What your nails say about your health!

How your nails look (i'm not talking about shellac here ladies) can actually be a great indicator of your overall health. If your nails do not have any ridges or blemishes, are strong, have a natural shine then this is a sign that your diet is in fact providing your body with the vitamins and nutrients it needs.

In contrast, if your nails are brittle, dry, have ridges and are weak then this can be a warning sign that your body is not getting the nutrients it needs from your diet!

What nutrients do my nails need?

Nails like hair and skin, are made up of keratin (a protein) however they also need the following vitamins and minerals:

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin A
• Vitamin E
• B Complex Vitamins
• Zinc
• Calcium
• Iodine
• Iron

The first step is making sure that we are ingesting enough of the above in our diets (preferably though natural sources although supplements are an alternative option).

On Occasion we may be eating enough of these nutrients however our body cannot absorb them, this can be as a result of illness, stress or perhaps the bodies inability to breakdown certain nutrients. This will also result in dry and brittle nails.

Side note: I actually has a Vitamin B12 deficiency when i was younger as my body was not able to absorb it through digested food. As a result I had monthly B12 injections. This is not an issue for me now thankfully :)

 

Working out which nutrients you are deficient in:

• Dry nails that break and or peal easily: This can be a sign of a deficiency in Biotin and also Vitamins C and D.

• Weak nails: When your nails are very weak it is a sign that the body is lacking in protein and B vitamins

• White moon shape at the base of the nail: This indicates that your body is lacking in B vitamins and/or Iron 

• Ridges on the nails: Could be a sign you are lacking in B vitamins and/or iron

• Hang Nails: This can be an indicator that you are not getting enough Vitamin C, folic acid and protein (cuticle oil can only go so far!)

It is also important to understand the dependencies between vitamins and nutrients, for example:

• Vitamin C helps the body to absorb iron
• Vitamin D  (active form) increases absorption of both calcium and magnesium and reduces excretion of calcium through the urine
• Vitamins A,D, E and K are Fat soluble vitamins and therefore need fat in order for them to be absorbed
• Vitamin A is needed for the body to  effectively process protein

 
Some reading:
 http://www.livestrong.com/article/195055-does-vitamin-c-increase-iron-absorption/
http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/improve-bodys-absorption-vitamins-2898.html
http://www.livestrong.com/article/22016-vitamins-needed-strong-nails/
http://www.poliquingroup.com/ArticlesMultimedia/Articles/Article/1133/Twelve_Amazing_Benefits_of_ProteinThe_Most_Importa.aspx