Monday, February 27, 2012
What Do Your Fingernails Say About Your Health?
If you know what you're looking for, the current state of your fingernails can tell you a lot about the current state of your health in general. Here are five things about your nails that can tell you how healthy you are.
#1.) The White Part Under Each Nail. At the base of your nails, there should be a little white showing. If there is, it's a sign your thyroid is healthy.
--But if most of your fingers DON'T have white showing at the base, your thyroid might be weak, which can lead to depression, mood swings, and thinning hair.
#2.) White Spots Under Your Nails. It's a sign you have a zinc deficiency, which can cause diarrhea, impotence, hair loss, loss of appetite, and also weaken your immune system.--You can get zinc from oysters, sesame seeds, dark chocolate, and peanuts.
#3.) Ridges. Your nails should be relatively smooth on top, but If they're made up of ridges and you can see a bunch of parallel vertical lines, it's a sign you're not getting enough iron.
--If the ridges run horizontally, it's a sign you're not getting enough vitamin A or vitamin C. You can get vitamin A in dark green vegetables. And obviously citrus fruit is a good source of vitamin C.
#4.) Black Lines. If there's a thin, black line under your nail, it might just be a "splinter hemorrhage," which is caused by trauma . . . like hitting your finger with a hammer or slamming it in a door. In that case, it'll just grow out within a few months.
--But it could also be a sign of heart problems or even cancer. So if one shows up and it's not the result of trauma, get it checked out.
#5.) Dark Fingernails. Cigarettes and using too much nail polish can turn your nails yellow. But yellow nails can also be caused by diabetes, lung problems, arthritis, lupus, and liver disease.
--And not having enough B-12 in your diet can also make your nails darker. B-12 is found in fish, meat, and dairy products.
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