Why You’re Tired, Irritable, and “Normal” Labs Say You’re Fine—What Mineral Imbalances Are Really Doing to Your Hormones
Episode 248 | Featuring Vanda Aubrey
Have you ever felt off—exhausted, short-fused, low-energy—and yet your doctor says, “Everything looks normal”? You’re not alone, and today’s guest Vanda is here to explain why that happens and what you can actually do about it.
If you joined us for Supermom Summer Camp (previously Supermom Summit), you might remember Vanda from her lightning-fast session on hormone health. But this time, we’re slowing down to go deeper into why so many women feel tired, moody, or “not themselves”… and how it might be tied to mineral deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, and not-so-helpful lab results that miss the bigger picture.
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Rather read? Check out the show notes and episode content right here!
Show Notes: Feeling Tired or Moody? It Might Be Mineral Imbalance
Hey, hey friend! Welcome to Episode #248 of The Secrets of Supermom Show!
Who is Vanda?
Vanda is a nurse and certified functional medicine practitioner, wife, and mom of four. Her passion for helping women reclaim their health started with her own post-birth control hormone journey—one filled with unanswered questions and “you’re fine” from traditional providers. Once she began to uncover what was really going on in her body (hello, mineral depletion!), she realized other women were struggling too.
Feeling Tired or Moody? It Might Be Mineral Imbalance
A key part of this conversation is understanding how common mineral deficiencies—like low magnesium or potassium—can lead to symptoms like:
- Constant fatigue even with sleep
- Mood swings and irritability
- PMS or cycle-related migraines
- Frequent illness
- Trouble sleeping or staying asleep
And here’s the kicker: these imbalances don’t show up on standard lab tests. That’s why so many women are told they’re fine when they absolutely don’t feel fine.
“Women are often dismissed when their labs are ‘within range.’ But feeling bad isn’t just in your head. Mineral depletion and hormone imbalance can look ‘normal’ on paper—but feel anything but.” — Vanda
What Are These “Big Four” Minerals?
Vanda walks us through what she calls the Big Four minerals essential for women’s hormonal health:
- Magnesium – critical for over 300 body processes, including sleep and stress
- Potassium – needed for cell function and thyroid hormone uptake
- Sodium – supports adrenal health and cortisol balance
- Calcium – helpful, but often too high when the others are too low
These minerals play an interconnected role in your hormonal system, your nervous system, and even how you handle your kid spilling cereal on the floor.
Sound familiar?
Why “Normal” Labs Might Be Lying to You
Even if your bloodwork looks great, mineral imbalances at the cellular level could be throwing off your hormones. That’s where functional testing comes in. Vanda uses two key tools in her practice:
- Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA): Measures mineral and heavy metal levels over time
- Dutch Test: Provides a detailed look at hormones, including estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol patterns
These tests can uncover things like poor thyroid hormone uptake, adrenal dysfunction, and hidden stress responses that standard labs just don’t catch.
How This Connects to Cycle Syncing (Episode 247)
In Episode 247 of the Secrets of Supermom Show, we explored the powerful strategy of cycle informing—using your menstrual cycle as a tool for productivity, energy management, and self-awareness.
Today’s episode builds on that conversation by showing how mineral balance and hormone health directly impact your cycle. If you’ve ever tried to sync your lifestyle to your cycle but still felt “off,” this deeper dive into mineral support may be the missing puzzle piece.
When your minerals are depleted, your cycle can be irregular, your PMS symptoms more intense, and your energy levels all over the place. Addressing these deficiencies first can make syncing with your cycle so much more effective.
What Can You Do Today?
Vanda offers a beautiful and realistic first step: add more fruits and vegetables to your plate.
“So many people are told what to remove. I want you to add something. Start by adding a fruit or vegetable to every meal.” — Vanda
Why? Because that’s where you get many of the minerals your body is craving. And if you want to take it a step further, Vanda recommends finding a trusted functional medicine practitioner who can run deeper tests and help you customize a plan.
Start Your Hormone Reboot
Want to go deeper with Vanda? She’s created a free 5-day Hormone Reboot Challenge, designed to help women start reconnecting with their energy, mood, and cycle—without the overwhelm.
👉 Grab the free Hormone Reboot Challenge here.
Connect with Wellness with Vanda
📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wellness.with.vanda
🎙️ Podcast: The Wellness with Vanda Podcast
🌐 Website: https://www.wellnesswithvanda.com/
About Our Guest: Vanda Aubrey
Vanda is a Functional Medicine Nurse and Board Certified Nurse Coach who helps moms balance their hormones and overcome fatigue—so they can embrace motherhood with energy, confidence, and joy.
With over a decade of experience as a Registered Nurse and advanced training in functional medicine, Vanda brings a root-cause approach to hormone health that’s practical, personalized, and mom-friendly. She blends functional lab testing (like HTMA and DUTCH) with nervous system support, nutrition, and realistic lifestyle shifts that help her clients feel like themselves again—without restrictive protocols or overwhelm.
As a mom of four herself, Vanda deeply understands the mental load and constant demands modern mothers face. That’s why her coaching style is both compassionate and empowering. Her clients love her for making complex topics easy to understand and for helping them take consistent, meaningful action—even in the midst of busy family life.
Vanda’s signature approach focuses on building strong foundations through mineral replenishment, cycle support, and mindset tools that address burnout from the inside out. She offers both group and 1:1 support and is passionate about showing women they don’t have to choose between taking care of their families and feeling good in their bodies.
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About the Host: Lori Oberbroeckling
Lori Whitney Oberbroeckling is a mom of four, corporate leader, podcaster, productivity expert, and author of the book Secrets of Supermom: How Extraordinary Moms Succeed at Work and Home & How You Can Too!
She is passionate about helping parents who want fulfilling careers–or side hustles or passion projects–while also wanting to feel present and connected to their families.
