September 29, 2006, Newsletter Issue #13: Home Remedies For Your Nails, Part 2

Tip of the Week

Ever wonder how the state of your nails relates to your overall health? By looking at your nails, you can determine what vitamins and minerals your body is using, and what you're lacking. Here are some tips and common household items/groceries that will help produce a healthier nail, and a healthier body.
-If your nails are thin, peeling or showing white spots or ridges, you need more zinc in your diet. Zinc can be found in legumes, beans, mushrooms, and whole grains.

-If your nails are shaped like spoons, or look fluted, it's time to get some more iron in your diet. This can also mean a deficiency of Vitamin A in your diet. Time to incorporate more greens, carrots and melon into your diet, as well as iron-rich red meat.

-If your nails are brittle, this may be a sign that you need more biotin. Biotin is found in yeast mushrooms, grapefruit, watermelon, bananas, and strawberries. "Biotin is absorbed into the core of the nail, where it may encourage a better, thicker nail to grow," says Richard K. Scher, M.D., professor of dermatology and head of the Nail Section at Columbia University-Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City.

-Fragile nails and nails with ridges signal a lack of Vitamin B. Carrots, spinach, brown rice, melon, and walnuts are good, natural sources of Vitamin B that you can add to your diet.

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