10 Signs of Mineral Deficiency Women Ignore (And How HTMA Reveals Them)

by Dr. Lauren Davis, DO, IFMCP

You're tired all the time. Your hair is thinning. You're more anxious than you used to be. Your nails break easily. You've chalked it up to stress, aging, or "just being busy."

But what if these aren't just the inevitable consequences of modern motherhood or getting older?

What if your body has been trying to tell you something, and you've been dismissing the signals?

Mineral deficiencies are incredibly common, especially in women. Yet most of us have been conditioned to ignore the symptoms, normalize them, or blame ourselves for not trying hard enough.

The truth is, your symptoms aren't random.

They're your body's way of saying: "I'm running on empty."

Here are 10 signs of mineral deficiency that women routinely ignore, and how Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis (HTMA) finally reveals what's really going on.

1. Crushing Fatigue That Sleep Doesn't Fix

What you're experiencing:
You're exhausted despite sleeping 7-8 hours. You wake up tired. You need coffee just to function. By 2 pm, you're counting the hours until you can collapse into bed, only to lie there unable to sleep because you're simultaneously exhausted and wired.

What you've been told:
"You're just stressed." "This is normal for moms." "You need to exercise more."

What's really happening:
Chronic fatigue is one of the hallmark signs of mineral depletion. Many people attribute it to cortisol dysfunction or nervous system stress; however, upon closer examination, we find that mineral imbalances drive this dysfunction, particularly magnesium, iron, potassium, and B vitamins (which require minerals as cofactors).

Your cells literally cannot produce energy without adequate minerals. And unlike some vitamins, it can not make them. You have to get them from your diet. And our foods? They're not nutrient-rich like they used to be. Compared to just fifty years ago, the mineral content in our food is down a whopping 30%.

HTMA then allows us a clear picture of what your body needs now.

How HTMA reveals it:

• Low sodium/potassium ratio indicates adrenal exhaustion

• Low magnesium impacts ATP (cellular energy) production

• High calcium can slow metabolism and reduce energy

• Toxic metals like mercury interfere with mitochondrial function

2. Hair Loss or Thinning Hair

What you're experiencing:
You're finding clumps of hair in the shower. Your ponytail feels thinner. You can see more scalp than you used to. Hair loss started after pregnancy, during periods of stress, or seemingly out of nowhere.

What you've been told:
"It's postpartum shedding." "It's genetic." "Your thyroid labs are normal."

What's really happening:
Hair growth requires adequate zinc, iron, selenium, silica, and protein. Copper excess (common postpartum) can also contribute to hair loss. Even if your blood work shows "normal" ferritin or thyroid levels, your cells might not have what they need.

How HTMA reveals it:

• Low zinc is directly linked to hair loss

• High copper relative to zinc disrupts hair growth cycles

• Low selenium affects thyroid function at the cellular level

• Heavy metals like mercury and lead displace minerals needed for hair growth

• Calcium shells (high calcium pattern) reduce cellular activity, including hair growth

3. Anxiety, Irritability, and Mood Swings

What you're experiencing:
You feel on edge. Small things set you off. You're snapping at your partner or kids more than usual. Anxiety shows up as racing thoughts, difficulty relaxing, or physical tension. You might have been prescribed an SSRI or told "it's just hormones."

What you've been told:
"You need therapy." "Try meditation." "It's postpartum." "It's perimenopause."

What's really happening:
Mineral imbalances directly impact neurotransmitter production and nervous system function. Magnesium deficiency alone affects GABA (your calming neurotransmitter). Copper excess drives anxiety. Low potassium affects nervous system regulation.

How HTMA reveals it:

• High copper (especially with low zinc) causes anxiety and racing thoughts

• Low magnesium = inability to calm the nervous system

• High calcium/low magnesium = tension, rigidity, overthinking

• Fast oxidizer pattern = anxiety, hyperactivity, restlessness

• Heavy metals like mercury affect neurotransmitter function

4. Brain Fog and Poor Concentration

What you're experiencing:
You walk into a room and forget why you're there. Names escape you. You read the same paragraph three times. Simple decisions feel overwhelming. You used to be sharp—now you feel like you're thinking through mud.

What you've been told:
"Mom brain is real!" "You're probably just overwhelmed." "It's normal with age."

