Maybe you have heard that “our eyes are the window to the soul “, but, apparently, nails are the door to the body.
According to many professionals, as well as the Canadian nutritionist, Lisa Petty, our nails suffer the most when our body is not treated properly. Additionally, supplements we consume enter the body, are distributed in it, the hair, skin, and only then go to the nails.
Thus, the conditions of the nails are a great indicator of the internal issues in the body. They may show signs of thyroid issues, anemia, and nutritional deficiency.
The nail bed id creates since the nail is made of keratin protein, and toenails and fingernails touch the skin and the fingers and thus protect them.
They are shaped by nerves, lymph vessels, veins, and nerves. Genetics determines their shape, but the quality of the nails is the same in all people. They are usually not fragile, translucent, and smooth.
Yet, if the nails are not properly supplied with nutrients, they become stained, and hard. These issues can be treated with the use of proper diet, vitamins, and supplements.
Nails often indicate other health issues in the body, and these are the 7 most common nail conditions which show that you suffer from a more complicated internal problem:
1. White spots
Cause: nail injury and insufficient zinc levels
Solution: You should take 50 milligrams of zinc daily, which is found in pumpkin seeds, red meat, and peas
2. Soft nails
Cause: iron deficiency
Solution: In this case, your doctor should suggest the intake of iron-rich foods, as well as 325 milligrams of iron sulfate, three times daily.
3. Yellow nails
Cause: too long use of nail polish, which has devoid nails of air/ lack of vitamin E
Solution: 400mg of vitamin E should be taken twice a day, and you can also benefit a lot from the consumption of almonds, hazelnuts, wheat germ, sweet potatoes, peanuts, and other foods rich in vitamin E.
4. Brittle nails
Cause: lack or iron and vitamin B, dehydration
Solution: One-third of all people have brittle nails. Therefore, it is advisable to take a milligram of Biotin ultra, twice or three times a day for half a year. In the case of pregnancy, consult your doctor before you start taking Biotin. You will also benefit from the intake of gelatin, calcium, and colloid minerals supplements.
5. Ridges or horizontal dents
Cause: This may be a sign of more serious health conditions, like trauma, nutritional deficiency, psoriasis, high fever from undergoing surgery. Moreover, the lack of essential nutrients leads to discoloration, changes in the shape, and brittle nails. Ridge is also a result of trauma, such as injury of the front nail part, or cuticle.
Solution: You should take 55 grams of protein daily, and vitamin A up to 10,000 IU. Moreover, you can take 3 milligrams of diet silicon daily to strengthen your nails.
6. Fungus
Cause: Usually, if the nails have been exposed to high dampness and warmth, microorganisms develop and thicken the nail. One part of the nail is broken away from the nail bed, leading to yellowish, greenish, or messy nails.
Solutions: You should soak your nails in anti-bacterial immaculate tea oil several times daily until you treat the fungus issue. Moreover, you can take 200 milligrams of myrrh or some other herb with potent antifungal properties, 3 times a day.
7. Vertical ridge
Cause: vertical ridges are commonly a result of malnutrition, while horizontal ridges are caused by mineral and vitamin deficiency
Solution: You should polish the nails using few chamois buffer and almond oil, but not more than 3-4 times a week, as you may damage the nail layers.
Sometimes, severe nail issues may often lead to fatigue, so you should consult your doctor about a proper treatment as they may indicate more complicated health diseases as follows:
– upward/bending nails (thyroid infection),
– fragile nails (hyperthyroidism/hypo),
– blue nail bed (blood flow issue),
– yellow nails (chronic bronchitis),
– red nail bed (coronary illness),
– white nail bed (liver infection)
