Guide to Healthy Nails

Did you know that nail problems are often caused by an inadequate intake of certain nutrients? In such cases, getting strong and healthy fingernails and toenails may be as easy as adding foods rich in nail health promoting nutrients to your daily diet. In this online guide, you will learn how to grow strong and healthy nails naturally through nutrition.

Strong, beautiful nails are a symbol of overall health. In addition to contributing to your appearance, nails also protect the nerve-rich fingertips and tips of the toes from injury. Nails, which are actually part of your skin, are made primarily of keratin, a type of protein (the same protein hair is made of). The nail bed is the part of skin upon which the nails grow. Under normal conditions, nails grow 0.05 to 1.2 millimeters each week. Fingernails grow faster than toenails and nails on the middle fingers grow the fastest. Nails also grow faster in summer and during pregnancy.

Nails are known to be sensitive to environmental factors, physical damage, and poor nutrition. If nails do not get sufficient nourishment from the inside, nail growth may slow down. Furthermore, a poor diet can lead to other nail problems such as dry or brittle nails, horizontal or vertical ridges on nails, curved nail ends, darkened nails, splitting nails, washboard ridges, hangnails, white bands or spots on nails, and abnormalities in nail color. To achieve and maintain strong, glossy nails, your best bet is to follow a well balanced, wholesome diet.

The purpose of this online guide is to provide information about how nutrition affects nail health. To get started on your path to growing healthier nails, check out the diet, food and recipe sections of this guide below.

5 Diet Tips for Growing Strong and Healthy Nails

In this section of HealWithFood.org's Nutrition Guide to Nail Health, you will learn how certain nutritional factors – such as stepping up your zinc intake, ensuring a sufficient intake of protein and eating more vitamin C containing foods – can improve the health of your nails and prevent common nail problems.

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8 Best Foods for Healthy Nails

Both alternative medicine and conventional nutrition science have acknowledged the nail health promoting properties of certain foods. In this section, you will find a list of the best foods for people who are looking to grow strong, healthy nails. And the best thing is, these nourishing foods are not only bursting with nail health promoting nutrients, they are also packed with flavor!

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Recipes for Growing Healthy Nails

How about a hearty helping of Barley and Bean Soup that is loaded with nail-friendly vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc, and biotin? Or perhaps a bowl of Avocado and Carrot Salad which packs vitamin C and vitamin E, a stellar nutrient combo for maintaining healthy nails. You can view the recipes for these dishes and other nail health promoting dishes by clicking on the link below.

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