A results-oriented guide to nail he...

A results-oriented guide to nail health.

Our hands and feet take a haphazard of abuse, and, by "geographical" proximity, in such a manner do our nails. If you think about it, nails are actually designed to guard our delicate digits and plane enhance their functioning.

formed of hard proteins such as keratin, the nails form a protective sheath above the sensitive nerve-filled endings of fingers and toes, insulating them from trauma, or daily dings. Otherwise, accidentally stubbing a toe or jamming a finger could lead to more serious injury of this sensitive tissue, aside from smarting a haphazard more.

Nails also enable us to pick up small butt; goals (with our fingers, anyway). And, without fingernails, in what way would you tame an itch? There's no doubt about it -- nails are, indeed, useful, and, as tough as they may appear to be, they ne a bit of protection from us.

Nutritional nail rescue

Your nails know, and run over a lot about you and your state of health. dried brittle fingernails can be a sign of a vitamin A deficiency. Drynes combined with ridges, may indicate a lack of B vitamins, and curv nail [i]finale[/i]s or darkening of the nail, may mean you ne more vitamin B-12 Splitting and cracking nails signal a lack of hydrochloric acid in the stomach (this is especially implied if you also have seasonal allergies). If you exhibit a fungus around the cuticle or in the nail bed, it may mean that you don't have enough "friendly" intestinal bacteria working for you, like as Lactobacillus acidophilus or Bifidobacteria bifidum. And, finally, insufficient protein, vitamin C and folic acid may be put in mind ofed if you have frequent hangnails. If any of these conditions are current you may want to ask advice of a dermatologist or nutritionist to help correct any imbalances.

Other nutrients have also been shown to be tonic players in improving the condition of the nails. Biotin, a water-soluble member of the B-complex assemblage of vitamins, can help increase the thickness of the nail plate in those who complain of having brittle nails. In individual Swiss study, 63 percent of 35 adults given daily biotin supplementation showed clinical improvement in their nail conformation Biotin is naturally produced in the intestines, as well as being obtained from diets While deficiency in biotin is somewhat rare, it sometimes be met withs in individuals taking a long-term regimen of antibiotics, or those upon a calorie-restricted diet for a considerable continuance of time.

Studies have revealed that silicon is also critical for healthy nails. In fact, the highest concentration of silicon in the material substance is found in connective tissue, like as skin and nails. Silicon is lay the foundation of in leafy, green plants and in several grains, however usually in insoluble form. Since silicon is eliminated from the corpse at a rate of 10-40 mg each day, and overall levels note carefully to decline with age, supplementation is single way to ensure that you're getting enough. Horsetail is a advantageous herbal source of silicon, although primary-source silicon is also worthy some of which features orthosilicic acid.

Real solutions for question nails

The best course of action for enigma nails is to stick to a diet subdued in fat and high in fiber. And, uniform healthy nails are better against without being subjected to harsh synthetic hardeners, polishes, and polish remover These chemical-laden fruits can be harsh on nails and calm result in allergy or chemical sensitivity. In fact, the nail absorbs chemicals faster than does the skin. For a natural conditioning treatment, soak your nails in 1/2 lot of warm olive oil or vinegar with a not many drops of essential oil, depending forward your particular needs.

In addition, there are several natural alternatives to synthetic nail results available in health food stores, so as nail butters, organic polish remover and equable semi-organic colored polishes.

Karyn Siegel-Maier is a freelance writer who specializes in herbs, alternative medicine, and fresh age issues. Karyn is a visit often contributor to national and regional magazines, newsletter newspapers, and other publications. She is popularly working on a series of herbal books

RELATED ARTICLE: Essential oils for nail needs

[check] To strengthen nails: horsetail, lemon grapefruit, rosemary

[check] To soften: evening primrose, carrot, calendula, papaya enzyme

[check] For infections: tea tree thyme myrrh, oregano

COPYRIGHT 1999 PRIMEDIA Intertec, a PRIMEDIA Company. All Rights Reserved

COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group