What's really happening:
Your brain uses 20% of your body's energy and minerals despite being only 2% of your body weight. Iron, zinc, magnesium, and B vitamins are essential for cognitive function. Toxic metals like lead and aluminum directly impair brain function.

How HTMA reveals it:

• Low iron affects oxygen delivery to the brain

• Zinc deficiency impairs memory and cognitive processing

• Magnesium deficiency affects neuroplasticity and learning

• Toxic metals (lead, aluminum, mercury) accumulate in brain tissue

• Copper toxicity can cause spaciness and difficulty concentrating

5. Muscle Cramps, Spasms, or Restless Legs

What you're experiencing:
Charlie horses wake you up at night. Your eyelid twitches. You have restless legs that won't let you fall asleep. Muscle tension that won't release no matter how much you stretch.

What you've been told:
"Stay hydrated." "You need more electrolytes." "Take a magnesium supplement."

What's really happening:
Muscle function requires a precise balance of calcium, magnesium, potassium, and sodium. When these minerals are out of balance—which supplementing without testing can actually worsen—muscles can't relax properly.

How HTMA reveals it:

• Low magnesium is the classic cause of muscle cramps

• High calcium relative to magnesium = inability to relax muscles

• Low potassium affects muscle nerve signals

• Sodium/potassium imbalance affects muscle contraction and relaxation

• Mercury and lead can interfere with nerve-muscle communication

  Custom HTML/CSS/JAVASCRIPT

6. Brittle Nails, Ridges, or White Spots

What you're experiencing:
Your nails peel in layers. They have vertical ridges. White spots appear frequently. They break easily despite using nail hardener.

What you've been told:
"Use a better nail polish." "It's just aging." "Maybe you need biotin."

What's really happening:
Nails are made of keratin and require zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium, and silica for healthy growth. White spots specifically indicate zinc deficiency. Ridges can indicate mineral imbalances or malabsorption.

How HTMA reveals it:

• Low zinc = white spots on nails

• Low iron = spoon-shaped or ridged nails

• Calcium/magnesium imbalance = brittle nails

• Low silica affects keratin formation

• Poor copper/zinc ratio affects connective tissue quality

7. Difficulty Losing Weight (or Unexplained Weight Gain)

What you're experiencing:
You're eating well and exercising, but the scale won't budge. Or maybe weight crept on gradually, and no amount of calorie restriction helps. Your metabolism feels broken.

What you've been told:
"Eat less, move more." "It's your thyroid" (but your TSH is normal). "It's just getting older."

What's really happening:
Your mineral balance and thyroid function determines metabolic rate at the cellular level—not just TSH. Slow oxidizers have inherently slower metabolism. Iodine, selenium, zinc, and iron are all required for thyroid hormone production and conversion.

How HTMA reveals it:

• Slow oxidizer pattern = slower metabolic rate

• High calcium/potassium ratio = reduced thyroid function at cellular level

• Low iodine or selenium = impaired thyroid hormone production

• Copper toxicity = hypothyroid symptoms despite normal TSH

• Heavy metals interfere with metabolism

8. Insomnia or Difficulty Staying Asleep

What you're experiencing:
You're exhausted but can't fall asleep. Or you fall asleep fine but wake up at 2-3am with racing thoughts. You wake up frequently throughout the night. Sleep feels unrefreshing.

What you've been told:
"Practice sleep hygiene." "Don't look at screens." "Try melatonin."

What's really happening:
Sleep requires proper nervous system regulation, which depends on mineral balance. Magnesium is required for GABA production. Calcium/magnesium balance affects nervous system calming. Cortisol rhythms (shown on HTMA through sodium/potassium) affect sleep-wake cycles.

How HTMA reveals it:

• Low magnesium = difficulty initiating sleep

• High calcium/low magnesium = can't calm nervous system

• Fast oxidizer pattern = wired and can't wind down

• Copper excess = racing thoughts at night

• Reversed sodium/potassium ratio = reversed cortisol rhythm (awake at night, tired during day)

9. Low Libido and Loss of Vitality

What you're experiencing:
You have zero interest in sex. You feel disconnected from your body. The spark is gone. You're going through the motions of life without joy or desire.

What you've been told:
"It's normal after kids." "You're stressed." "Your hormones are fine."

