(Why you may still feel exhausted even when eating well and exercising—and what your mitochondria may want you to know)

If you’re tired in a way that sleep doesn’t fix, coffee barely touches, and labs keep calling “normal,” this one’s for you.

Because while burnout, hormones, stress, and under-eating all get plenty of airtime, there’s a quieter conversation happening underneath your fatigue—one that rarely trends on Instagram but shows up constantly in clinical practice: heavy metals and mitochondrial dysfunction.

This isn’t about fear. It’s about understanding what drains energy at a cellular level—and how to support your body with safe, effective heavy metal detox without turning it into a full-time job.

Let’s talk about why energy issues are so stubborn, how heavy metals fit into the picture, and what actually helps with heavy metal detox (and what’s just expensive nonsense).

This post contains affiliate links meaning I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you for supporting the work of Lisa Smith Wellness and the Pretty Well Podcast!

Energy Isn’t Just About Calories or Sleep

We’ve been taught to think of energy like a battery: Eat more → sleep more → rest harder → feel better.

Except… many people do all of that and still feel flat.

That’s because energy doesn’t start with food or sleep. It starts inside your cells—specifically, your mitochondria.

Mitochondria: The Real Power Players

Mitochondria are often called the “powerhouses” of the cell, which sounds impressive but vague. Here’s what they actually do:

They take nutrients from food (carbs, fats, proteins) and convert them into ATP—the fuel that powers everything from:

• Brain function
• Hormone signaling
• Muscle contraction
• Detox pathways
• Even your ability to feel motivated

If mitochondria are struggling, everything feels harder.

And here’s the part people miss: mitochondria are extremely sensitive to nutrient deficiencies and toxic exposures.

What Mitochondria Need to Function Well

Healthy mitochondria rely on a steady supply of micronutrients, including:

• Magnesium
• Zinc
• B vitamins
• Iron (in the right form and amount)
• Boron
• Selenium

When these nutrients are low—or when something interferes with how mitochondria use them—ATP production drops. Translation: massive energy drop, fatigue, brain fog, poor exercise tolerance, and that wired-but-tired feeling.

Now let’s talk about what interferes.

Heavy Metals: The Energy Thieves Nobody Warned You About

Heavy metals don’t need to be dramatic or acute to cause problems. You don’t have to live near a factory or have mercury poisoning for them to matter.

Low-level, chronic exposure is enough to:

• Disrupt mitochondrial enzymes
• Block nutrient transport into cells
• Increase oxidative stress
• Slow down detox pathways

In other words: they make energy production inefficient.

And unfortunately, modern life makes exposure pretty hard to avoid. This is why safe heavy metal detox strategies matter more than ever.

The Big Players (and Why They Matter)

Aluminum

Often brushed off as “harmless,” aluminum can interfere with enzymes that shuttle nutrients into mitochondria. It’s commonly found in:

• Antiperspirants
• Cosmetics
• Foil and food packaging
• Canned foods
• Some medications and vaccines

Aluminum doesn’t belong in the body—and it’s especially disruptive to brain and energy metabolism.

Mercury

Mercury is a known mitochondrial toxin. It binds tightly to sulfur-containing compounds, which are everywhere in mitochondrial enzymes.

Common sources include:

• Certain fish (avoid species highest in mercury: Shark, Swordfish, King Mackerel, Tilefish (Gulf of Mexico), Marlin, Orange Roughy, and Tuna)
• Dental amalgams
• Environmental pollution

Even low levels can contribute to fatigue, mood changes, and cognitive sluggishness in susceptible individuals.

Lead

Lead interferes with mitochondrial respiration directly—meaning ATP production slows down at the source.

Exposure can come from:

• Old pipes and plumbing
• Paint in older homes
• Soil contamination

This one is particularly relevant for people with unexplained fatigue plus neurological symptoms.

Arsenic

Often overlooked, arsenic can:

• Disrupt fat metabolism
• Interfere with insulin signaling
• Alter mitochondrial enzyme activity

Rice (especially non-organic or imported rice) is a common dietary source, which surprises a lot of very health-conscious people.

