For women, nails are perhaps one of the most important facets of their appearances. There is a multitude of nail polishes and colours for nails now, so much that it can be easy to forget that nails are actually important in other aspects too.
Nails are usually one of the first parts of the body to change if there are any imbalances or problems affecting you. They function as an indicator of how healthy you are, thus giving you an idea of how you can approach the problem at hand. For many women, looking at their nails after removing the nail polish can be an ordeal. Many issues, like white spots or discolouration, may be visible on the nails.
The problems affecting nails are simply indicators - they may indicate a bigger underlying health issue, and do not mean that only the nails are affected. Therefore, you will need to get to the heart of the problem and combat it at its roots in order to become healthier, and consequently improve the appearance of your nails. Nail care is very important since nail growth and healthy nails indicate overall good health.
Importance of Multivitamins for Fingernail Health
You might have often noticed that the complexion and condition of your skin changes with your diet - fingernail health works similarly, too. Healthy nails are evenly coloured, grow at a quick rate and do not have any spots or marks on the middle. Remember when a white spot would appear in the middle of your fingernail during childhood? This meant and still means that your body has a Vitamin C deficiency. Therefore, addressing these problems is important not just for the health of your nails, but your entire body as well.
Vitamins for nails are extremely important- that much is evident. Since nails give you an indication of what you are lacking in, you will be able to combat the issue appropriately and become healthier as a result. Nail care is extremely important since it will help you be better and healthier in the long run.
Important Vitamins & Minerals for Healthy Nails
The problems that are evident in your nail, be it with nail growth or nail colour are because of deficiencies of nutrients like:
- Biotin
Biotin, for nails and for the body as a whole, is one of the most important nutrients to have. Biotin is one of the Vitamin B forms, which is important for the growth of cells all around the body. Biotin for nails help promote nail growth since they get absorbed into areas the new cells get generated - this includes skin, hair and growth. However, the effects of biotin for nails takes very long to discern. Usually, changes in the complexion or appearance of your fingernails are not evident until around 4 months, while it takes almost a year for your toenails to change. Biotin supplements should be taken at a dosage of around 2000 to 3000 micrograms per day.
- Zinc
Another micronutrient which is extremely necessary for the body to function well, zinc plays a huge role in fingernail health too. Zinc promotes cell division in the body, as a whole - and the nails are one of the quickest reproducing cells in the body. If you find that your nails split or break off under low stresses, it could point to an issue with the amount of zinc intake.
- Vitamin C
Vitamin C is an all-rounder- it can help improve various parts of our body, and cause problems if there are any deficiencies. Vitamin C also plays a huge role in nail care, since they mainly help in strengthening connecting tissue present in the body. The overall health of your body, including bones, teeth, skin, hairs and nails improves if you take a vitamin C supplement daily.
- Folic Acid
Folic acid is more commonly known as an aid in fighting depression naturally. It has also been used extensively in hair care, and thus it finds great use in nail care too. Folic acid promotes the growth of new cells and tissues within the body, so they help in nail growth too. If you are a fan of growing it out and using it as a canvas for your creative pursuit, folic acid is a must in your diet.
- Iron
The deficiency of iron in the body is usually evident if you notice that your nails are not even as you want them to be. Iron helps in the production of keratin, which is an important protein. Keratin helps in the production of healthy hair and nails, and the lack of it will result in thin, curved and ridged nails.
The Effects of Deficiencies on Fingernail Health
There are many issues which crop with your nails if you have any type of deficiency within your body. Most of these are easily noticeable, after removal of any polish or colouring over the nail. A white spot on the middle of the fingernail usually points to a vitamin C deficiency within the body- supplements might be the way to combat the problem. Other common symptoms of deficiency include breakage, thin nails, curving, ridges or slow nail growth. Most of these issues can be taken care of by either changing your diet or opting for vitamin supplements to boost your health. Results of nail care might not be evident quickly since nails are usually slow to respond- however, you should be alright in terms of appearance within a few months.
The condition of your nails is something that you will have to keep an eye on- not just to improve nail care, but also to help you detect any vitamin deficiencies within your body. Most problems can be addressed with ease by going for multivitamin supplements, since they help improve your overall health condition and consequently, the appearance of your nails.
