What your nails tell you about your health

You might think a mani and pedi will fix your nails and make them look better, but their natural state actually reveals a lot about your health. Here’s what you should be looking out for:

1. Condition 

• Dry nails can mean an insufficient intake of vitamin B12
• Brittle nails may be indicative of circulatory problems, iron deficiency, impaired kidney function or thyroid problems
• Chipped, cracked, easily broken or peeled nails may be indicative of a nutritional deficiency such as minerals, protein or insufficient amounts of hydrochloric acid
• Frayed nails or split ends could indicate psoriasis or a folic acid, protein and/or Vitamin C deficiency

2. Shape:

• Hangnails are often caused by a lack of protein
• Spoon nails (nails that develop in a concave shape), fragility or vertical ridges are caused by a deficiency of Vitamin B12
• A downward curvature of the nail may be indicative of heart, liver or respiratory disorders
• Ridges up and down the nail may be indicative of developing arthritis

3. Colour:

• Yellow nails (if not caused from smoking) may be indicative of internal disorders long before symptoms show up elsewhere in the body (diabetes, liver, lymphatic or respiratory conditions)
• White bands across the nails are an indication of protein deficiency, while white lines across the nails may be indicative of liver disease or a condition of the liver
• Deep blue nails may indicate a pulmonary obstruction such as asthma or emphysema
• White spots indicate a zinc deficiency
• White nails may be indicative of possible kidney or liver dysfunction or may also indicate anemia

Find out more by visiting Faithful to Nature. 

For more on health, visit Get It Magazine.