Three must-have minerals for more energy

You might count on coffee, tea, or (your dirty little secret) Diet Coke to put that morning pep in your step.

But if you’re regularly tired or exhausted, it could be that your thyroid, responsible for energy, is running on fumes. (Even if you—and your thyroid—are pretty healthy.)

And a shot of caffeine just can’t help with that.

Susan Blum, MD, a functional medicine physician (and a Dr. Oz Disease Detective) says three overlooked minerals are helpful to all women—not just those hitting the snooze button and using Starbucks to get through the day.

“Even within the normal range of healthy thyroid function, there is better and still better,” says Dr. Blum, who checks for low T3 hormone levels in her patients. (The T3 hormone is the “gas” hormone in your BMW of a body, which increases metabolism, energy, and heat in cells. When it’s low, it’s a cause of sluggishness and weight gain.)

“Minerals keep the thyroid functioning optimally, which is really good for energy,” explains Dr. Blum, adding that a multi-mineral is more important than a multi-vitamin in this case. —Melisse Gelula

So what minerals make up Dr. Blum’s tiredness-fighting trifecta? And which foods contain them (since that’s a direct source)?

Zinc (15 mg daily)What it does: Helps the thyroid work at the cellular levelWhere to get it: Tahini. Make a dressing for a salad or rice bowl with it.

Selenium (200 mcg)What it does: Essential to making the T3 hormoneWhere to get it: Brazil nuts are a great source. Sunflower seeds are a runner-up.

Iodine (150 mcg)What it does: It’s the foundation mineral that makes all the thyroid hormonesWhere to get it: Buy a table salt that contains iodine, shake kelp flakes over food, and make a point of eating seaweed salad.

What do you do besides a Starbucks run when you’re low on energy? Green juice? Work out? Tell us in the Comments, below!