If your doctor has ever told you, “Your labs are normal” but you still feel exhausted, bloated, moody, or foggy, you already know the truth: “normal” doesn’t mean fine.

I see this over and over again with my clients. They are getting a "clean report" but feel awful.

Here's the disconnect. Conventional medicine is built to save lives in emergencies, but it misses the mark when it comes to chronic symptoms. That’s not because your doctor doesn’t care. It’s because the system itself was never designed to listen to symptoms, see the whole picture, or catch dysfunction before it becomes disease.

And that’s the frame for everything I’m about to share: your symptoms are signals, and they are part of a much bigger puzzle.

Why Conventional Advice Falls Short

At a recent appointment, I heard the same phrases so many midlife women hear:

-On weight gain: "Just eat less and move more.”

-On fatigue:" Your thyroid looks fine.”

-On mood swings: “Here’s an antidepressant.”

-On slightly elevated cholesterol: “Let’s put you on a statin.”

Sound familiar?

This advice isn’t malicious, it’s simply incomplete. Because when we zoom in on one piece of the puzzle and try to “patch it,” we miss the connections between stress, hormones, digestion, sleep, and even past trauma. And that’s why women walk away from appointments feeling frustrated and unheard.

My Story: Why This Matters

When I was 10, my dad had a heart attack. I watched him fight for his life, go through rehab, make changes and then slowly fall back into old patterns that ultimately led to his death from heart disease.

That shaped me in more ways than one.

Another things I recently heard at the doctor's office was to look at my parents, that was my destiny.

I am only 7 years away from the age that my dad had his heart attack. But, I know this doesn't have to be my story.

Genetics load the gun, but lifestyle pulls the trigger. I don't remember where I heard this but please listen to what's behind this concept.

You might be pre-disposed to a condition, due to your genetic code. But when you consider epigenetics: the factors that can influence the expression of genes, we have so much more power over our health story than you think.

This is why I do this work. Because midlife is the most powerful time to rewrite your health story.

Breaking Down the Myths

1.“Eat Less and Move More.”

Besides being infuriating if you have been doing "all the things," this advice ignores insulin resistance, a huge factor in midlife weight struggles. Eating less and exercising more often backfires by spiking cortisol and making the body hold onto weight.

Better approach: prioritize protein (especially at breakfast), strength train, walk after meals, and regulate stress and sleep. These build insulin sensitivity and shift the body out of survival mode.

2.“Your Thyroid Looks Fine.”

TSH, the marker that is tested most often for thyroid health, alone isn’t enough. You need a full panel, free T4, free T3, reverse T3, and antibodies, to see the whole thyroid picture. Anything less leaves women suffering without answers. TSH only tells us what's happening in the brain, not the gland itself. If you have symptoms like weight gain, unrelenting fatigue, cold hand/feet, depression, it's time to a closer look at your thyroid.

3.“Here’s an Antidepressant.”

Yes, antidepressants can be life-saving. But mood swings in midlife often stem from hormone shifts, blood sugar imbalances, thyroid changes, and stress. A whole-person approach works deeper. We must look at the whole story before we are suggesting a medication that can change biology. Remember, there IS a place for antidepressants, but please, let's make sure we aren't missing a deeper cause but only seeing ONE symptom in isolation,

4.“Take a Statin.”

Borderline cholesterol often leads to quick prescriptions. (And this is a much larger topic that needs more explanation.) Cholesterol is a building block for hormones. Sure, a diet that is high in trans fats and more can and likely will lead to heart disease but there is MORE to the story. We also much consider triglycerides. Rising triglycerides signal insulin resistance and cardiovascular risk. Lifestyle shifts here can be life-changing prevention. Let's start here.

Symptoms Are Signals

Fatigue. Brain fog. Hot flashes. Mood swings. Bloating.

These aren’t random, they’re signals from your body. But the conventional system isn’t designed to notice until dysfunction has advanced into disease.

Functional nutrition listens earlier. It asks: why is this happening? What’s the root cause beneath the symptom?

What Real Midlife Health Looks Like

Thriving in midlife isn’t about perfection. It’s about consistently supporting your body with the essentials like:

✔️ Strength and daily movement

✔️ Blood sugar balance

✔️ Stress and nervous system support

✔️ Nutrient-dense food

✔️ Hydration

✔️ Rest and recovery

✔️ Community and good relationships

These aren’t “extras.” They’re the foundation for long-term vitality.

You’re Not Broken And You’re Not Doomed

You don’t have to look at your parents and assume that’s your future. Epigenetics shows us that lifestyle influences how our genes express. This is your chance to change your trajectory.

You matter. Your health matters. And the choices you make today can keep you out of the nursing home, prevent major disease, and give you decades of energy, clarity, and freedom.

Take the Next Step

If you’ve felt brushed off or misunderstood, I created a resource just for you:

👉Get my free guide to lasting health here

This guide will help you:

- Understand what’s really going on in your body

- Ask better questions at your doctor’s office

- Begin addressing root causes not just symptoms

Because “normal labs” don’t mean you’re fine. You deserve real answers and relief.

Lots of love,

Rachel

If this is resonating with you, reach out. I am here to help. You can book a free consultation here.

About Rachel Carta, RN

As a Functional Nutrition Counselor & Life Coach, I help women who are tired of feeling off, have low energy, digestive issues, brain fog, and/or mood swings. You can wake up with energy. You can feel good again in your body. You can reconnect to the vibrant, grounded you. You don't have to do this alone. Let's talk.