The digestive systems of all creatures who have them are meant to digest and absorb macronutrients. There are exactly 3 macronutrients: protein, carbohydrates and lipids (fats and oils). These are what fuels your body and are measured in kilocalories. Micronutrients, vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, etc., are incidentals. They get absorbed only because they are released when the macros get digested and absorbed alongside them. Macronutrient requirements are pretty fairly consistent across the animal kingdom, but micronutrient requirements vary widely depending on “natural” diet.

Thus, if you eat real food, ie, homemade biology-based food, arranged in a traditional cultural diet, and stay away from industrial processed food, you get all the micronutrients you need. If you do supplement your diet with pills, you must take them WITH food. Otherwise, the pill sits in you stomach unnoticed until you do eat. Remember, you stomach is waiting for MACRO NOT MICROnutrients.

Protein supplements are good but you can overdo it. If your urine is frothy, well, that’s where you $40 went — literally down the pot. Excess protein is eliminated by the kidneys and it’s very hard on them. It makes the urine foamy. Taking a protein supplement with or near a high protein meal is not just a waste of money, but it’s unhealthy and can cause kidney failure if you do it repeatedly, just like sugar supplements, AKA soda, sweets etc., are unhealthy if you overdo them.