Fatigue & low energy: where to start.
Tired on waking, the 2pm crash, running on caffeine. Energy is a systems problem — blood sugar, sleep, thyroid, iron, mitochondria — and the order you check them matters.
Three steps, in order.
When the crash hits tells you where to look: after lunch (blood sugar), all afternoon (sleep, thyroid, iron), all day (labs first).
Review the thyroid and nutrient test lists, including Free T3, ferritin, vitamin B12 and vitamin D, to discuss with your doctor.
Review the test lists →Read these first.
From The Dr. Axe Show.
Watch more episodes →Heal Your Cells: The Mitochondrial Longevity Protocol
Heal Your Cells: The Mitochondrial Longevity Protocol
Heal Your Cells: The Mitochondrial Longevity Protocol
Open the protocolVitamin Advisor
Energy as a goal in; the seven supplements most worth considering out, with test-first markers.
Open the toolStraight answers.
Why am I exhausted by 2pm every day?
Blood-sugar swings after lunch, poor sleep quality and mitochondrial stress are the usual three. Protein at breakfast, a walk after lunch and magnesium at night change most afternoons within a week.
Why is my ferritin low if my iron is normal?
Serum iron swings with meals; ferritin is the store. Low ferritin with normal iron is early depletion — find the cause (intake, absorption, loss) and replete gently.
Is adrenal fatigue real?
The adrenal glands rarely fail, but the cortisol rhythm absolutely can — flat mornings, wired nights. Test the rhythm, not one morning cortisol.