What's really happening:
Sex hormones require zinc, magnesium, and B vitamins as cofactors. The slow oxidizer pattern on HTMA correlates with low sex drive and reduced vitality. Copper excess can cause emotional flatness. Chronic stress depletes minerals needed for hormone production.

How HTMA reveals it:

• Low zinc affects testosterone and hormone production

• Copper excess causes emotional withdrawal

• Slow oxidizer pattern = low libido, reduced vitality

• High calcium "shell" = emotional numbness and disconnection

• Adrenal exhaustion (low sodium/potassium) = no energy for desire

10. Digestive Issues and Food Sensitivities

What you're experiencing:
Bloating after meals. Constipation or diarrhea (or alternating). Acid reflux. Sudden food sensitivities to things you used to tolerate fine. Your gut feels "off" but colonoscopy and endoscopy are normal.

What you've been told:
"It's IBS." "Try eliminating foods." "You're stressed."

What's really happening:
Digestion requires adequate stomach acid (which needs zinc), enzymes (which require minerals as cofactors), and intestinal motility (which requires magnesium). Low zinc reduces stomach acid. Low magnesium slows motility. Copper toxicity can cause nausea.

How HTMA reveals it:

• Low zinc = low stomach acid, poor protein digestion

• Low magnesium = constipation, slow motility

• Copper excess = nausea, digestive discomfort

• Heavy metals disrupt gut bacteria balance

• Sodium/potassium imbalance affects digestive enzyme production

Why These Symptoms Are So Easy to Ignore

We've been conditioned to normalize suffering:

"It's just part of being a mom."
"Everyone is tired."
"You're just getting older."
"Your labs are normal—you're fine."

But here's the truth: Common doesn't mean normal.

Just because 90% of women experience these symptoms doesn't mean they're inevitable. It means 90% of women are depleted, and no one is testing the right things.

Why Blood Work Misses Mineral Deficiencies

Standard blood tests measure what's circulating in your bloodstream right now. Your body tightly regulates blood levels to keep you alive, so even when you're severely depleted at the cellular level, blood work often looks "normal."

For example:

• Less than 1% of your body's magnesium is in your blood

• Blood ferritin can be "normal" while tissue iron is low

• Serum zinc doesn't reflect intracellular zinc status

• TSH can be "normal" while cellular thyroid function is impaired

This is why Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis is so powerful. It reveals what's happening in your tissues and cells over a 3-4 month period, not just what's in your blood today.

How HTMA Reveals What Blood Work Misses

HTMA testing shows:

✓ Long-term mineral storage patterns (not just today's snapshot)
✓ Mineral ratios that determine how well minerals function
✓ Metabolic type (fast or slow oxidizer)
✓ Stress adaptation patterns over time
✓ Heavy metal burden stored in tissues
✓ Cellular thyroid and adrenal function beyond blood markers
✓ Why you're experiencing specific symptoms

When you finally see your HTMA results, the pieces click into place:

"Oh. This makes sense."
"I'm not crazy. My body's been depleting."
"There's actually a roadmap."

What Happens After You Identify Mineral Deficiencies?

Getting tested is just the first step. Once you understand your specific pattern of depletion and imbalance, you receive:

Personalized supplementation protocol:
Not generic recommendations, but specific minerals in specific forms and doses for YOUR pattern.

Dietary modifications:
Foods to emphasize or minimize based on your metabolic type and deficiencies.

Lifestyle adjustments:
Stress management, sleep optimization, and detoxification support tailored to your needs.

Re-testing timeline:
HTMA every 3-6 months to track progress and adjust protocols.

This isn't about taking supplements forever. It's about correcting deficiencies, removing obstacles (like heavy metals), and restoring your body's natural capacity to maintain balance.

The Bottom Line

You don't have to live with crushing fatigue, hair loss, anxiety, brain fog, or any of the other symptoms you've been dismissing as "normal."

These are signals from your body—and they deserve to be listened to, not ignored.

Hair Tissue Mineral Analysis reveals what standard testing misses, explains why you feel the way you do, and provides a clear roadmap to restoration.

You're not failing. You're depleted.
And depletion has a solution.

Ready to understand what your body needs?

Book a Mineral Mapping Session to get your HTMA test kit, comprehensive analysis, and personalized roadmap to restoration.