. (2000). The problems with gelatin capsules. International Journal of Pharmaceutics, 203(1-2), 1–13.
Stegemann, S., et al. (2007). When poor bioavailability is not an issue: Gelatin capsules as efficient delivery systems. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 30(2), 129–136.
Daily Filling, Timing & Usage Protocol
Optimal Timing & How to Swallow Comfortably
Always swallow your filled capsules with a full 8-ounce glass of cool or room-temperature water. Adequate hydration allows the smooth gelatin shell to glide effortlessly down your esophagus without sticking [2]. If you are encapsulating fat-soluble nutrients (such as CoQ10, Curcumin, or Vitamin D3), take your capsules with a meal containing healthy fats (like olive oil, avocado, or eggs) to trigger bile release and optimize intestinal absorption.
Circadian & Split-Dosing Strategy
Because Size "00" capsules hold a generous 700 mg to 900 mg dose, you can easily divide your daily regimens between morning and evening. For example, energizing B-complex powders or adaptogenic herbs can be taken with breakfast, while calming minerals like magnesium glycinate can be taken with dinner to support evening relaxation. Splitting your intake maintains steady nutrient saturation in your bloodstream throughout the day.
Smart Synergies & Powder Rules
✓Ideal Powders: Excellent for raw botanical powders, mushroom extracts, amino acids, creatine, and pure vitamin or mineral crystals.
✘Avoid Liquid Water: Do not pre-fill gelatin capsules with water-based liquids or alcohol extracts, as moisture dissolves the gelatin walls within minutes.
✓Two-Hour Spacing Rule: When encapsulating high-dose minerals like zinc, iron, or calcium, take them at least 2 hours apart from prescription medications or polyphenol-heavy teas to avoid absorption competition.
Timeline of Expectations
Week 1: You will master your filling technique, whether using a handheld capsule machine or filling by hand. You will experience smooth swallowing with zero bitter taste from your powders.
Weeks 3–4: Your custom supplement regimen becomes second nature. You will notice immediate cost savings compared to buying expensive pre-packaged bottles from retail stores.
Months 2–3+: You enjoy complete independence over your health. You know exactly what purity and dosage goes into every single pill, free from unnecessary flow agents and fillers.
Physical Profile, Capsule Size & Pure Ingredients
Capsule Format & Swallowability
Size "00" is the standard workhorse capsule of the nutritional industry. It measures approximately 23.3 mm in length and 8.5 mm in external diameter. This size provides the ideal balance for consumers who want high-capacity filling (700 mg to 900 mg) without stepping up to the extra-large "000" size. When taken with a sip of water, the smooth gelatin surface becomes instantly slick, gliding down the throat effortlessly.
Aroma, Taste & Clarity
These capsules are 100% transparent, crystal-clear, and completely odorless. They contain zero flavorings, completely sealing off pungent botanicals (such as valerian root, garlic, or cayenne) so you never have to taste bitter powders. The clear walls allow you to visually inspect your fill density and powder uniformity at a glance.
Only Two Ingredients Demystified
1. Bovine Gelatin: Sourced strictly from certified BSE-free beef collagen. It provides the firm, clear shell structure that protects your powder and dissolves smoothly at body temperature.
2. Water (H2O): Purified water added during manufacturing to maintain ideal shell flexibility (13% to 16% moisture content) so capsules do not shatter when locked.
Storage & Shell Care
Gelatin naturally reacts to air moisture. Keep your capsules stored in their tightly sealed original container in a dry pantry between 59°F and 77°F (15°C to 25°C), with relative humidity maintained between 35% and 55%. Keep away from humid bathrooms, damp basements, and direct sunlight to prevent shells from sticking together or turning brittle.
Not manufactured with yeast, wheat, gluten, soy, corn, milk, egg, fish, shellfish, or tree nut ingredients. Produced in a GMP facility that processes other ingredients containing these allergens.
Big-box retailers and discount online marketplaces often source generic capsules from uninspected overseas suppliers that fail basic quality audits. Those discount capsules can carry hidden heavy metals, industrial solvents, or unmonitored animal scraps. NOW® sets an uncompromising standard for purity and consumer safety:
✓16,000+ Lab Tests Per Month: NOW conducts over 16,000 physical, chemical, and microbiological assays every month across its private analytical testing suites.
✓Parts-Per-Billion Heavy Metal Screening (ICP-MS): Utilizing Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, every batch is screened for lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury down to parts-per-billion (ppb) detection limits, strictly satisfying California Proposition 65 and USP safety ceilings.
✓Certified 100% BSE-Free Sourcing: All bovine material is certified completely free from Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy and sourced exclusively from healthy, inspected cattle herds.
✓Microbiological Pathogen Testing: Finished lots undergo full microbial plating to verify the complete absence of hazardous pathogens, including Salmonella, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and Staphylococcus aureus.
✓ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited & UL cGMP Certified: NOW testing suites maintain independent ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation, and manufacturing facilities are audited and certified for Current Good Manufacturing Practices by UL Solutions.
About VitaNet®, LLC — Trusted Nutritional Heritage Since 1995
VitaNet®, LLC is a family-owned discount vitamin and natural supplement curator founded in 1995. Drawing on more than 31 years of direct human biochemistry expertise and hands-on retail curation, we operate our physical storefront at 887 Edison Street Northwest in Hartville, Ohio 44632. As a Better Business Bureau A+ accredited company, we ship factory-fresh inventory received directly from authorized manufacturers like NOW®.
Every single order is backed by our unconditional 100% money-back guarantee. If you are ever unsatisfied for any reason, we will refund your purchase and pay for return shipping, even on opened bottles. Have questions about sizing or filling? Call our Ohio-based customer support team directly at (330) 877-8786.
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much powder fits inside a single Size "00" capsule?
A Size "00" capsule holds between 700 mg and 900 mg of most nutritional powders. The exact capacity depends on how dense or light your powder is. Light, fluffy botanicals (such as chamomile or passionflower) will hold around 700 mg, while heavy, dense mineral salts (such as calcium or magnesium carbonate) can pack up to 900 mg.
How does Size "00" compare to Size "0", "000", and Veggie capsules?
Size "00" is larger than Size "0" (which holds 400 mg to 600 mg) and smaller than Size "000" (which holds 1,000 mg or more). Gelatin capsules are made from natural bovine collagen and dissolve rapidly in warm stomach acid. Veggie capsules are made from plant-derived cellulose (hypromellose) to suit strict vegetarian diets, but they typically carry a slightly higher cost per capsule.
Can I fill these gelatin capsules with essential oils or liquids?
You can fill them with thick dietary carrier oils (such as olive oil or black seed oil) if you take the capsule immediately after filling. However, you should never fill them with water-based tinctures, fresh juices, or alcohol extracts, because liquid water softens and melts the gelatin shell within minutes.
Will taking these empty gelatin capsules break intermittent fasting?
No. An empty gelatin capsule contains less than 1 single calorie and tiny trace amounts of protein. This negligible amount will not trigger an insulin spike or break a metabolic fast. As long as the powder you put inside has zero calories (like pure electrolytes or unsweetened herbs), taking it will not interrupt your fasting state.
How does NOW test empty gelatin capsules for heavy metals and BSE?
NOW tests every production batch in its private, ISO/IEC 17025 accredited analytical laboratories. Using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), chemists screen for lead, arsenic, cadmium, and mercury down to parts-per-billion (ppb) levels to beat California Proposition 65 standards. Additionally, all gelatin is certified 100% BSE-free and sourced exclusively from monitored, healthy cattle herds.
