What are Your Nails Trying to Tell You About your Health?

I decided to search about "What are nails are trying to tell you about your health?" as I got inspired by Shereen during last week lesson. She asked about the white spots on her nails, and some said it was lacked of certain vitamins and others depicted as some otherwise! Haha! You should know what I mean.

According to the website http://www.houseofnutrition.com/nails.html that I have found, it says that a healthy nail should be pink color - due to the blood vessel below the nail.

What you can tell from your nails problems?
Pale, brittle nails, spoon-shaped or with ridges down the length may be due to nutritional deficiencies, such as calcium, zinc and iron and with too much selenium.

** Slow nail growth can result from general malnourishment.
** Thick, distorted or flaky fingernails may be due to a fungal overgrowth on the nail.

Nails and the connection to health deficiencies:
Biotin:
Brittle nails from a deficiency of biotin.

Zinc:
White spots on your nails are often due to a vitamin or mineral deficiency, particularly zinc.

Thyroid Gland:
Nails that are brittle and separate easily from your nail beds, along with dry skin, always feeling cold and hair that is brittle and falling out could indicate that you have a problem with your thyroid gland.

Liver:
Whitish hue at base of fingernails suggests that you may have liver trouble.

Oxygen:
Bluish nails indicates that you aren't getting enough oxygen.

What you can do about nail problems?
Your nails are a reflection of your general health so it is important to work on improving your health. The first place to start is to remove as many toxins from your body as you can. The build up of toxins in your system will lead to many diseases including those of the circulatory, immune, digestive and liver and hormones. These will all contribute to poor nails.

Vitamin and mineral supplements:
Vitamin A is necessary for nail growth and to assist in the repair of the nail bed.

Vitamin B2 promotes healthy nails and is needed for the nails to be formed.

Vitamin C boosts overall health and is involved making the protein component of nails. Deficiencies of vitamin C are associated with deformed nails.

Biotin strengthens keratin (the protein from which nails are formed).

Calcium helps to make nails strong.

Iodine improves nail condition.

Iron deficiencies can cause nail to be brittle, pale and have ridges.

Magnesium is necessary for repair and maintenance of the nail bed and therefore nail health. It also helps calcium do its job.

Zinc is necessary for healing and is crucial for nail growth.

Garlic will help to improve the blood flow to the nail bed and this will improve the growth or nails. It will also assist in the fight against any infections, including fungal infections.

Aloe vera will help to cleanse and heal the digestive tract.

Eating certain foods will assist in improving your general health as well as the health of your nails. These foods include: salmon, mackerel and sardines, nuts and seeds, green leafy vegetables and fresh fruit, chicken and eggs, seaweed

You need to avoid the following:
animal fats which stimulate the production of free radicals which deplete your general health and this is reflected in your nails sugar or refined carbohydrates because fungi thrive on, processed foods, and fried greasy foods. Whenever possible, avoid drugs, alcohol, caffeine and oral contraceptives as they all place a strain on the liver!

If you smoke you need to quit. Smoking contributes to poorer overall health, including poor quality nails.

So ladies... Take good care of your nails!
And I am sure most of us want our nails to look good for Chinese New Year besides doing manicure and pedicure! Anyway, wish everybody have a prosperous dragon year! =D