TOP VITAMINS SUPPLEMENTS
-
Articles
-
Categories
Brittle Fingernails or Brittle Toenails due to Vitamins and minerals deficiencies
Like skin, nails tell alot about the state of your health. Fingernail problems include abnormalities such as small depressions or pitting, white streaks or spots, crumbly or weak nails, finger nail ridges, brittle fingernails, brittle toenails, and changes in the shape, color, or texture of nails.
Aside from physical trauma, fingernail disorders typically arise as a result of health conditions such as illness, or infection, or nutritional deficiencies.
Finger nail ridges, and brittle fingernails or brittle toenails in particular, may be caused by aging, or may indicate disorders such as hypothyroidism, or a lack of important minerals and vitamins for hair and nails.
The nutrients necessary for preventing fingernail problems related to brittle fingernails or brittle toenails are tabled below, together with the foods that provide such minerals and vitamins for hair and nails.
What vitamins and mineralst deficiencies can lead to brittle nails
Biotin
Biotin is well-known to be one of the most important vitamins for hair and nails, as it is needed for cell division and growth. A deficiency of biotin is the main culprit in fingernail problems like brittle nails, and dry brittle hair.
Other symptoms that may indicate deficiency of Biotin :
- thinning of hair which may lead to total hair loss
- dry scaly scalp or face in infants (cradle crap), or in various parts of the body in adults
- mental depression
- insomnia
- intestinal tract symptoms like loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting
- fatigue or extreme exhaustion due to impaired energy production
- muscle pain or cramps related to physical exertion
- nervo-muscular symptoms like seizures, numbness and tingling of extremities, and movements characterized by lack of muscle tone and coordination
Biotin-rich foods that can help prevent brittle fingernails / brittle toenails include:
- organ meats such as liver
- carrots
- romaine lettuce
- swiss chard
- tomatoes.
Calcium
Not only is calcium important for strong bones, but it also plays a role in strong nails and in preventing fingernail disorders. One of the symptoms of calcium deficiency is misshapened or brittle nails.
Other symptoms that may indicate deficiency of Calcium : osteoporosis characterized by brittle, porous bones and frequent bone fractures impaired bone mineralization which, in children, can cause rickets (bone softening) which may lead to bone deformities, fractures, or stunted growth osteomalacia (bone softening) in adults loss of bone mineralization in the jaw tooth decay or periodontal disease higher levels of lead in bones and teeth .
Severe deficiency can cause spasmodic contractions of skeletal muscles, symptomized by tingling fingers, toes or lips, numbness in arms or legs, and muscle pain or severe muscular cramps or spasms
Calcium-rich foods that might help prevent fingernail problems like brittle fingernails or brittle toenails include:
- fresh dark green vegetables like collard greens, dandelion greens, mustard greens, spinach, turnip greens, wing beans
- dairy foods such as buttermilk, mozzarella cheese, raw (non-pasteurized) milk, whey, yoghurt
- goat’s milk
- soft bones of wild salmon, sardines, tuna, and anchovies are good sources of calcium that is easily absorbed by the body.
Copper
Lack of copper may cause brittle fingernails and brittle toenails indirectly, as it results in hypothyroidism (under-production of thyroid hormones) which can lead to dry brittle hair, hair loss, brittle nails, coarse dry pale skin, weight gain, intolerance to cold, fatigue, depression, irritability, poor memory, muscle or joint pain, constipation, decreased libido, heavy periods or menstrual irregularities.
Early symptoms of deficiency are osteoporosis, osteopenia (lower bone mineral density than normal, but not as low as for osteoporosis) and joint problems retarded growth or abnormalities in bone development in infants and young children anemia that is characterized by lack of improvement with iron therapy alone loss of skin or hair color impaired immune function that may lead to frequent infections impaired nerve function that may lead to taste insensitivity and lack of physical coordination inelastic blood vessels that rupture easily elevated LDL (bad) cholesterol and lower HDL (good) cholesterol levels irregular heart beat skin sores Menkes disease that occurs mostly in male infants, characterized by sparse greyish or colorless twisted hair, and floppy muscle tone
Copper-rich foods that can help prevent hypothyroidism, and resulting brittle fingernails or brittle toenails, include:
- cashew nuts
- dried beans like soybeans, adzuki beans, garbanzo beans (chickpeas), lentils, lima, navy beans
- dried spirulina
- crimini mushrooms
- shiitake mushrooms
- sesame seeds.
