It is often said that healthy nails are sign of good health. It is very important to keep our nails strong and healthy.
To keep healthy nails, one should take good care of the nails from both the inside and from the outside. It means that, we should have a good nutrition to nurture our body as well as our nails. Moreover, we should apply finger nail care in a proper way so as to make our nails beautiful, not to damage them.
So, with that in mind, ways to keep healthy nails are suggested below:
Fingernails: Do’s and don’ts for healthy nails
Tips for weak or brittle fingernails
Weak fingernails can be a challenge to toughen up. To protect weak or brittle fingernails and reduce the risk of splitting or breaking:
- Keep your nails short. Long nails are more likely to split or break.
- Use moisturizer. Apply moisturizer to your fingernails and cuticles several times throughout the day and before bed. Consider wearing cotton gloves while you sleep, to help seal in the moisture.
- Apply nail polish. A thin coat of clear nail polish can help keep moisture in your fingernails.
- Limit use of nail polish remover. Don’t use nail polish remover more than once a week. When you do need to use nail polish remover, choose the acetone-free variety. Acetone dries nails.
- Ask your doctor about biotin supplements. Changing your diet or taking daily multivitamins isn’t likely to strengthen your nails. However, some research suggests that the nutritional supplement biotin might help strengthen weak or brittle fingernails.
A note about manicures and pedicures
If you rely on manicures or pedicures for healthy looking nails, keep a few things in mind. Stick to salons that display a current state license, and work only with technicians also licensed by the state board. Don’t have your cuticles removed — it can lead to nail infection. Also, make sure your nail technician properly sterilizes all tools used during your procedure. Various infections can spread through the use of unsterilized tools. You might also ask how the foot baths are cleaned. Ideally, a bleach solution is used between clients and the filters are cleaned regularly.
It’s easy to neglect your nails — but there’s much you can do to keep your fingernails healthy and strong. Start with basic fingernail care.
Nutrition for Healthy nails:
The best way to support your nail health is to eat a well-balanced diet. You’ll need plenty of protein as well as fresh fruits and vegetables. Sufficient water intake is also important; as well as keeping the rest of you healthy, water provides moisture for nails.
From a nutritional standpoint, water drinking is very important in this regard, because it help keeps the nail plates hydrated (and the rest of your body as well).
There is one nutrient that’s stood out when its come to addressing nail brittleness and that is the B-vitamin called biotin. In one study, 2.5 mg of biotin per day was enough to significantly increase the firmness and hardness of the nails after 5.5 months of supplementation. Some rich sources of biotin include peanuts, almonds, Swiss chard, goat’s milk, yogurt, tomatoes, and eggs.
In nutritional research, two minerals have been inconclusively associated with nail plate problems: iron and zinc. Iron deficiency seems most closely related to spoon-shaped nails, although studies are not consistent in pointing to this effect. Many healthcare practitioners interpret white spots on nails as an indication of zinc deficiency, although there’s no conclusive research evidence here as far as we can determine. There is no doubt, however, that the overall quality of your diet — and making sure that you have optimal intake of all nutrients from whole, natural foods—is your best first step in supporting your nails.
We wish you good health, especially in the upcoming cold days.