Lately, I’ve been opening space in my practice specifically for people who are struggling with deep, persistent exhaustion — the kind that sleep doesn’t fix and willpower can’t override.
Many of the clients I’m seeing have been told the same thing at some point:
“Your iron is low.”
“Your ferritin is borderline.”
“You need more iron.”
Iron is essential for energy — but here’s the part that often gets missed:
Energy isn’t just about how much iron you have. It’s about how your body is able to use it.
And for many people, fatigue isn’t coming from iron deficiency at all.
What if the issue isn’t iron — but mineral imbalance?
Iron doesn’t work in isolation. It must be:
• absorbed properly
• transported safely through the blood
• recycled efficiently inside the mitochondria (your energy factories)
When those systems aren’t supported, iron can stop helping energy and start contributing to oxidative stress, inflammation, and fatigue.
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When “healthy” foods quietly work against you
Another pattern I’m seeing more and more is dietary interference.
Some people are eating foods that are technically rich in minerals and “healthy” — yet still feel exhausted. Why?
Because certain foods contain anti-nutrients (like phytates and oxalates) that can block mineral absorption for people who don’t break them down well.
For example:
• raw spinach
• chia seeds
• almond milk
• nuts, seeds, legumes, and whole grains
On paper, a smoothie with handfuls of raw spinach,chia seeds, almond milk, and berries looks incredibly nourishing — and for many people, it is.
But for others, especially those with gut stress,mineral depletion, or chronic inflammation, these foods can quietly contribute to pain, fatigue, and brain fog.
I’m currently working with clients whose exhaustion and joint pain improved significantly once we identified high oxalate intake as a hidden piece of the puzzle.
Sometimes the very foods we eat to feel better are the ones holding us back.
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The mineral most people aren’t talking about: copper
Another missing conversation in fatigue is copper.
Modern soils — and therefore our food supply — are increasingly depleted of this essential mineral. Yet copper plays a key role in:
• moving iron safely through the bloodstream
• supporting mitochondrial energy
• protecting tissues from iron-driven oxidative stress
Without adequate bioavailable copper (and the right form and amount of bioavailable magnesium), iron can accumulate instead of being used to create energy.
This perspective has been deeply influenced by the work of Morley Robbins, author of Cure Your Fatigue,whose research explores how mineral imbalance — not simple deficiency — drives chronic fatigue and chronic disease.
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A more hopeful way to look at exhaustion
Here’s the good news":
The body has an incredible capacity to heal and restore energy when it’s given the right mineral support.
Fatigue is not a personal failure.
It’s not a motivation problem.
And it’s not something you have to “push through.”
It’s feedback letting you know there is something(s) out of balance in your biochemistry.
If this resonates…
If you’re feeling depleted, foggy, or frustrated that your labs don’t match how you feel, I’d love to support you.
In a consult, we explore:
• your fatigue patterns
• your diet and supplement history
• hidden mineral blockers
• what your body needs to rebuild energy sustainably
Book an energy restoration consultation today!
Your body isn’t broken — it’s communicating. The key is to figure out what itis telling you and that’s where I can help!
Yours in health &vitality,
Amy
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