Surprising to me. A single pill of zinc causes nausea in me on an empty stomach.

I seem to have a fairly strong stomach with respect to anything that doesn't squick me out.

Any chance you were suffering from an acute zinc defiency?

No, basically not. I've been supplementing zinc semi-regularly only because my hair tissue sample put my copper levels at somewhat elevated. Zinc helps with that.

Do you disagree with the hypothesis that food is better than supplements?

Until such time as someone provides a supplement with a sufficiently formula including both macro and micronutrients as well as sufficient filler to delay the digestion to desirable rates, yes. But then I suppose you would just call that "artificial food".

Potassium is probably the best example as a supplement that can be quite dangerous. Doctors will warn you in fear about taking 100% of the RDA of potassium via supplements without using an extended release pill, but would happily encourage you to drink 4 cans of coconut water.

There are certainly things that really do need to be diluted or, better, taken with food. Given how important potassium balance is in the regulation of cell membranes and whatnot it is not surprising that putting a whole bunch in one place (ie. a tablet) can kill cells! Even 4 cans of water with potassium added would be fine - even though it would probably taste vile.