Iron
Fingernail problems such as brittle fingernails, and finger nail ridges in particular, are associated with iron-deficiency anemia resulting from insufficient red blood cells, as iron is needed for formation of hemoglobin in blood cells; iron deficiency anemia symptoms may include pale skin, cold hands and feet, whites of eyes appearing bluish, headaches, dizziness, irritability, lack of energy, extreme fatigue, rapid heartbeat, low immune function with increased susceptibility to infection, brittle nails, shortness of breath, sore or inflamed tongue or mouth, lack of appetite, blood in stools, restless legs syndrome.
Other symptoms that may indicate deficiency of Iron :
food cravings for inedible items such as ice, paint, starch, clay, or dirt increased intestinal inflammation or irritation depression or apathy insomnia or disturbed sleep decrease in ability to concentrate impaired mental skills that can affect memory and job performance learning disabilities and short attention spans in children irregular menstrual periods hair loss; nails that are spoon-shaped or that have ridges running lengthwise
Foods high in iron that can help prevent iron-deficiency anemia, and consequent brittle toenails and fingernail disorders, include
- animal liver
- blackstrap molasses
- beef
- eggs (especially the yolk)
- shiitake mushrooms
- dark green leafy vegetables like spinach, mustard greens, romaine lettuce, swiss chard, turnip greens
- green beans such as winged beans, string beans
- dried beans like kidney beans, lentils
- soybeans and soy products, especially tofu
- rice bran and wheat bran.
Iodine
Deficiency of iodine may also result in brittle fingernails or brittle toenails indirectly, as it causes hypothyroidism (under-production of thyroid hormones).
Deficiency of Iodine can lead to symptoms such as dry brittle hair, hair loss, brittle nails, coarse dry pale skin, intolerance to cold, fatigue or weakness, poor memory, depression, irritability, weight gain, muscle or joint pain, constipation, decreased libido, infertility, menstrual irregularities or heavy periods, and in more severe cases, hoarseness, decreased sense of taste and smell, mental impairment, skin thickening, and puffy face, hands or feet.
Eeven mild iodine deficiency during pregnancy can hamper growth of the child’s brain and lead to low intelligence congenital hypothyroidism is the most common cause of mental retardation in children
Foods rich in iodine that can help prevent hypothyroidism, and resulting brittle fingernails / brittle toenails, include:
- salt-water fish
- seafood and shellfish
- seaweed like dulse, bladderwrack, kelp, nori
- iodized table salt.
Manganese
Manganese is important for activating enzymes that enable the body to utilize key vitamins for hair and nails, like vitamin C and biotin.
Deficiency of this nutrient can therefore contribute to fingernail problems like brittle fingernails or brittle toenails, excessive bone loss and weak hair and nails.
Other symptoms that may indicate deficiency of Manganese
- hearing loss
- iron-deficiency anemia
- high blood sugar levels (impaired glucose tolerance) blood cholesterol levels that are too low impaired bone growth or skeletal abnormalities
Severe deficiency in infants can cause convulsions, and even paralysis, blindness and deafness.
Manganese rich foods that may help prevent fingernail disorders related to brittle fingernails include
- dark green leafy vegetables (broccoli, chard, collard greens, kale, mustard greens, romaine lettuce, spinach)
- avocados
- pineapple
- raspberries
- nuts (almonds, peanuts, pecans, walnuts).
Selenium
Research indicates that selenium deficiency worsens the effect of iodine deficiency on thyroid function, leading to hypothyroidism with symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, irritability, depression, poor memory, weight gain, constipation, intolerance to cold, heavier or lighter menstruation than normal, coarse dry pale skin, dry brittle hair, hair loss, and brittle nails, and that selenium supplements may help protect against goiter.
