Healthy Nails

Nail are composed of keratin - a type of protein - and minerals. Nails provide protection for your finger tips and are meant to be strong yet flexible, smooth and glossy. Nail health relies on sufficient supplies of protein, B vitamins, vitamin A, calcium, zinc, iodine and iron. When your body isn't receiving enough of these vital nutrients, or doesn't absorb or assimilate them properly, the deficiency may surface on your nails. Abnormal or unhealthy nails may also be the result of a local injury, a glandular deficiency such as hypo-thyroidism, or a deficiency of certain nutrients. Below is a list of nails problem and the probable solutions:

Darkened or Pale, thin lack-of-color nails. Probable cause: Anemia or iron deficiency.

Dry Nails that split or break easily. Probable cause: Lack of vitamin A, calcium, and protein. A protein deficiency can opaque white bands to appear on the nails or cause them to become dry, brittle, and very thin. Insufficient amounts of complete protein and/or vitamin A slow down the rate of nail growth (which is also affected by various drugs). A shortage of vitamin A or calcium in the diet may also cause dryness and brittleness.

Fragile Nails with horizontal or vertical ridges. Probable cause: Vitamin B deficiency. A lack of the B vitamin causes nail to become fragile, with horizontal or vertical ridges appearing. Horizontal ridges can also be a signal of a hormonal imbalance and sometimes appear during menstruation. Vertical ridges may signal anemia or iron deficiency or may results from aging or dryness.

Fungus Nails: Probable cause: Lack of friendly bacteria and/or too many antibiotics. A fungus infestation found underneath the nails can also be a sign of the insufficient intake of B vitamins. A intake of Acidophilus (a good bacteria) will help fight off bad bacteria. Artificial nails or damage nails commonly create fungus under the fingernails. A blend of two or more of the following essential oils applied to the nail  will also help with fungus. Tea tree, clove, eucalyptus, and/or niaouli.

Hang Nails: Probable cause: Frequent hang nails usually indicate an inadequate intake of vitamin C, folic acid, and protein.

White spots on the nails. Probable cause: iron and zinc deficiency. White spots on the nails can be cause by a zinc deficiency.

Any nail abnormality indicates that the diet is not adequate. A well-balanced diet supplying all essential nutrients is recommended for all around healthy nails.