Signs
I'm exhausted
"I'm exhausted." If you're honest with yourself, you hear yourself saying that too often. Perhaps you've been running on half power for months without even realizing it?
"I'm exhausted." If you're honest with yourself, you hear yourself saying that too often. Perhaps you've been running on half power for months without even realizing it?
"I'm exhausted." And you don't know why. It’s very relatable; I said it myself. And I’m not talking about the fatigue from a busy week. Not the kind of tiredness that goes away after a good weekend. No. The other kind. The one that’s already there when you wake up. The one that sits beneath absolutely everything.
You eat mindfully. You sleep. You take your supplements. And yet, by three in the afternoon, you’re completely out of energy. You have to read your emails three times, and you find yourself canceling appointments.
I know that feeling of being "exhausted." I was literally sitting in a bus shelter because I just couldn't go any further. I threw my bike against a lamppost and took the bus. At first, I thought there was something wrong with the bike. The pedals were so heavy, as if something was stuck. That bike really needed to go to the repair shop.
Five hundred meters. A stone's throw, right?
I felt so ashamed sitting there. Who on earth waits for a bus to travel 500 meters?
That was the turning point. Because I soon realized: it wasn't the bike. Unfortunately. It was in perfect condition. It was me. Not the busyness. Not a bad day. Not my age.
I did everything right. Ate well. Slept well. Took supplements. I knew a lot. I did a lot. I certainly wasn't lacking in exercise. And yet, there I was in that bus shelter. I was exhausted.
Your kitchen cupboard is full of good intentions. B12, iron, a multivitamin for women, magnesium for the night, omega-3 from algae, vitamin D for the winter, that one vital C you saw on Instagram. You know which ones you take faithfully and which ones you forget. You also know which ones you bought "just in case" and never touched again.
In between, you scroll. Another expert. Another protocol. Another before-and-after. She looks radiant, says she has her life together, and that it’s all thanks to this one powder. Maybe you should try that? Or that morning routine? Or that one blood test you really should get done?
Honestly, you’re getting sick and tired of yourself.
Because how many times have you considered something new this year?
A protocol recommended somewhere. How many times have you thought, "This time, I’m really going to stick with it for six weeks." Not that it ever really changed anything. Because in the evening on the couch, you feel just as tired as before. And all you want to do is go to bed at 9 o'clock.
If you’re truly honest, the energy you had left drains away halfway through the day. Somewhere around three o'clock. Just when you still have hours to go.
And the doctor couldn't find anything. Your blood work was fine.
Women sometimes function for years on half power without realizing it. Especially if they are "strong"—they just keep going. And it happens so gradually that you get used to it. Used to less energy. To those concentration problems. To hair that’s thinning. To nails that break. To athletic performance that’s declining. To that dizziness when you stand up too quickly.
You compare yourself to yesterday. It was like this yesterday, too. So it must be normal, right? But try comparing yourself to three months ago. Or a year ago. Could you do more then than you can now? Was your head clearer? Did you walk up stairs without thinking about it?
Oncological surgeon Marjolein Smidt was a fanatical triathlete. For years, her athletic performance declined. Until she finally fainted. She turned out to have severe anemia, she told NRC. Looking back: "When I look back, this was probably going on for ten years. I lived on a low battery for years."
Ten years. Running on half power. And she thought it was normal!
She is no exception. In fact, researchers and doctors now state that this pattern affects a large proportion of women, often without them even realizing it. 20% of women experience symptoms. The symptoms are real, but they are rarely linked to what is actually going on.
Stress. A bad night's sleep. A busy period. Age. So they are dismissed. Not just by doctors, but primarily by women themselves.
A woman who spoke to her GP about her symptoms described it like this: "I noticed it isn't really taken seriously. Even when test results show a low value, it's quickly dismissed as 'good enough'."
There are a few things that are under pressure more often than you might think. Even if you eat healthily. Even if you take supplements.
Iron is not always absorbed well. Your body only absorbs 2 to 20 percent of plant-based iron, so you need to be more careful if you are vegetarian. Your body absorbs 15 to 35 percent of iron from meat. Grain products, which most of us eat daily, further inhibit this absorption. Anyone who is vegetarian and menstruates is at a structurally higher risk. And crucially, the symptoms begin long before a doctor gives it a name.
Read here what you should look out for if you have an iron deficiency.
Zinc is listed on paper as being in legumes and grains. In practice, certain substances in those products, known as phytates, bind the zinc before it can be absorbed.
Magnesium is found in leafy greens and nuts. However, its absorption depends on the quality of the soil in which those crops are grown. And that soil has become significantly depleted over the past few decades.
Selenium is almost absent in European plant-based foods, as the Health Council has also noted. They are currently conducting research. A structural plant-based source barely exists. Many people have a selenium deficiency, as Prof. Muskiet has already explained in detail. Why not listen to this podcast for a moment.
These are not minor issues. Food contains less. And what is in it is not absorbed as well.
This is perhaps the most overlooked point in the entire discussion surrounding fatigue and supplements. You can take all sorts of things. You can eat consciously. You might even eat well. You can do everything right, on paper. But if the pathway to the cell isn't functioning properly, the question remains: is it actually getting there? Simply adding more isn't always the answer. The question shifts.
From: what do I need to add? To: what does my body actually utilize? Only what actually reaches your cells, makes sense.
Why do I wake up tired after 8 hours of sleep?
Waking up tired after a full night's sleep is one of the most common complaints. And also one of the most underestimated. It is a signal that your body is not recovering as it should, not that you are getting too little sleep. Possible causes lie in mineral deficiencies that develop so gradually that you no longer notice them yourself. Don't compare yourself to yesterday, but to a year ago. That difference tells you more than your blood test results.
