Supplements in pills and capsules are inferior to liquids, tinctures, powders, and teas when your goal is absorption, gentleness, and real-world effectiveness. Here's why, from a physiological (not marketing) standpoint.^*

Pills Must Survive a Harsh Digestive Gauntlet

A capsule has to:

• Disintegrate
• Dissolve
• Release its contents
• Compete with stomach acid, enzymes, and food

If any step fails, absorption drops or doesn't happen at all.

Liquids, powders, tinctures, and teas are already:

• Dissolved
• Bioavailable
• Ready for uptake

Less work for the body equal better results.

Capsules Often Rely on Compression, Fillers & Flow Agents

Most pills are made by compressing dry powders, which usually requires:

• Flow agents (silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate)
• Binders and coatings
• High-heat or high-pressure processing

These can:

• Slow dissolution
• Reduce bioavailability
• Irritate sensitive digestion

Liquids Bypass Part of Digestion Entirely

Tinctures and liquid extracts can absorb:

• Sublingually (under the tongue)
• Through mucosal membranes

This means:

• Faster onset
• Less degradation by stomach acid
• More predictable absorption

Pills must go through the gut which is often inflamed, stressed, or compromised.

Teas Work With the Body's Natural Rhythms

Herbal teas:

• Hydrate while delivering actives
• Support digestion, liver flow, bile release
• Signal the nervous system to slow down

Many botanicals were never meant to be swallowed dry. Traditionally, they were:

• Steeped
• Decoctioned
• Sipped slowly

This matters especially for adaptogens, bitters, and digestive herbs.

Dosage Reality: What's on the Label ≠ What You Absorb

A capsule may say 500 mg but that's input, not uptake.

Absorption depends on:

• Solubility
• Particle size
• Digestive strength
• Timing with food

Liquids and teas deliver:

• Smaller doses
• With higher effective absorption

Often less does more.

Nervous System Response Matters (and Pills Ignore It)

Swallowing pills is mechanical.

Drinking a tea or tincture:

• Activates taste receptors
• Signals digestion to begin
• Engages parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) pathways

This improves:

• Enzyme release
• Gut motility
• Overall assimilation

The body doesn't just absorb nutrients it responds to how they arrive.

For daily regulation, stress support, digestion, liver, herbs, and minerals? Liquids, tinctures, powders, and teas align far better with human physiology.

Pills ask the body to work harder. Liquids, tinctures, powders, and teas meet the body where it is.

The short answer is no - and that choice is intentional.

We don't sell products derived from animals, and we also don't believe that supplementing with collagen delivers the benefits people are promised.

When you consume collagen, your body doesn't absorb it as "collagen." It's broken down into individual amino acids, just like protein from any other source. There's no guarantee those amino acids are rebuilt into collagen, or directed to skin, joints, or hair.

Collagen isn't something the body absorbs whole. Its something the body builds. Our products support the minerals, digestion, vitamin cofactors, and internal balance required for natural collagen production.

We also don't subscribe to the collagen craze as it's currently marketed. Much of it is driven by trend and promotion rather than clear biological necessity.

More importantly, the body is designed to make its own collagen when it's properly supported. Collagen production depends on nutrients like vitamin C, minerals, and amino acids - along with healthy digestion and metabolism - not on ingesting collagen itself.

Our philosophy is simple: Support the systems that build collagen naturally, instead of trying to force it from the outside.

How the Body Makes Collagen (Quick Primer)

The body doesn't need collagen ingested.

It needs:

• Vitamin C
• Amino acids (glycine, proline, lysine)
• Minerals & cofactors
• Low inflammation + good digestion

HBN Products That Support Natural Collagen Production

Fulvic Minerals

Why it matters:

Collagen synthesis is enzyme-driven. Enzymes require minerals.

Fulvic minerals:

• Improve mineral transport and absorption
• Support trace minerals needed for connective tissue formation
• Support cellular communication and nutrient uptake

Think of this as the delivery system for collagen building blocks.

Ocean Vitality (Sea Vegetables)

Why it matters:

Sea vegetables provide naturally occurring:

• Silica
• Magnesium
• Trace minerals

Silica in particular is strongly associated with:

• Skin elasticity
• Hair and nail strength
• Connective tissue integrity

Digestive & Elimination Support (Tulsi Trim, Colon Support, Liver Support)

This is the part most collagen brands ignore.

Why it matters:

If digestion is impaired or elimination is sluggish:

• Amino acids aren't absorbed efficiently
• Nutrients are rerouted to stress response instead of tissue repair
• Inflammation breaks down collagen faster than it can be made

Your digestive and elimination products:

• Improve amino acid absorption
• Lower systemic stress
• Reduce inflammatory burden

Nova Nootropic Coffee (Indirect but Important)

Why it matters:

Chronic stress degrades collagen through cortisol-driven breakdown.

Nova supports:

• Calm focus
• Nervous system regulation
• Reduced stress signaling

Less stress = less collagen breakdown.^*