November 2025 – Ask a Health Coach

You have questions, we have answers.

“My doctor says my labs are normal, but I still feel foggy and forgetful. Could something deeper be going on?”

It’s a question we hear often. Someone doing everything “right”—eating well, staying active, getting checkups—yet still feeling off. Their labs look fine, but their brain feels anything but clear.

In my work as a functional medicine health coach, I’ve learned that “normal” results don’t always mean optimal health. Subtle imbalances in blood sugar, hormones, or inflammation can quietly affect how the brain functions long before cognitive decline becomes noticeable.

One key area to explore is thyroid health. The thyroid plays a major role in brain energy and focus, yet many routine panels only measure TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone). If symptoms like fatigue, brain fog, or forgetfulness persist, it’s worth asking your doctor to order a full thyroid panel—including free T3, free T4, and thyroid antibodies. These markers can reveal sluggish conversion, nutrient insufficiencies, or early autoimmune activity that basic screening can miss.

The good news is that the brain is adaptable. When we restore balance—steadying blood sugar, improving sleep, supporting gut health, and nourishing the body with real food—the brain often responds.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s helping people understand what their unique brain needs to stay resilient and guiding them toward daily habits that protect cognitive health for the long term.

Small steps add up. Listening to your body—and asking for deeper answers—can help protect your future brain.

Amybeth Whissel is a National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach, health-supportive chef, and Certified Applied Functional Medicine Practitioner. She is a coach in Sharp Again’s group programs.

Have a question you would like to see answered in the newsletter? Email your question to healthcoach@sharpagain.org by the 15th of the month, and one of our coaches will answer it for you.