7 Common Root Causes of Chronic Fatigue in Women

If you’re feeling exhausted day after day — struggling to keep up with simple tasks, battling the afternoon crash, or waking up tired no matter how early you go to bed — you’re not alone, and you’re not meant to feel this way.

At Winnipeg Nutrition, we believe that you were created to thrive — not just get by. Fatigue is one of the top complaints we hear from women in our clinic, and while it’s often dismissed as “normal,” it’s actually a sign that something deeper is going on in the body.

Let’s explore 7 of the most common root causes of chronic fatigue that we see in women, especially during perimenopause and menopause.

You're Sleeping — But Not Optimally

Getting less than 7-8 hours of sleep per night simply isn’t enough, especially for women. The truth is, most women need 8–9 hours of high-quality, restorative sleep to truly feel energized.

But sleep is about more than just quantity — it’s also about quality. Factors like:

• Eating too close to bedtime

• Blood sugar imbalances

• Hormonal changes

• A dysregulated nervous system

• Gut imbalances

• Underlying conditions like sleep apnea

…can all prevent your body from entering deep, restorative sleep.

If you’ve been struggling with sleep, supplements like magnesium glycinate and melatonin may help. But to truly address the root cause, we recommend working with a holistic practitioner who can guide you through a personalized sleep protocol.

A Dysregulated Nervous System

You’ve heard it before: “Reduce your stress.” But what does that really mean?

It’s less about “managing stress” and more about supporting a regulated nervous system. When the body is stuck in a fight, flight, or freeze state, it prioritizes survival over restoration. This can disrupt your thyroid, adrenals, gut, reproductive system, and more — leading to long-term burnout and fatigue.

Nutrient Deficiencies

Even if you’re eating “healthy,” you may still be deficient in key nutrients needed for energy production.

Here are some common nutrients that may be low in women dealing with fatigue:

• Iron

• Vitamin B12

• Magnesium

• Vitamin D

• CoQ10

Pair that with a diet high in processed foods or low in protein, and it’s a recipe for low energy. Nutrient-dense, anti-inflammatory eating is a non-negotiable when it comes to reclaiming your energy. This is something we help our clients with every day in our clinic.

Blood Sugar Imbalances

Many women don’t realize that energy crashes, irritability, and headaches between meals can stem from unstable blood sugar.

When your blood sugar spikes and crashes throughout the day, it puts strain on your adrenals and contributes to low energy, mood swings, and even hormonal imbalance. Focusing on balanced meals with adequate protein, fiber, and healthy fats is key to regulating energy.

Hormonal Imbalances

During perimenopause and menopause, progesterone and estrogen levels shift, which can disrupt sleep, mood, and energy. Low progesterone in particular, along with cortisol dysregulation, is associated with anxiety, poor sleep, and feeling "tired but wired."

The good news? These hormone imbalances can be supported naturally through lifestyle, nutrition, and supplementation — and targeted hormone testing like the DUTCH test can show us exactly what’s happening in your body.

Gut Imbalances

Your gut is your second brain — and it’s deeply connected to your energy, mood, and immune function. Gut dysbiosis, leaky gut, or chronic infections (like parasites or candida) are common root causes of fatigue. If you’ve been dealing with bloating, constipation, or other digestive symptoms, your gut may be affecting your energy levels more than you think.

Hidden Sources of Inflammation

Even if you’ve cleaned up your diet, poor energy can persist if there are underlying sources of inflammation in the body — like toxin exposure, mold, heavy metals, or chronic infections.

These issues are often missed in conventional bloodwork, which is why we use comprehensive functional lab testing at our clinic to uncover the root causes of fatigue and burnout.

Chronic fatigue is not a life sentence — it’s a message from your body that it needs support.

If you’re ready to finally get to the bottom of it, send us an email to book a personalized consultation with one of our holistic nutritionists today. We’ll help you uncover what’s really going on — and guide you with practical, proven steps to get your energy back!

Asher Kleiber

Registered Holistic Nutritionist