Fake nails destroy your natural nails - that is the one thing I absolutely hate about them. Takes 6 months for a reasonable nail to grow back after the fakes are pulled off.
As far as your nails - people always recommend eating more Jell-o - gelatin. Also I use pre-natal vitamins as my multi - just a more beefed up vitamin. I noticed better nails then.
Here's a couple tidbits from my fav reference "Prescription for Nutritional Healing" by James & Phyllis Balch:
- Lack of protein, folic acid & vit C causes hangnails. White bands across the nails are also an indiciation of protein deficiency.
- A lack of Vit A & calcium causes dryness & brittleness.
- A deficiency of the B vitamins causes fragility w/ horizontal & vertical ridges.
- Insufficient intake of Vit B12 leads to excessive dryness, very rounded & curved nail ends & darkened nails.
- Iron deficiency may result in "spoon" nails (nails that develop a concave shape) andn / or vertical ridges.
- Zinc deficiency may cause the development of white spots on the nails.
-A lack of sufficient "friendly" bacteria (lactoacilli) in the ody can result in the growth of fungus under & around the nails.
-A lack of sufficient hydrocloric acid (HCl) contributes to splitting nails.
Very important nutrients:
- free-form amino acid complex plus extra l-cysteine & l-methionine. (use as directed on the label)
- silica or horsetail or oat straw (as directed on the label)
- vitamin A emulsion or capsules (50,000 iu emulsion or 25,000 iu capsule daily .. if pregnant don't exceed 10,000 iu daily -- The body can't utilize protein w/o Vit A. Emulsion form for easier assimilation & greater safety at higher doses)
Very helpful:
- black currant seed oil (500 mg 2x daily) - helpful for brittle nails
- calcium & magnesium & vit D (as labeled)- necessary for nail growth, mag needed to balance w/ calcium, vit D enhances calcium absorption
- Iron (ferrous fumerate from Freeda Vitamins) - as directed by physician, take w 100 mg Vit C for better absorption, DO NOT TAKE W/ VIT E. - Deficiency causes "spoon" nails and/or vertical ridges. CAUTION: Do not take iron unless anemia is diagnosed!
- Floradix Iron Herbs from Salus Haus - use as directed on label - A natural source of iron
- Ultimate Oil from Nature's Secret - use as labeled - A combination of essential fatty acids (EFAs) necessary for health of hair, skin, nails.
- Ultimiate Nails from Nature's Plus - use as directed - Contains calcium, gelatin, amino acids, magnesium, iron, & other nutrients important for healthy nails.
- Vit B complex plus extra B12 & biotin & folic acid- as directed - deficiencies rersult in fragile nails. Biotin used for treating brittle nails, folic acid for reducing splitting & other nail irregularities.
- Vit C - 3-6000 mg daily - Hangnails & inflammation of the paronychia (tissue surrounding the nail) may be linked to vit C deficiency.
- Zinc - 50 mg daily , do not exceed 100 mg daily from all supplements - affects absorption & action of vitamins & enzymes. Use zinc gluconate lozenges or OptiZinc for best absorption.
Recommendations:
- For healthy nails, be sure to get plenty of quality protein, and take a protein supplement. Eat grains, legumes, oatmeal, nuts & seeds. Egs are also a good source o protein as long as your blood cholesterol is not too high.
- Eat a diet composed of 50% fresh fruits & raw vegetabls to supply necessary vitamins, minerals, ezymes. Each food rich in sulfur & silicon such as broccoli, fish, onions & sea vegetables. Also in clude in the diet plenty of foods that are high in biotin such as brewer's yeast, soy flour & whole grains.
- Drink plenty of quality water & other liquids. Cracks in nails may indicate a need for more liquids.
- Drink fresh carrot juice daily. This i shigh in calcium & phosphorus & is very good for strengthening the nails.
- Consume citrus fruits, salt, vinegar in moderation if at all. Excessive intake of the se foods can result in protein / calcium imbalance that may adversely affect the health of the nails.
- Supplement your diet w/ royal jelly, a good source of EFAs & spirulina or kelp which are rich in silica, zinc, B vitamins & help to strengthen nails.
- For splitting nails and/or hang nails, take 2 tbsp of brewer's yeast or wheat germ oil daily.
-To strengthen nails, try soaking them in warm olive oil or cider vinegar for 10-20 min daily.
- Do not cut the cuticles. Uncovering the nails this way is harsh & irritatig & may cause infection. Use baby oil or cream and gently push back the cuticles.
- Soak your nails before trimming them. Nails are most likely to split & peel when they are dry. Apply hand cream each morning & evening to prevent them from drying out.
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) and so have changed what I've been eating quite a bit. I'm mainly eating chicken, canned tuna, fish steaks (haddock or salmon normally), brown rice, salads, and vegetables, and then drinking water. I've also been having a vitamin tablet every day.
