“Like Wading Through Molasses”: What Chronic Exhaustion Is Trying to Tell You
- Dig Nutrition
- Apr 7
- 4 min read
(Hint: It Might Not Be Burnout—It Might Be Your Mitochondria)
A few years ago, a client—let’s call her Sarah—came to me completely depleted. But it wasn’t your everyday tired. She described it like this: “It feels like I’m trying to walk through molasses. My limbs are heavy. I can barely think. If a tiger came at me, I honestly don’t think I could run.”
She was in her late 30s, balancing motherhood, a career, and all the invisible labor no one talks about. But what scared her most wasn’t just the exhaustion—it was how foreign she felt to herself. “I used to be the one who got everything done. Now, I’m rereading the same email five times and crying over nothing.”
Her labs? All “normal.” Thyroid, B12, iron—checked and cleared. But nothing about how she was feeling felt normal.
Eventually, we uncovered what the standard labs had missed: Sarah’s mitochondria—the microscopic engines inside her cells—were barely functioning. The real issue wasn’t just stress or over-scheduling. Her energy crisis was metabolic. Cellular. And fixable.
What Are Mitochondria, and Why Do They Matter?
Mitochondria are the battery packs inside your cells. They produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate)—the fuel that powers every function in your body: movement, memory, hormone production, detoxification, and more.
When your mitochondria are thriving, you feel it: focused, resilient, and lit up with sustainable energy. But when they’re not? Every system struggles, even if you can’t pinpoint why.
Subtle Signs Your Mitochondria Are Struggling
Most dysfunction starts subtly:
Exhaustion even after a full night’s sleep
Brain fog, forgetfulness, or trouble focusing
Heavy limbs, poor exercise recovery
Feeling “tired but wired” at night
Cold hands and feet, sluggish metabolism
Mood swings, low motivation, or increased anxiety
Sarah checked every box. But the key question was: what was draining her mitochondrial power in the first place?
What’s Sabotaging Your Energy Production?
Mitochondrial function doesn’t just fade with age—it’s disrupted by hidden stressors. The good news? These stressors are often reversible once identified.
Let’s look at five common culprits:
1. Blood Sugar Swings
Mitochondria crave steady fuel. Constant sugar spikes and crashes wear them down over time.
💡 Lab Clue: While the OAT doesn’t test glucose directly, it can reveal imbalances in energy metabolism—like elevated glycolytic markers or fatty acid oxidation issues—hinting at mitochondrial strain.
2. Gut Dysbiosis
An imbalanced gut microbiome produces toxic byproducts that place a burden on mitochondria and create systemic inflammation.
💡 Lab Clue: A high arabinose level on the OAT often points to yeast overgrowth—one of the most common energy thieves we see.
3. Environmental Toxins + Heavy Metals
Mold, pesticides, and heavy metals like mercury can block ATP production and damage mitochondrial membranes.
💡 Lab Clue: Certain organic acid markers reflect oxidative stress, mitochondrial overload, or impaired detox. When these appear, deeper testing for mold, metals, or environmental toxins may be warranted.
4. Sluggish Detox Pathways
Mitochondria produce waste like exhaust from a car. If your detox systems (liver, kidneys, lymph) are clogged, this waste builds up and backfires—damaging the very systems trying to keep you alive.
💡 Lab Clue: Elevated lactate or pyroglutamate on an OAT suggests mitochondrial dysfunction due to toxic burden or poor detox efficiency.
5. Missing Nutrients
Your mitochondria rely on key nutrients to run efficiently—especially B vitamins, CoQ10, magnesium, and L-carnitine.
💡 Lab Clue: The OAT can identify functional B-vitamin deficiencies, impaired carnitine transport, and other bottlenecks in mitochondrial energy production.
How to Support Your Mitochondria (Without Guesswork)
You don’t need 20 new supplements to feel better. You need the right ones based on your unique metabolic needs. But if you want to start with foundational support, these steps can go a long way:
✔ Balance Your Blood Sugar
Start your meals with protein and healthy fats
Limit refined carbs and sugary snacks
Consider adding berberine or ALA if blood sugar crashes are common
✔ Repair the Gut
Address bacterial or fungal overgrowths if present
Feed beneficial bacteria with fiber and polyphenol-rich foods (like berries, cacao, and green tea)
Use bitters or enzymes to enhance digestion and nutrient absorption
✔ Reduce Toxic Load
Filter drinking water
Ditch plastics and artificial fragrances
Try gentle binders (like activated charcoal or chlorella) if toxin load is high (be sure to drink plenty of water with these as some can be constipating)
✔ Open Up Detox Pathways
Use castor oil packs, dry brushing, or infrared saunas to support lymph flow
Eat cruciferous veggies (like broccoli or arugula) to boost liver detox
Stay hydrated—with electrolytes, not just plain water
✔ Fuel Your Mitochondria
CoQ10 or Ubiquinol – key for ATP production
Magnesium – supports over 300 biochemical reactions
B Vitamins – critical for every step of energy creation
L-Carnitine – shuttles fatty acids into mitochondria for energy
PQQ – stimulates mitochondrial growth and repair
Why the OAT Test Might be a Smart Starting Point
The Organic Acids Test is a non-invasive urine test that captures dozens of metabolic clues in one snapshot. Unlike standard labs, it shows you what’s happening at a cellular level—including:
How efficiently you’re making energy
Whether oxidative stress is depleting your system
Clues to gut dysbiosis, fungal overgrowth, and leaky gut
B vitamin utilization and mitochondrial bottlenecks
It’s not about chasing diagnoses—it’s about removing the blocks so your body can heal and thrive again.
Final Thoughts: Your Fatigue Is a Message, Not a Life Sentence
Feeling like you’ve lost your spark isn’t just a mindset problem—it’s often a metabolic one. If you're dragging through your days, feeling like you're stuck in molasses or living someone else's life, your body isn’t broken. It’s asking for support.
With the right testing, nutrition, and detox strategies, you can revive your energy from the inside out. Your mitochondria were built for resilience—and healing is possible.
Want to Know What’s Holding Your Energy Back?
Let’s get to the root of it. I offer strategy sessions to help you explore what’s driving your fatigue—and what to do next. Whether it’s optimizing diet, investigating gut issues, or running an Organic Acids Test to decode your energy blueprint, you don’t have to figure this out alone.
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