Nails; Your Health Indicators Nails have a very important role to play as far as our health is concerned. They tell you a lot about your inner health and strength. You can tell so much about a person’s health just by looking at his/her nails. Please before making any judgments about your health by reading this article do consult your doctor. This article is just for your information and please do not use this information for self diagnosis.
The basic purpose of nails is to protect our nerves in our fingertips and toenails protect from damage or any injury. Nail is a part of our skin and has no blood in it; it sheds off periodically and is made of a protein called Keratin. We can differentiate the appearance of nails into three categories;
The color of nails
The shape of nails
The texture of nails
Look For The Nail Colors: The normal color of nails is light pinkish. It can be slightly darker in some people but it’s also quite fine. But if this color changes to yellow this is the sign of internal disorders like, respiratory or liver problems. A greenish nail color can be a sign of infection, either in the nail bed or in our system. Discolored nails are the indication of diabetes, stress, allergies and simple illness. Bluish nails or bluish nail beds warn against lung diseases such as emphysema or even asthma. A simple dark blue streak in the nail can suggest skin cancer. And if there are any tiny black streaks they indicate heart trouble. Reddish brown spots show the deficiency of folic acid and vitamin C or protein.
White lines in or across the nail can signal fever, liver or heart diseases, kidney disorders or more likely a lack of iron or zinc in your diet. A well balanced diet is very necessary for a healthy being. Nutrients rich food promises a healthy body. So please pay attention to your diet. Eat fresh vegetables, drink plenty of water, and make a habit of taking fresh salad with your meals. Minerals, calcium, vitamins all are the essential components of our balanced diet. You all have sometimes noticed white spots on your nails, although white lines can be more sever and are the symptoms of other serious disorders. But white spots show the deficiency of zinc or iron. It is likely that other signs of zinc deficiency, such as hair loss or a slow immune system, would be present as well. Occasionally, a few white spots on fingernails may indicate an allergic reaction to a product used on the nail, such as nail polish, hardener, or polish remover. So instead of worrying about your health you should better consult a doctor who can suggest you any good zinc supplements if you need.
See Your Nail Shape: We have talked about the colors of nail, now comes the shape of our nails. Nail shape varies from person to person. We also inherit the shape of nails from our parents. But if you feel something not normal about the shape of the nails then this is something about which you should care for. Like most of the times, people notice the curling of nails inwards at the tip. This indicates respiratory problems or heart problems. Sometimes nails are raised at the base this can also show problem with respiratory system. Square, wide nails can tell you about your hormonal disorder. The deficiency of vitamin B12 causes flat, thin nails.
Talking About the Texture of Nails: The nail texture also reflects so much about your health condition. We don’t take these changes in our nails seriously but they do show some very important modifications in our health. For instance, vertical ridges visible on the nail surface are because of the iron deficiency, poor absorption of vitamins and nutrients. They are also the indicators for overall bad health or something serious as kidney disorder. Bumps on the nail show the signs of arthritis or developing arthritis. Ridges running horizontally on the nail surface show physical or mental stress.
So in the end we can conclude on this note that nutrition plays a vital role in keeping oneself healthy. Nails are made of protein that’s why they warn us by changing their appearance. So please do not diagnose any serious ailment for yourself. But do see a doctor if you have any of such signs. Eat well and be healthy as one of my favorite lines says, “You are what you eat”.
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Quratulain Rizvi
Post Graduate, Beautician, Herbalist
Beauty Care - Mother Care
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