Fingernails & Nutrition

You can tell a lot about your health by simply looking at your unpolished nails. Fingernails show us signs of health deficiencies and physical problems. If you notice any of the below fingernail signs, schedule an appointment with your doctor immediately. We offer the following to be informative and do not wish it to be used for self-diagnosis.

 

Have you ever wondered why we have nails on our fingers and toes? Fingernails protect the nerves inside our fingertips, while toenails protect the toes from injury. Nails are made up of a protein called keratin and are part of the skin layer.  In addition to being fantastic protectors, nails are also tiny windows to the state of our health.

 

What Your Fingernails May Be Telling You…

 

Some of the most revealing signs that fingernails can show involve color. No, not your nail polish color, but the color of the fingernails themselves.

 

• Yellow Fingernails: If you notice that your nails have a yellowish tinge, this can be can early sign of an internal disorder such as liver problems, diabetes, or respiratory problems. Yellow nails may also be due to smoking tobacco or from applying nail polish directly onto the nail plate, without a protective base coat. (This is why we recommend speaking to your doctor so you can rule out health disorders or bad habits.)

 

• Green Fingernails: Often a sign of a simple illness, green fingernails can be a sign of stress, allergies, or infection.

 

• Blue Fingernail Beds: Bluish nail beds can be a sign of lung trouble, such as emphysema or even asthma.

 

• Light-Pink Fingernail Beds: A good sign to see because pink fingernail beds tell us we are getting a healthy supply of blood.

 

Another type of signpost our fingernails give us are lines running through the nail as well as tiny spots. Again, color plays a role in distinguishing certain health problems.

 

• White Lines: If you see white lines in or across your fingernail, this may be a sign of a lack of iron or zinc in your diet. White lines in fingernails also signify heart disease, kidney disorders, or fever.

 

• Dark Blue Lines: Much more ominous are dark blue lines in the fingernail because this may be a sign of skin cancer.

 

• Black Lines: Tiny black lines can indicate a heart problem.

 

• Reddish-Brown Spots: These little signs may be letting you know of a deficiency of folic acid, vitamin C, or protein.

 

• White Spots: A very common nail abnormality are white spots in nails. These little guys are likely a result of iron or zinc deficiency.

 

The texture of fingernails may also be telling us something about our general health status.

 

• Bumpy Fingernails: If you notice tiny undulations on your fingernails, this may be a sign that you are prone to developing arthritis.

 

• Vertical Ridges on Fingernails: A more vague sign, vertical ridges on fingernails may suggest a simple problem such as iron deficiency or poor absorption of vitamins and nutrients. But they may also suggest something more severe such as kidney trouble.

 

• Horizontal Ridges on Fingernails: This texture abnormality can indicate physical or mental stress.

 

The shape and condition of fingernails are some more windows into the state of one’s health.

 

• Nails that Curl Under: Usually curling under at the tips of fingernails, this can be a sign of heart problems or respiratory problems.

 

• Raised Nails at the Base: If your fingernails are raised at the base of the nailbed, this may suggest respiratory trouble.

 

• Wide, Square Fingernails: This fingernail shape can indicate a hormonal disorder.

 

• Flat & Thin Fingernails: This may be a sign of not enough vitamin B12.

 

Nutrition Can Transform Nails

 

In addition to being signs of possible health disorders, fingernails and toe nails tell us about our nutrition needs.

 

Protein Deficiency: Since nails are mainly made up of protein, they can immediately alert us to a lack of it in our diet. If you notice white bands across the fingernail bed, you may need to increase your protein. A protein rich diet may include lean meats, nuts, oats, yogurt, cheese, milk, soy products, seeds, and other grains.

 

Calcium Deficiency: Very important for healthy, strong nails, a lack calcium may be shown in fingernails by lose of strength (weak, flimsy nails) dryness, and brittle nails. You can increase your daily amount of calcium one or two ways – taking a daily supplement or eating daily products such as cheese, yogurt, and milk, or nondairy products such as almonds, spinach, broccoli, brussel sprouts, and tofu.

 

Vitamin B Deficiency: As mentioned above, a lack of vitamin B can be suggested by nail ridges. Vitamin B is needed for strengthening, while vitamin B12 also strengthens while promoting normal nail growth and healthy coloring. Besides taking vitamin supplements, you may also want to eat vitamin rich foods such as avocados, potatoes, liver, bananas, tuna, and legumes.

 

Vitamin C Deficiency: A frequent occurrence of hang nails and nail tissue swelling are indicators that you’re not getting enough vitamin C. Vitamin C can be found in many delicious foods such as strawberries, oranges and orange juice, lemons, grapefruit, peaches, mangos, nectarines, raspberries, peppers, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes, and green cabbage.

 

As you can see, nutrition literally plays an extremely important role in every function of our bodies, right down to the tips of our fingers and toes. The best way to assure yourself of healthy nails is to eat a well balanced diet.

 

If you’re noticing any symptoms or signs, please visit your doctor for a thorough examination. In the meantime, watch what you eat. You’ll not only have beautiful, strong fingernails and toe nails, but you’ll feel better and have more energy!