Weak and brittle nails seem to be a problem for so many. Let’s find out what you could do about this problem.
If this an issue for you, are you guilty of any of the following?
- Leave nail polish on too long?
- Bite your nails?
- Text and Type too much?
- Apply too much hand sanitizer throughout the day?
Apparently, these can wreak havoc on your nails but with simple changes, you can stop the damage it is doing. Take off nail polish sooner, don’t bite your nails, keep your nails short if you type or text excessively, and apply moisturizer often throughout the day.
But it’s not just the simple habit changes that we might have to look into.
If you are like me and answered no to those questions, then your body could be deficient in some key vitamins:
- B12
- Biotin
- Folate
- Vitamin C
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Magnesium
- Iron
Your doctor can order a simple blood test to confirm this.
Being low in vitamin B12, which is common for vegans and vegetarians because the best source of B12 is from animals, and can result in nails that are bluish-black in color. Another B vitamin, biotin, although deficiencies are rare, can show up in the form of brittle nails.
Folate, known as folic acid is a B vitamin that helps to regenerate our cells. A folate deficiency can show up as ridges in nails, but the issue with taking too much folate is that it could mask a B12 deficiency and that could put some at risk for colon cancer and other cancers.
Vitamin C is critical to the creation of healthy collagen, which is the main component of our nails and also our hair and skin. A risk of low vitamin C is iron deficiency anemia and that can cause nails to have raised ridges that curve inward.
Essential fatty acids such as Omega-3 helps to strengthen our nails and make them less brittle. Magnesium is a mineral that helps our nails grow, and finally Iron will help oxygen adequately move through our cells.
While there are many foods that provide these nutrients, you can also take them in supplement form. Either way, begin to increase your intake and go from someone wanting to sit on their hands to hide your fingernails, to becoming a person who can’t wait to literally point someone in the right direction!