Why Heavy Metal Detox Is Necessary

Here’s the frustrating part: Heavy metals don’t exit politely.

They tend to:

• Accumulate in tissues
• Hide in organs (brain, liver, thyroid, ovaries)
• Increase inflammation
• Interfere with detox enzymes

Over time, this creates a vicious cycle: Lower energy → weaker detox → more accumulation → even lower energy

Which is why fatigue often feels progressive, not sudden—and why proper heavy metal detox is so important.

Symptoms That Can Be Linked to Heavy Metal Load

Not diagnostic—but worth paying attention to:

• Chronic fatigue
• Brain fog
• Headaches
• Mood swings
• Poor stress tolerance
• Exercise intolerance
• Digestive issues
• Hormonal weirdness that doesn’t follow a clear pattern

Also worth noting: heavy metals can feed certain pathogenic gut microbes, making dysbiosis harder to resolve.

Let’s Talk Heavy Metal Detox—Without the Drama

This is where things usually go off the rails.

Heavy metal detox doesn’t mean:

• Extreme cleanses
• Starving yourself
• Mega-dosing supplements
• Forcing “binders” without support

Your body already knows how to detox. The goal is support, not punishment.

Food-Based Heavy Metal Detox Support That Actually Makes Sense

Certain foods have been studied for their ability to bind or support the elimination of heavy metals—gently, over time.

Spirulina

A blue-green algae shown to help bind heavy metals, particularly mercury. It also supports antioxidant defenses, which mitochondria desperately need.

Barley Grass Juice Powder

Often paired with spirulina, barley grass may help mobilize metals from deeper tissues while supporting mineral balance.

Cilantro

Famous for its metal-binding properties—especially mercury. It helps mobilize metals, which is why it’s best used with supportive foods, not alone.

Atlantic Dulse

A standout because it can bind metals and escort them out of the body without redistributing them. That matters more than most people realize because mobilizing toxins always carries the risk of detoxification reactions and recycling of toxins (rather than eliminating them).

Wild Blueberries

Not for binding—but for repair. They support brain tissue, reduce oxidative stress, and help clean up the damage metals leave behind.

A Very Important Reality Check About Heavy Metal Detox

Food-based heavy metal detox support works best when:

• The bowel is moving regularly (your gut’s way of taking out the trash)
• Nutrient status is adequate
• Stress is not sky-high
• Liver and kidneys are supported

Otherwise, detox can feel like stirring up mud without a drain.

This is why random DIY heavy metal detox protocols pulled from the internet or influencers often backfire.

Practical Ways to Lower Ongoing Exposure

You don’t need to live in a bubble. Small changes add up:

• Choose organic when possible—especially for rice and grains
• Filter drinking water. I like Berkey Water Filters and Epic Brand
• Rotate fish choices
• Be thoughtful about cookware and food storage
• Upgrade personal care products gradually

This isn’t perfection. It’s strategy.

So… Will Heavy Metal Detox Fix Your Energy?

Not overnight. And not by itself.

But for many people, safe heavy metal detox that reduces heavy metal load:

• Improves mitochondrial efficiency
• Lowers background inflammation
• Makes nutrients work better
• Helps energy finally feel sustainable

It’s often the missing piece—not the whole puzzle. The most important first step is identifying sources and reducing ongoing exposure.

Final Thoughts

If your fatigue has felt confusing, inconsistent, or resistant to the usual advice, it may not be a motivation problem—or even a hormone problem.

It may be an efficiency problem.

And sometimes, restoring energy isn’t about adding more—it’s about removing what never belonged there in the first place through gentle, sustainable heavy metal detox.

Want to Go Deeper?

If this kind of biology-meets-real-life conversation lights you up, you’ll love the Pretty Well Podcast, where we talk through these topics with nuance, evidence, and zero wellness drama.

And if you’re ready to rebuild energy, hormones, and mental clarity in a way that actually fits your life, Brains & Beauty is my six-week signature course designed to help you work with your body instead of fighting it—no extremes, no gimmicks, and no sudoku-level protocols included.

Because feeling good shouldn’t be complicated. It should actually make your life easier.