A new report from the Global Wellness Summit lists several trends relevant to the supplement industry — including a renewed surge of interest in women’s health, a growing trend of women in sports and an emphasis on nervous system optimization.
The annual four-day Global Wellness Summit is an outgrowth of the Global Wellness Institute. The nonprofit organization, which was founded in 2006 in Florida, has its roots in the spa industry.
The latest summit report includes information on wellness trends grouped into several categories. Some of these align with the group’s focus on spa culture and the marketing of wellness-connected real estate. For example, a trend toward “longevity residences” involves integrating preventive medicine, advanced diagnostics, artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled health tracking and therapeutic interventions directly into the home environment. And a category called “Ready is the new well” predicts that spas and gyms will become resources — both as physical spaces and as psychological coping grounds — to help deal with everything from mental health to natural disasters.
Women’s health to the forefront
In terms of trends relevant to the natural products industry, the report postulates that 2026 will see an evolution of wellness for women.
“Research is mounting that women age fundamentally differently, that the ovary functions as ‘command central’ for women’s health and its decline dramatically accelerates systemic aging,” the group maintained.
“In 2026, longevity pivots to women’s healthspan, moving beyond managing menopause symptoms to addressing ovarian aging itself, with interventions tailored to women at every life stage,” the report detailed.
Some ingredients in the supplement space stand to benefit from this trend. Inositol (also referred to as myo-inositol or myoinositol) is a naturally occurring sugar alcohol that is often thought of as a B vitamin, although it is not considered an essential nutrient. It has been studied for a number of years in relation to polycystic ovararian syndrome (PCOS), which has been identified as the chief cause of reproductive failure among women.
More recent ingredient entrants in the PCOS research space have been various extracts of shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), one of the mainstay ayurvedic herbs that entered the mainstream market in a big way in 2025. Several companies launched shatavari ingredients at trade shows last year.
One of those was NXT-USA, with its branded Xeya Modern Shatavari extract. The company has studied the ingredient in connection with the relief of menopause symptoms as well as its ability to balance several “parameters” relevant to PCOS.
Women’s sports heating up fast
Another trend of interest to the industry is what the group sees as the growing prominence of women’s sports. The report postulated that 2026 will see a watershed moment in this arena.
“Women’s sports are reaching a long-awaited tipping point, evolving from chronic underinvestment to a booming global economy with cultural, commercial and social impact. Fueled by shifting attitudes toward women’s strength, mental health and athletic identity, female athletes are gaining visibility as competitors, founders, creators and marketing powerhouses,” the authors stated.
Supplement manufacturers are warming to the idea that the female active consumer segment is a significant growth opportunity. They are tuning into this trend to build trust with female consumers by offering products specifically formulated for them, rather than offerings derived from products that were originally targeted at men (the dreaded “shrink it and pink it” syndrome). SupplySide Supplement Journal has devoted an entire digital magazine to this trend.
Taking the stress out of stressful times
Another trend put forward in the wellness summit report is a move toward what the group referred to as “neurowellness.” It’s a response to stressful times, the group noted.
“The nervous system today is overwhelmed by nonstop digital stimulation, blurred work boundaries, artificial light, social media and global uncertainty — trapping many people in chronic low-grade fight-or-flight. This state contributes to poor sleep, anxiety, inflammation, hormonal imbalance, cognitive fog, weakened immunity and accelerated aging,” the report claimed.
The report mentioned how this trend is playing out in services that can be offered at wellness resorts, such as somatic practices.
However, a raft of ingredients in the supplement space can also tap into this trend. Psychobiotics, nootropics and traditional adaptogens are highlighted in a SupplySide Supplement Journal digital magazine on the subject, which is available for free download here.
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