Lost in translation: What’s your body really saying?
The other day, someone mentioned they weren’t sleeping well, and almost instantly, another voice chimed in: “You need magnesium.”
Now maybe they do. But maybe they don’t.
And that’s the point… we’ve stopped asking why.
We’ve created a knee-jerk wellness culture where symptoms are met with quick fixes.
- Can’t sleep? Magnesium.
- Low energy? B12.
- Feeling off? Must be your hormones – take something.
But what if, before reaching for a supplement, we just paused for a second and asked: Why is this happening?
What happens when you take something you don’t need?
Let’s go back to magnesium. Yes, it’s important, and yes, your body needs it. But did you also know your body naturally excretes any excess through urine?
That might sound harmless, and sometimes it is, but it also means you could be wasting time, money and energy chasing a fix that doesn’t address the root of the issue. Worse still, layering on the wrong things can throw the body even further out of balance.
None of this is to say supplements are bad, far from it. But they’re not always the magical fix. Especially when your body might just be trying to tell you something.
When your cravings are trying to help you
I recently went through a phase of craving Brazil nuts. Not just the odd nibble – I was demolishing them!
At first, I brushed it off. I knew they were good for you, full of healthy fats and minerals. But the sheer amount I was eating made me stop and think… this can’t be right. What’s really going on here?
So I started digging.
It turns out Brazil nuts are one of the richest natural sources of selenium, a mineral that plays a crucial role in thyroid function.
And when your thyroid is off, it can show up in all sorts of ways: fatigue, weight gain… even intense cravings.
Rather than going straight to the doctor for a prescription I knew I wouldn’t take, I had a conversation with a medical herbalist, Katherine Bellchambers at The Nottingam Herbalist. Katherine suggested a few natural supports, such as kelp and iodine, and I also continued researching on my own.
Eventually, I decided to try a selenium supplement for four weeks, just to see if it made a difference. If it helped, brilliant. If not, I’d stop.
And it did help.
The cravings disappeared. I could walk past the nut jar without a second glance. Where I used to feel like I needed them, suddenly I didn’t.
My body had what it was asking for.
Your body is always talking to you
Cravings. Restlessness. Low mood. Broken sleep.
They’re all little clues… if we choose to listen.
So, before you jump straight into fix-it mode, ask yourself:
- Why am I feeling this way?
- Could something be out of balance?
- Is there a natural way I could support myself?
Then, and only then, consider supplements and medication – once you’ve explored the basics
Food before pharmacy
Your body might not be asking for a supplement; it might just need a little more of the right food.
Need magnesium? Think leafy greens, nuts, seeds, beans, dairy, even dark chocolate (yes, really).
Looking for selenium? Just a couple of Brazil nuts a day can do the trick.
Iodine? You’ll find it in seaweed, eggs and dairy.
Sometimes it really is that simple.
Eat a little differently. Drink more water. Move your body. Get some fresh air.
It doesn’t have to be complicated.
Supplements aren’t meant to be forever
I don’t plan to take selenium long-term. My aim is to support my body until it finds its balance again, and then stop.
See what happens. Listen in. Adjust if needed.
Because that’s what true health really is. Not a pillbox of solutions, but an ongoing relationship with your own body. A quiet check-in. A gentle asking of why.
So the next time something feels off, whether it’s low energy, poor sleep, intense cravings or just a sense that something isn’t quite right, pause for a moment.
Before you reach for a supplement, ask:
- What is my body trying to tell me?
- Could this be a sign, not a problem?
- Is there a simpler, more natural way to respond?
Start there. Get curious. And trust that your body knows so much more than you think.
Ready to start listening to your body instead of silencing it?
I’ll help you understand what your body’s really asking for, so you can support your health naturally, without the overwhelm, the guesswork or the shelf full of supplements you don’t need.
