We had a great week at SupplySide Global, connecting with so many familiar faces
and meeting new ones along the way. It’s always energizing to spend time with our
customers and partners. The event was a reminder of how herbs and botanicals continue
to expand their influence across dietary supplements, functional foods, and natural
product formulations.
As global sourcing experts, we met with many of our long-standing suppliers while
building new relationships that will strengthen our global network. We also took
time to walk the floor, attend seminars, and explore the emerging trends shaping
the future of natural ingredients. Here are eight insights that caught our attention.
1. Metabolic Wellness, GLP-1 & Weight Management
Weight management continues to be top of mind for both consumers and formulators.
Botanicals that support metabolism, glucose balance, and satiety are seeing strong growth.
Key ingredients include:
These metabolism-supporting botanicals align with the growing interest in GLP-1
companion formulations.
2. Cognitive Health, Mental Wellbeing & Health-Span
Emotional wellness remains a leading consumer priority, with growing demand for
botanicals that support mood, focus, and stress balance.
Trending herbs include:
- Ashwagandha, Bacopa, Rhodiola, Eleuthero, and Lion’s Mane
- Adaptogenic mushrooms that target focus and longevity
These cognitive support herbs are increasingly featured in formulations that promote
mental clarity, stress resilience, and healthy aging.
3. Plant-based, Adaptogenic Mushrooms & Functional Snack Platforms
Plant-based ingredients and functional snacks are merging with herbal innovation.
Adaptogenic mushrooms such as cordyceps, reishi, and other medicinal mushrooms like lion’s mane
and oyster are being formulated into bars, beverages, and RTD functional drinks. These mushroom
ingredients pair perfectly with plant proteins and botanicals, allowing formulators to create
on-the-go functional foods that align with the wellness lifestyle.
4. Women’s Health & Life Stage Botanicals
Women’s health continues to inspire new product development, from fertility and hormonal
balance to perimenopause and
menopause support.
Key herbs include:
- Shatavari Root
- Maca Root
- Chaste Tree (Vitex)
- Dong Quai
- Evening Primrose
These traditional women’s health botanicals are now featured in blends for mood, sleep, and hormonal balance across all life stages.
5. Gut Health, Immune Support & Microbiome Balance
Gut health and immune support remain foundational trends. Consumers are turning to
botanical ingredients with prebiotic, antimicrobial, and microbiome-supportive properties.
Herbs with traditional use in this space include:
- Oregano, Elderberry, Astragalus, Echinacea, Licorice Root, and Ginger.
Botanical fibers and plant-based prebiotics continue to gain traction in immune and digestive support formulations.
6. Longevity, Healthy Aging & Botanical Actives
Not a new trend per se, but we always see innovation in both supplement and
beauty-from-within formulations centered on healthy aging, health-span, and cellular wellness.
Look for herbs targeting oxidative stress, telomere support, mitochondrial function,
and inflammation modulation.
Top botanical actives include:
- Resveratrol-rich plants, pterostilbene, ginkgo, grape seed, and
green tea.
7. Functional Foods, Beverages & Delivery Formats
At SupplySide, we saw continued innovation in
functional foods and drinks.
Herbs and botanicals are appearing beyond capsules—in gummies, powders, teas, RTDs, and
snack applications.
These formats allow brands to offer herbal wellness in accessible,
everyday products that connect with a wider audience.
8. Formulation Synergies & Multi-functional Blends
Today’s consumers are looking to “stack” benefits. Think mood + immune, protein + fiber, or focus + calm.
Botanical blends combining adaptogens, prebiotics, and functional herbs
deliver multi-benefit support. With in-house blending capabilities, Monterey Bay Herb Co.
helps formulators develop custom multi-functional herbal blends that align with market demand.
Looking Ahead
From metabolic wellness to longevity and adaptogenic mushrooms, these
trends highlight the continued growth and versatility of herbal ingredients in the global
health and wellness market. Whether you’re developing a new supplement line, functional
beverage, or botanical blend, Monterey Bay Herb Co. is your trusted source for bulk herbs,
botanicals, and custom blending solutions. Explore our full line of herbal ingredients.
Explore our full line of herbal ingredients.
