From Vague Complaints to Real Solutions

Marianne, 52, sits across from me in my practice. She sighs. "I don't know what to do anymore," she says. "I just feel... empty."

She lists her complaints: gradual weight gain without clear reason. Stiff, painful joints. Digestion that no longer works smoothly — bloating after nearly every meal. Restless nights that leave her unrefreshed. Mood swings and a short fuse she doesn't recognize in herself.

Specialists have referred her around. Her blood values were "within normal range." Menopause was suggested as a possible cause. She was told to "take it easy," eat less, exercise more. But deep down, she feels something isn't right.

A Different Approach: Energy as the Foundation

Where many approaches focus on fighting symptoms, I look at the foundation: energy production in the body. Every process — from hormonal balance to digestion, from sleep quality to mood — depends on efficient energy conversion.

When the body is under pressure from a combination of stress, toxins, dietary patterns, and lifestyle choices, this system becomes disrupted. It starts subtly: worse sleep, more sugar cravings, slower recovery. But over time, we see a slowed metabolism, hormonal disruptions, and disturbed glucose metabolism.

Why Standard Approaches Don't Work

The standard advice? Eat less, exercise more. But this is short-sighted. The body interprets calorie restriction and excessive exercise as stress signals, causing it to slow down energy production even further. This is why so many women feel worse despite "living healthy."

A Personalized Approach

Instead of restriction and symptom management, we focus on supporting the body's energy economy — not that of an average person, but yours specifically. We are all unique, and what works for one person can backfire for another.

That's why it's crucial to start with personal measurements:

• Glucose metabolism — six key markers including fasting blood sugar, insulin, HOMA index, and more. This reveals how well the body uses energy from carbohydrates.
• Lipid metabolism — shows how the body adapts to changing energy sources and how fats are used for energy production.
• Thyroid function — we look beyond just TSH and T4. By measuring T3, T4/T3 ratio, RT3, body temperature and heart rate, we get a complete picture of whether the body is in an efficient energy mode or survival mode.

By combining this data, we get a clear picture of how someone's metabolism functions and where the bottlenecks are. Only when we understand this can we make effective adjustments:

• Nutrition that feeds your metabolism — tailored to what your body needs
• Regulating stress — not just mental stress, but physical stress from an unbalanced diet or excessive exercise
• Optimizing sleep through adequate nutrition and stable blood sugar
• Listening to your body — taking the first signals seriously

Health Starts with Personal Energy

Marianne isn't "lazy," "unhealthy," or "just getting older." Her body is calling for support, not further deprivation. Understanding energy production as the core of health changes not only how we look at complaints, but opens the door to real, lasting solutions.

We are all different, and there is no standard solution. The key is not to blindly follow generic dietary advice, but to understand what your body needs to function optimally. This starts with measurements, observations, and listening to your own signals.

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