Nails are a protective horn at the end of our most sensitive extremities: fingers and toes. They can often become injured from accidents or crushing weight such as heavy walking or running. They can also become infected from bacterial or fungal infections as well as separated from the nail bed or chipped from harsh weather.
The nails are often a reflection of our overall health or nutritional deficiencies. Some ways to listen to what your nails are trying to tell you are:
? Iron/Protein/Calcium Deficiency = brittle, concave, ridged, white half moons
? Too much salt = external fibrous growths
? Nervousness / hyper thyroid = separation of the nail bed
? Respiratory Difficulties = bluish discoloration
? Bronchial Difficulties = yellowish discoloration
? Anemia = pale nail beds
? Vitamin A Deficiency = peeling nails
? Zinc Deficiency = poor nail growth
? Vegetable Quality Oils Deficiency = thin, brittle nails
? Consumption Extremes in Diet (especially meats and refined foods) = washboard ridges
What we eat actually does affect the appearance of these external parts of our bodies. Start paying attention to your hands (and feet!) and feeding your body right.
The food we put IN the body affects the health of our nails, but that doesn't mean to completely ignore the food we put ON the body either. Contrary to many fabulously smart marketing campaigns you don't need to spend a lot of money on chemically enhanced products to experience strength and beauty on your outside.
Natural oils are an excellent way to treat the external condition of the finger and toenails. Different oils affect the body differently. A great way to determine what oil would suit your body best is to examine your heritage and connect to the predominant oil in that part of the world.
Once you have determined which is best for your particular body's need use some time in the evening to take a "nail bath" (remember ? the skin is our most absorbent organ ?)
1. Allow your nails to soak in a small bowl of oil or gently rub the oil into the nails
2. Cover with cotton gloves, cotton socks
3. Sleep
Top Three Oils to Treat Your Nails Right
1. Coconut Oil: one of the few significant plant sources of lauric acid. This medium chain fatty acid, which is also found in human milk, enhances brain function and the immune system.
2. Palm Kernel: when unrefined, this high saturation oil is the one of the most stable of oils providing strength and ultimate saturation to the skin.
3. Olive Oil: the most stable vegetable oil, high in vitamin E, provides support to the liver and gallbladder (yes, no matter how you take it into the body).
Now, take a minute and think about how those chemically enhanced skin and nail products are affecting your body ?
To your health and success, Heather
Heather Dominick is a Nutrition-Energy Consultant and creator of The EnergyRICH Lifestyle ProgramTM. She delivers Nutrition Keynotes, Wellness Workshops and seminars at conferences and companies. To receive bi-monthly Nutrition and Lifestyle Tips you can (a) subscribe to her free e-Newsletter at http://www.individual-health.net or (b) call her at 917-940-5337 to chat about your health concerns and see how she can help.
family-safe home cleaners Morton Grove ..Fruit calories are very healthy as compared to calories in... Read More
How Can... Read More
Nutrition has everything to do with health. This isn't news,... Read More
You may have noticed an ever-expanding choice of oils at... Read More
It's 5:30 p.m. and you're heading home after a long,... Read More
Having spent most of my life living off of junk... Read More
Archeological records indicate that man has cultivated the olive tree... Read More
Unfortunately, the words "diet" and "cheating" go hand in hand.... Read More
The key to good hydration is drinking a lot of... Read More
OK, no more excuses. Here's how to stop making everyone... Read More
The field of nutrition is awash with charts, tables, diagrams,... Read More
You wouldn't judge a book by its cover, would you?You... Read More
The word herb is used to refer to any part... Read More
When was the last time you consumed soda? Most likely,... Read More
For all I prefer to buy my fresh produce at... Read More
Why does disease begin in the digestive tract? Your digestive... Read More
Water is a vitally important component of any valuable and... Read More
Olive oil is a healthy choice over other fats such... Read More
The problem with sugar is that it doesn't contain any... Read More
Having a personal wellness program has become a concern for... Read More
Bright white teeth and fresh breath does not necessarily... Read More
Fat is a nutrient that is a contributor to the... Read More
We sometimes hear about ways that we can take care... Read More
America's major dietary deficiency - EFA a panacea for good... Read More
Some of the things you think you know that just... Read More
home cleaning services Wilmette ..Here's a conundrum: While experts agree that high cholesterol and... Read More
Protein is one of the basic building blocks of the... Read More
How is it that we can't seem to think that... Read More
Cholesterol has been around for thousands of years. It's a... Read More
What is your brain made ofOver 50% of your brain... Read More
Although you may have heard about soy and all of... Read More
Nutrition is extremely important for any young person, especially an... Read More
Eating grain products - breads, cakes, cereals - have long... Read More
Do you know your ph? By getting ph strips at... Read More
It seems as if the health of America is failing.... Read More
For some people it is really hard to give up... Read More
Besides providing taste, color, and aroma, certain seasonings can also... Read More
Hi Readers,My message today is simple short and perhaps blunt... Read More
For decades science has been looking for the answers to... Read More
Following a diet program of any sort can sometimes be... Read More
Our bodies need cholesterol. We use cholesterol to produce vitamin... Read More
In parts 1-6 of this series of articles titled "Take... Read More
During a recent discussion with my father about low carb... Read More
When was the last time you consumed soda? Most likely,... Read More
Vitamin EThere has been a lot of controversy about vitamin... Read More
Because all of us have been brought up eating junk... Read More
Bread is one of the oldest known recipes to man.... Read More
What Ever Happened to the Basic FourThe USDA was originally... Read More
Okay, before we start, let me explain the purpose of... Read More
Get back to the basics - eat fresh at home... Read More
Nutrition |