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Health & Beauty -
All in Your Hands
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Nail
Problems Your nails protect the nerves concentrated in the
fingertip and toes. Nails are part of the outer layer of skin and are made
of a protein called keratin. Healthy nails are pink which indicates a good
blood supply. Changes or or abnormalities in your finger or toe
nails likely indicate nutritional deficiencies and may also indicate a
more serious health problem (see below).
Nutrient
/ Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful
notes |
vitamin
B complex |
7 |
Low vitamin B intake results in fragile and
brittle nails. |
Essential fatty acids |
9 |
Aid in the health of skin and
nails. They also help to relieve many inflammation problems that occur
around the nails. Fatty acids are found in omega fatty acids from fish
oil, flax seed oil, and borage seed oil. The fatty acids work well with
the amino acid called L-methione. |
Multi-vitamin
and
Mineral supplement |
10 |
contains vitamin D, calcium,
vitamin B , vitamin A, magnesium, and zinc which all are helpful for
people with nail and skin health problems. The supplemental nutrients are
also required for general good health and well being. |
vitamin
A |
9 |
deficiency in vitamin A can causes dryness
and brittle nail. Vitamin A also helps the body process protein.
Problems processing protein may cause hangnails and other skin related
problems. |
Carotenoids |
9 |
work with vitamin A |
vitamin
C |
9 |
a lack of vitamin C can cause hang nails |
Bioflavonoids |
9 |
work with vitamin C |
vitamin
D |
9 |
enhances calcium absorption in the body and
the mineral calcium is needed to prevent brittle and dry nails. |
Horsetail |
8 |
this herb helps the body use calcium
properly and it is good for the flexibility of the fingernails and
toenails. |
Ginkgo biloba |
8 |
herb that helps with circulation problems
and is also good for brain and memory function |
Calcium |
8 |
needed for proper healthy nail growth. Note
a good calcium supplement may also contain magnesium and boron. Coral
calcium is good as it is easily absorbed. (see Calcium Coverage below) |
Zinc |
8 |
this mineral helps with absorption of both
minerals and enzymes. It has been shown that not getting enough zinc
may cause white spots on the finger or toe nails. |
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NAIL PROBLEMS - DIAGNOSING
Changes or problems with your
finger or toe nails can be a warning of many different health problems or
disease. Often, nail changes will occur before other symptoms start. The
following table give some help in checking your nail health.
GOOD SUPPLEMENTS TO TRY
NAIL CONDITION |
HEALTH PROBLEMS |
Black, splinter
like bits under the nails |
may
indicate infectious endocarditis, a serious heart infection, other
cardiovascular or
heart disease,
or a bleeding disorder.
|
Brittle nails |
may indicate a
thyroid
problems, impaired kidney function, and/or circulation problems.
Brittle, soft, shiny nails without a moon may indicate an overactive
thyroid known as hyperthyroidism. |
Bumps on Nails |
Person may have
rheumatoid
arthritis |
Dark nails
(thin, flat, spoon-shaped nails) |
normally indicate a
vitamin B12 deficiency or anemia.
Nails can also turn gray or dark if the hands are placed in chemicals such
as cleaning supplies (like bleach) or something you are allergic to. |
Deep blue nail
beds |
indicate possible
pulmonary health problem such as
asthma or
emphysema. |
Downward curving
nail ends |
may denote heart,
liver, or lung / respiratory problems. |
Flat nails |
can indicate person
has Raynaud's disease |
Greenish nails |
normally a fungal
infection, can also indicate an internal bacterial infection. |
Half-white nail with
dark spots at the tip points |
person may have
kidney
disease |
Nails that break
easy (chip, peel, crack) |
indicate a poor
nutrition, insufficient hydrochloric acid, and protein in the diet. As
well as deficiency in minerals. |
Nails raised at
the base, with small, white ends |
may indicate a
respiratory disorder like emphysema or bronchitis. This type of nail
problem can be inherited as well. |
Pitted
Red-brownish spots and split ends |
indicate
psoriasis
and the person probably needs vitamin C, folic acid, and protein. |
Red skin around
the cuticles |
can be indicate poor
metabolism of essential fatty acids or may indicate the person has Lupus. |
Vertical ridges
on nails |
indicate poor
general health, poor nutrient absorption, and the ridges may also indicate
a kidney disorder. |
Horizontal ridges
on nails |
can indicate severe
stress (both psychological or physical). Person is also more vulnerable to
arthritis. |
Thick nails |
indicate that the
person's cardiovascular system is weakening and the blood is not
circulating good. May also indicate thyroid disease. |
White nails |
indicate possible
liver disease or kidney disease, anemia. If the white nails have
pink near the tips then
cirrhosis
of the liver may be indicated. |
Yellow nails |
indicate internal
health problems such as: lymphatic system, respiratory disorders,
diabetes,
and liver disease. |
OTHER CHANGES TO MAKE
- drink steam distilled water (6-8 glasses a day)
- avoid drinking alcohol
- avoid saturated fats and fried foods they stress the liver
- eat high fiber diet (brown rice and millet are good)
- make sure to get vitamin A, C, and E
- reduced sugar, candy, etc...
- avoid caffeine, hydrogenated oils, fried foods, meat, soft drinks
- reduce dairy products in your diet
- fasting a few days a month
- for healthy nails make sure you are getting enough protein
- keep nails shorter
- do not cut your cuticles
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