Why Am I Always Tired?
If you’re reading this, you’re likely running on caffeine, multitasking through stress, and wondering why you're still tired—even after 8 hours of sleep. You're not alone.
Fatigue is one of the top complaints among women today, and it goes far beyond needing a nap. The root causes are nutritional, hormonal, lifestyle-driven, and often misunderstood.
Let’s break it down.
1. It’s Not Just Burnout — It Could Be a Nutrient Deficiency
Your body is an engine. Without the right fuel (vitamins and minerals), your cells literally can’t produce energy.
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Iron: 1 in 4 women of reproductive age are iron deficient — and iron is essential for oxygen transport. Low iron = chronic tiredness, brain fog, and even hair loss.
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Vitamin B12 & Folate: Both are crucial for red blood cell production and nerve function. Vegans and women on birth control are more at risk.
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Magnesium: Needed in over 300 biochemical reactions, including energy metabolism. Low levels lead to weakness, anxiety, poor sleep.
💡 Tip: Ask your doctor for blood work that checks ferritin, B12, and vitamin D levels — not just “basic” labs.
2. Hormones: The Invisible Saboteur
Fatigue isn’t just physical — it’s hormonal. If your estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, or thyroid levels are out of balance, you’ll feel it.
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Low Thyroid (Hypothyroidism): Especially common in postpartum and perimenopause. Signs: tiredness, cold sensitivity, weight gain.
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Cortisol Dysregulation: Chronic stress elevates cortisol, then burns out your adrenal rhythm. You crash hard in the afternoons.
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Estrogen Dominance: Too much estrogen vs. progesterone leads to sluggishness, PMS, and mood swings.
💡 Solution: Track your cycle. If fatigue is cyclic, it’s likely hormonal. A functional medicine provider can test your thyroid panel, cortisol curve, and progesterone levels at the right time of the month.
3. Multivitamins Can Help — But Only If They're Built Right
Most generic multivitamins are:
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Full of synthetic fillers
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Missing crucial active forms (e.g. methylated B12 instead of cyanocobalamin)
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Under-dosed for women’s actual needs
What you want is a multivitamin that:
✅ Contains bioavailable forms
✅ Targets women’s hormonal rhythm
✅ Covers B-complex, iron (if needed), vitamin D, magnesium
4. Lifestyle Mistakes That Drain Your Energy
Even the best supplements won’t help if your lifestyle is working against you:
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Skipping protein at breakfast = blood sugar crashes
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Overexercising = cortisol imbalance
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Underhydrating = slower circulation, thicker blood
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Poor sleep hygiene = broken melatonin rhythm
💡 Simple fix:
Eat 20–30g of protein before 10 AM, hydrate early, and stop caffeine after 2 PM. These 3 alone can radically shift your energy in 7 days.
5. When to See a Specialist
If your fatigue:
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Has lasted more than 2 months
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Doesn’t improve with rest or supplements
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Comes with anxiety, dizziness, irregular cycles or palpitations
👉 You need to see a doctor. Ask for a full panel: thyroid, cortisol, ferritin, B12, vitamin D, and CRP.
Being tired all the time isn’t “just life.” It’s a sign something is off. And in most women, the cause is nutrient gaps, hormonal imbalances, or chronic stress — all fixable with the right approach.
Start with a targeted multivitamin made for your biology, not a one-size-fits-all. Layer in better sleep, protein, hydration, and stress resets. And listen to your body — it’s talking to you.