What should I do if I am very tired?
First: don't add anything immediately. Most people who are chronically tired have already tried everything. The question is not what else you can take, but whether what you are already taking is actually being absorbed. Start by measuring. Ask your GP for a measurement of both hemoglobin and ferritin, not just the Hb. Or first take the free Absorption Check via form.typeform.com/to/jbeydPHl to get an initial idea of where your potential leaks might be.
Brain fog: what can you do?
Brain fog—that feeling of mental cotton wool, being unable to think clearly, forgetting what you were just about to say—is rarely an isolated issue. It almost always goes hand in hand with other signals: fatigue, concentration problems, headaches. It is often dismissed as stress or lack of sleep. But it can also point to a deficiency that your body has been carrying around for a while. A fatigue test or absorption check can provide more clarity than you might expect.
I am tired, have headaches, and am forgetful. What could that be?
The combination of fatigue, headaches, and forgetfulness, sometimes accompanied by hair loss or concentration problems, is a pattern that many women recognize but rarely take seriously. Because each signal seems explainable on its own. Stress. A bad night's sleep. A busy period. But together, they tell a different story. This is precisely the pattern where it is worth looking beyond standard blood test results.
Do supplements help with concentration and fatigue?
Supplements can help, but only if they are actually absorbed. That sounds logical, but it is the stumbling block that most people skip. You can take B12, iron, or magnesium, but if the carrier that transports minerals to the cell is missing, it won't reach its destination. Concentration supplements only work if the foundation is right.
What is a fatigue test?
A fatigue test provides insight into where your fatigue might be coming from. Our free Absorption Check is not a medical diagnosis, but an initial orientation: in a few minutes, you will get an idea of how your absorption is doing and which minerals might be under pressure.
And read here what you should look out for when taking a combination of minerals.
Everything you want to know about SMPL72, enrollment, and how it works. Still have questions? We've got the answers.
This varies from person to person and depends primarily on your starting point. Fulvic acid supports the absorption and bioavailability of the minerals you already get through your diet or supplements. The faster your body responds to that improved availability, the sooner you will notice a difference. People with low mineral levels or higher requirements often experience changes sooner than those who are already well-nourished. Some users notice more clarity or a calmer energy level within a few days, while for others, it happens more gradually over a period of weeks. In SMPL72, the fulvic acid is naturally bound to 72 different minerals and trace elements. The most important thing is consistency: fulvic acid doesn't act as a quick stimulant, but as a daily absorption mechanism that builds its effect step by step.
People often get some minerals from various sources, but usually not enough. Furthermore, they are often poorly absorbed by the digestive system. It is important to realize that most supplements are synthetic, and in the case of minerals, they are essentially just rock. These contain large molecules that your body can barely absorb, if at all. We have previously written a blog post about the ins and outs of supplementation; feel free to check out our blog section. You might already be taking magnesium or zinc, but keep in mind that you are only taking one or two of the 60 minerals your body needs every day. When you think in terms of a complementary approach, you cannot simply pick one mineral out of the entire spectrum.
Fulvic acid is not an energy booster, nor is it a substance that provides an immediate effect on fatigue or concentration. What it does is something more fundamental: it supports the way your body absorbs and utilizes minerals. And that very point—the utilization of minerals—plays a bigger role for many people than they realize. Fatigue, "brain fog," and concentration issues often have multiple causes, but in orthomolecular practice, it is frequently observed that mineral metabolism and electrolyte balance are significant factors. Minerals are necessary for processes such as: - signal transmission in the nervous system - energy production in the mitochondria - oxygen transport - fluid balance in and around the cell - enzyme activity involved in focus, alertness, and metabolism If those minerals are insufficiently available at the cellular level, the body cannot perform these processes efficiently. Fulvic acid cannot solve that on its own, but it makes minerals chemically smaller, more soluble, and more accessible to the body. As a result, the minerals you ingest through food or supplements can be better utilized where they are needed. Many users experience a more stable energy level, greater clarity, or fewer fluctuations throughout the day. Not because fulvic acid provides a direct stimulant, but because minerals are able to do their job better. This is a fundamentally different mechanism than that of caffeine, stimulants, or "energy boosters." It remains important to emphasize: fulvic acid is not a treatment for fatigue or concentration issues. It merely supports the biological foundation upon which energy, clarity, and nerve function operate. What an individual notices from it naturally also depends on diet, hydration, lifestyle, and individual needs.
Fulvic acid has a very mild, almost neutral taste. Most people barely notice it when they add a few drops to a glass of water. Some describe it as having a very light mineral flavor, but you usually only notice it if you are really paying attention. SMPL72 is pure fulvic acid with no additives, which keeps the taste soft, clean, and subtle. You don't need to worry about a bitter, sharp, or "muddy" taste, which is common in impure or thick humic products.Most users find that it simply tastes like water with a very faint hint of minerality. This makes it easy to use every day, even for children or people who are sensitive to strong flavors. It is best to take SMPL fulvic acid in a glass of chlorine-free water. Fruit juice is also an option, but avoid hot drinks. It is very easy to use.
Add 7-10 drops daily to a glass of (chlorine-free) water (fruit juice is also an option, but avoid hot drinks). For children: 1 drop per 10 kg of body weight. Feel free to increase the dose during illness or intense physical exertion. For maximum absorption: take 30 minutes before a meal. For an energetic start to the day: take in the morning on an empty stomach. For recovery: take immediately after sports or physical exertion. SMPL72 is a powerful detox, so be sure to drink plenty of water. If you are pregnant or taking medication, build up the dose gradually and monitor how your body reacts. When in doubt, consult your doctor or midwife.
