Feeling Older Than You Are? - A Guide to Restoring Energy After 40

#lowenergy #fatigue #healthyaging #proaging #cellularhealth #mitochondria #agewell #restorgingenergy #lifestylecomesfirst #stressdetective

Feeling Exhausted Is Common, But It’s Not Normal!

Fatigue, brain fog, slow recovery from workouts, and feeling "older than your age" are symptoms I hear daily from women in their 40s and beyond. It may feel like your body is slowing down, but here’s the truth: just because something is common doesn’t mean it’s normal.

Underneath this low-energy feeling is often a deeper issue that goes far beyond "just being tired."

Mitochondria - the tiny engines inside your cells that produce energy - are often under strain from years of stress, toxin exposure, inflammation, hormone shifts, and even genetics. And it's not only your mitochondria: also your cell walls become more rigid and less responsive. But the good news is: there's a lot you can do to support these energy factories and feel like yourself again.

Your Mitochondria Do So Much More Than Make Energy

You may know mitochondria as your body’s energy producers (they make something called ATP), but they also help regulate hormones, manage detoxification, and keep your immune system balanced. When they’re not functioning properly, it can show up as:

• Persistent fatigue

• Trouble recovering after exercise

• Mood swings or brain fog

• Hormonal issues

Why Detox and Inflammation Matter for Energy

Toxins from mold, plastics, pesticides, and air pollution can damage mitochondria directly. Your liver normally helps eliminate these toxins, but if detox pathways are sluggish (which can happen with age, poor gut health, or genetic factors), your mitochondria end up working in a toxic environment. That’s like trying to run a race in a wild fire.

Some signs that your detox system might need support:

• You’re sensitive to smells or chemicals

• You get headaches or rashes easily

• You don’t tolerate alcohol or supplements well

• Your bowels are sluggish

Simple Detox Support That Makes a Difference

• Eat plenty of cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli, cabbage, arugula)

• Use digestive bitters before meals

• Take liposomal glutathione or NAC for antioxidant support

• Keep your bowels moving with fiber, water, and magnesium

• If you suspect mold or chemical exposure, consider binder supplements and drainage remedies

My Story: What Genetics Taught Me About Fatigue

I used to push through fatigue thinking it was just "normal busy woman" tiredness. But after years of bloating, skin issues, and worsening energy, I discovered that I carry a genetic deletion (GSTM1) that affects my liver detox pathways, and another (IL-1β) that makes me prone to inflammation. Combine that with mold exposure, and my body was in full burnout mode.

What I experienced: histamine intolerance, food sensitivities, anxiety, fatigue, sleep problems, muscle aches, and brain fog.

What helped: gentle detox support, eliminating mold exposure, focusing on gut health, and building back mitochondrial function slowly.

Methylation, B Vitamins, and Why More Isn’t Always Better

You might think taking B12 and folate will boost energy, but not everyone processes these nutrients the same way. Some people have trouble absorbing or using these vitamins due to gut issues or genetic variants like MTHFR. Taking too much can lead to overmethylation, which can actually make fatigue, anxiety, or insomnia worse.

Signs of overmethylation:

• Feeling wired but tired

• Anxiety or panic after B-complex supplements

• Headaches or irritability

• Insomnia

• Elevated histamine (allergy or digestive symptoms) - as methylation is needed to break it down, but paradoxically may worsen if overwhelmed)

So instead of loading up on high-dose vitamins, start slow, support digestion and absorption first, and work with a practitioner to assess what your body truly needs.

Why Iron Levels Can Look "Normal" But Still Leave You Tired

Your blood test might show normal or even high iron or B12 levels, but that doesn't always mean your cells are getting what they need. Iron must be absorbed and delivered into cells to help mitochondria make energy. If you have gut inflammation, low stomach acid, or take the wrong form of iron, you may still be functionally deficient.

And without iron? Your mitochondria can’t deliver oxygen to make ATP, so your body switches to a backup method (glycolysis), which creates less energy and stresses your blood sugar and adrenals.

Choosing the Right Supplement Form for Energy Support

Not all supplements are created equal. For better energy:

• Choose liposomal forms of glutathione, B-vitamins, and CoQ10

• Prefer liquid tinctures or liposomal delivery if you have gut or absorption issues

• Look for mitochondria-targeted formulas with PQQ, NAD+, acetyl-L-carnitine, or magnesium malate
  

Check out these formulas from Designs for Health and Quicksilver for instance. I personally prefer the liposomal products by Quicksilver they just seem to absorb better. I used both The One and the Glutathione in the beginning of the year to do a little reset for my mitochondria.

🧬 Feeling unsure what your body needs most right now?

Book a free 30-minute Clarity Call with me and let’s figure out what’s keeping your energy low - and how we can turn it around with the right steps in the right order.

[Request a free clarity call]

Lifestyle Still Comes First

Supplements are helpful, but you can’t out-supplement a lifestyle that drains your mitochondria. Here’s what I always recommend:

• Sunlight: Morning light regulates your body clock and improves energy

• Movement: Gentle exercise helps build more mitochondria

• Breathwork and Grounding: Supports oxygen flow and reduces stress

• Good Sleep: Rest is when mitochondria repair themselves

• Balanced Meals: Keeps blood sugar stable and energy steady - check out my Hormone Balance Cookbook for anti-inflammatory, blood sugar–supportive meals for real-life busy women (also available now on Amazon world-wide)

• Sauna & Cold Showers: Small stressors that boost resilience

In Summary: Your Energy Depends on the Little Things Inside Your Cells

If you’ve been feeling chronically tired, wired-but-tired, sensitive to supplements, or like your body is running out of fuel, it’s worth looking deeper. Your mitochondria might be asking for help.

Support your gut, reduce toxic exposures, eat nutrient-dense foods, and work gently with your body’s detox and antioxidant systems. A few strategic lifestyle changes and the right types of support can restore energy you didn’t think was possible.

You don’t have to accept low energy as part of getting older. Your cells can heal. You just have to create the right conditions for them to thrive.