The Different Types of Supplements

How to make sense of a world full of pills, powders and promises

Every time you walk into a health store, scroll Instagram, or open your fridge, you’re reminded of one thing: everyone seems to be taking something. A capsule for energy. A powder for sleep. A gummy for your gut. The supplement world is no longer niche. It’s mainstream.

But with popularity comes confusion. So let’s cut through the noise.

We’re breaking down the main categories of supplements, what they do, and how they’re different from pharmaceuticals. We’ll also look at the philosophies behind Western and Eastern approaches to health, because understanding why we take something is just as important as what we take.

1. Vitamins

The micro-essentials for your macro life

Vitamins are organic compounds your body can’t make on its own, but needs to function. Think of them as the oil in your engine: without them, things seize up. The usual suspects include:

• Vitamin D: Supports immunity, bones, and mood. Especially important if you live in cloudy places like the Netherlands or the UK. Harvard Health calls it “the sunshine vitamin with immune superpowers.”

• Biotin: Known for its role in healthy hair, skin ,and nails, but also crucial in converting food to energy.

• Multivitamins: Think of them as nutritional insurance. Not a replacement for real food, but a smart backup in a busy life.

Deficiencies are surprisingly common (even in the developed world). The WHO estimates that over 2 billion people worldwide suffer from micronutrient deficiencies.

2. Minerals

The unsung heroes of cellular performance

If vitamins are the oil, minerals are the nuts and bolts. These are inorganic elements your body uses for everything from nerve conduction to hormone production. Some to know:

• Calcium: More than just bones. It’s essential for muscle contraction and nerve signaling.

• Magnesium: A natural chill pill. It regulates over 300 biochemical reactions, from sleep quality to blood sugar levels. According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly 50% of people don’t get enough.

• Iron: Vital for oxygen transport. Low iron = low energy. Especially important for women, athletes, and plant-based eaters.

The iron-y? These are the most tested in bloodwork, yet still among the most under-consumed.

3. Botanicals & Herbs

Ancient roots. Modern relevance.

Plants have always played a role in how humans stay healthy. Long before pharmacies, we reached for roots, barks, berries and mushrooms. Today, we still do… only now with both tradition and clinical insight guiding us.

• Reishi (Ganoderma lucidum)
  Used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries as a tonic for longevity and vitality. In modern times, it’s been studied for its adaptogenic properties, helping the body adapt to stress.
  Approved on-hold EU health claims include:

  • – Supports the body’s defense mechanisms

  • – Promotes overall circulatory health and blood flow

  • – Helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels

  • – Aids immune balance and vascular function

• Lion’s Mane (Hericium erinaceus)
  Traditionally used in East Asian cultures as both food and folk remedy. Buddhist monks reportedly consumed it to support their meditation practice. While we can’t make direct claims, current studies focus on its potential effects on nerve growth factor (NGF) and cognitive resilience, making it one of the most exciting ingredients in the brain health space today.

• Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum)
  More than just a sweet spice. Cinnamon synergizes beautifully with Lion’s Mane — especially in our Focus Spray — both in function and flavor. On-hold EU claims for cinnamon include:

  • – Contributes to cognitive function, including memory and focus

  • – Supports mental clarity and neurological performance

  • – Promotes focus, memory, and overall brain performance

     

In this formula, Lion’s Mane supports the structure. Cinnamon supports the signal. The result? Sharper mornings, smoother rituals, and a spray that actually works with your body, not against it.

Lion’s Mane Focus Spray:

4. Botanical Compounds

Potent plant chemistry, concentrated for impact

Botanical compounds are the active constituents derived from plants. Think of them as the essence, targeted and highly bioavailable.

• Caffeine: A nootropic found in coffee and tea. Known to increase alertness and cognitive function. According to the EFSA, up to 400mg per day is considered safe for healthy adults.

• Curcumin: The bright yellow compound in turmeric, with powerful antioxidant and inflammation-modulating effects, especially when paired with piperine (from black pepper) to boost absorption.

5. Amino Acids

From stress recovery to muscle repair – these guys do it all

Amino acids are the building blocks of protein. Without them, you don’t rebuild tissue. You don’t regulate neurotransmitters. You don’t thrive.

• Tryptophan: A precursor to serotonin. It’s why turkey makes you sleepy, and why it’s linked to better mood and sleep. See PubMed.

• Glutamine: Critical for gut lining integrity. Especially important after illness, intense training, or stress. Used in hospitals to support recovery.

They’re not just for bodybuilders. They’re for everyone living in the real world.

6. Live Microbials (AKA Probiotics)

Your second brain starts in your gut

Probiotics are live bacteria that support your gut microbiome, the trillions of organisms that help digest food, produce neurotransmitters, and train your immune system.

Studies, like those published in Nature Reviews, show the microbiome’s connection to everything from anxiety to metabolism. Probiotics can:

• – Restore balance after antibiotics

• – Reduce IBS symptoms

• – Potentially support immune resilience

Your gut isn’t just part of your body. It’s part of your mind.

Shilajit: A Category of Its Own

Ancient resin. Botanical origin. Mineral power.

Some things don’t fit into tidy categories… and Shilajit is one of them.

Technically, it’s not a botanical. And it’s not just a compound. Shilajit is a mineral-rich resin, formed over centuries by the microbial breakdown of plant matter in high mountain rock layers. It’s dark, tar-like, and concentrated, almost like the Earth’s own extract.

Used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine as a Rasayana (rejuvenator), Shilajit supports core physiological functions. Not by stimulating, but by replenishing.

According to on-hold EU claims, Shilajit may:

• – Support mental and cognitive function

• – Enhance the feeling of strength

• – Have a rejuvenating effect

   

It’s part mineral, part organic acid, and fully unique.

At Human Pro, we offer high-potency Shilajit resin standardized to 82%+ fulvic acid – no fillers, no fluff. Just the raw power of a rare substance, used for millennia to restore what’s been depleted.

Shilajit doesn’t fit in a box.

It doesn’t need to.

It fits into your day, your focus, your recovery… and that’s what counts.

Shilajit Resin:

Functional Supplements vs. Pharma

Prevention > Cure

Pharma has a role. No question. But it usually enters when the system’s already broken… antibiotics, antidepressants, statins. Pharmaceuticals intervene. Functional supplements support.

Where pharma targets a symptom, functionals target the root cause, often upstream in the body’s natural processes. You’re not masking the problem. You’re helping the body do what it’s built to do.

As Dr. Mark Hyman puts it: “Medicine should make you better. Functional medicine asks why you got sick in the first place.”

East vs. West: Two Philosophies of Health

Western medicine is brilliant at fixing trauma and disease. But it’s reactive. You get sick. You get treatment.

Eastern medicine (like Ayurveda or Traditional Chinese Medicine) is focused on harmony, balance, and flow. You nourish before things break down. You strengthen your constitution. You work with your body, not against it.

We believe the future lies somewhere in between.
Not choosing sides, but combining strengths.

What This Means For You

You don’t need to swallow 20 pills a day.
You don’t need to be perfect.
But you do need to know what your body is asking for.

Functional supplements aren’t a trend. They’re a modern expression of an ancient truth: wellness doesn’t start in the medicine cabinet. It starts in your day-to-day choices.

And sometimes, the right capsule (or resin) can make those choices easier.

Flow strong,

Gino Taselaar