Weak, flaking or chipping fingernails don’t hold nail polish, look ragged and they break. More importantly, weak nails can be a sign of nutritional deficiency, and correcting that deficiency will help to strengthen your nails and all of the related tissues like bones, skin and hair. Frankly, who doesn’t want all of those things to be stronger? Your nails can be seen as an indicator of your overall state of health, so making sure your nails are strong and beautiful isn’t just cosmetic, it’s a good health practice.
Silica
Silica works miracles on all connective tissue, but especially your nails. It helps many plants to form the harder tissue that helps them stay upright and it does the same type of thing in your body. Taking silica will help your body to strengthen tissues that are supposed to be strong like nails, bones, teeth and even hair to some degree. Silica also helps with growth and healing of skin and a sign of deficiency is improper scar formation or poor healing of wounds, so if any of this sounds like you, starting a silica supplement can save the day.
Calcium and Magnesium
We all know about taking our calcium for healthy bones and teeth, but calcium is present in all of our connective tissue, even our fingernails. Often if someone has poor digestive function, her fingernails become soft and spongy because the calcium that makes them strong isn’t getting absorbed. Calcium and magnesium work together in all tissues of the body, so always take both.
Free Amino Acids
Amino acids are the building blocks of proteins in our body and our nails are made of a combination of protein and minerals. If we’re not absorbing protein properly, then our nails are one of the first areas to show it, simply because they are low priority in terms of survival. Your body will always use protein to make tissues that are important for survival, like blood, before it will make tissues that aren’t, like fingernails. If you are suffering with soft weak nails it is important to make sure that you are eating enough protein and absorbing it. If you are a vegetarian and your nails start to get weak this is the first thing to check. If you don’t get a lot of proteins in your diet, then an amino acid supplement that is easily absorbed can make a big difference for your health. These amino acids can also be found in gelatin supplements.
Biotin
Biotin is an essential nutrient in the formation of keratin, which is the main protein in your fingernails. If you are biotin deficient then the nails become extremely soft, overly flexible and of course bend and break easily. Supplementing biotin helps your nails to strengthen and harden and also will give you improvements in your skin and hair.
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is most well known for its benefits to eye health, but it is just as crucial for our nails. Fortunately for us it can be found an abundance in orange and yellow veggies like carrots, sweet potatoes, squash and pumpkin. Lack of vitamin A will cause dry, brittle nails and taking this helpful nutrient will give your nails more resilience.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is crucial for skin and nail health. In our diets it can be found in whole grains, nuts and dark green leafy vegetables. Vitamin E is also important for immune system functioning and hormone balance, so make sure you’re getting enough. The artificial form of vitamin E, d,l alpha-tocopherol has been shown to be much less beneficial and potentially even harmful so make sure your vitamin or supplement is from natural sources.
About this Author
Based in Austin, Texas, Naturopathic Doctor Amy Neuzil specializes in weight loss, woman’s health and mental disorders. She has frequent radio appearances and appeared on the TV series “The Genesis of Healing.” She has been consulted for “Natural Health Magazine” and “Health Talk.” Her first book, “DIY Health: For Women” was published in 2009.