Other symptoms that may indicate deficiency of Selenium :
- weaker immune system leading to susceptibility to stress and illnesses
- greater incidence of cancer, especially gynaecological, gastrointestinal, esophageal, lung, and prostate cancer
- rheumatoid arthritis patients tend to have low blood levels of selenium
- elevated blood pressure
- risk of arteriosclerosis / atherosclerosis (hardening and/or narrowing of the arteries), leading to heart or coronary artery disease
- loose skin
- hair or skin discoloration
- whitened fingernail beds
- Keshan disease (heart disorder characterized by inflamed heart muscles)
- Kashin-Beck disease (disabling disease of bones and joints, characterized by stunted growth, bone deterioration, and deformity of joints)
Severe deficiency along with malnutrition can cause muscle breakdown characterized by pain or weakness in the muscles
Selenium-rich foods that alleviate iodine deficiency and hypothyroidism, and consequent fingernail problems and brittle toenails, include
- Brazil nuts (one of the most concentrated selenium food sources)
- mushrooms (button, shiitake, reishi)
- fish (cod, flounder, halibut, herring, mackerel, salmon, smelts, red snapper, swordfish, tuna)
- seafood (lobster, oyster, scallops, shellfish, shrimp).
Essential minerals for healthy hair
Calcium
Calcium is essential for healthy hair growth. You get Calcium by eating foods such as dairy, fish, nuts, lentils and sesame seeds.
Copper
Copper helps prevent hair loss and defects in hair color and structure. You get copper by eating foods such as shellfish, liver, green vegetables, eggs, chicken and beans.
Iodine
Iodine is very important for healthy hair growth.
Iodine helps regulate thyroid hormones. Thyroid disease is the number one cause of disease-related hair loss. You canget iodine from foods such as fish, seaweed, kelp, iodized salt and garlic. Stay away from iodized salt.
Silica
Silica prevents hair loss by strengthening the hair.
Supplementing your diet with silica alone will probably help you more than any of the other minerals combined because silica helps utilize several other nutrients. Boron, copper, manganese, magnesium, fluorine, phosphorus, zinc and strontium all benefit from silica supplementation.
The only problem is that its very hard to get trace minerals because of the way most western civilizations cook and process their food.
You can get enough trace mineral silica in your diet by eating oats, millet, barley, whole wheat, and algae. Good sources of soloca are also such foods as seafood, soybeans, rice and green vegetables.
Manganese
Manganese prevents hair from growing too slowly. You get Manganese from foods such as eggs, whole grain cereals, avocados, beans, nuts, meat and chicken.
Zinc
Zinc is very important when it comes to tissue growth and hair growth in particular.
It helps to secrete the scalp with much needed oil and avoid dandruff that could possibly cause hair loss. It also helps with the absorption of other nutrients that you need. Zinc is mineral that you could easily overdose on. Too much zinc could actually block the absorption of other minerals.
Choose naturals sources og zinc -organic beef, beef liver, lima beans, chickpeas, split peas, raw cashews, pecans, green peas, almonds, ginger root and eggs.
HAIR PRODUCTS ON AMAZON
Copper health benefits
Why do we need copper
Copper is an essential trace mineral in animals and many plants. There is less than one-tenth of one gram of copper in the human body.
Copper is involved in a lot of body processes, but its main functions are to help keep heart and blood vessels healthy.
We need copper to make an enzyme that keeps your arteries flexible. If we don’t get enough, they could rupture. We also need copper to make the insulating sheath that covers our nerves. Copper works with iron to keep our red blood cells healthy. It’s also very important for making the natural antioxidant superoxide dismutase (SOD).
Copper is essential for the utilization of vitamin C.
Copper deficiency
is rare. There are some inherited conditions such as Wilson’s disease that make you store too much copper in your body, but on the whole, copper toxicity is also rare. You’d have to take in more than 10 mg a day to have any symptoms. The most common symptoms of copper overdose are nausea and vomiting.
Food sources of copper
Copper is found in a lot of common foods. There’s over 2 mg of copper in a single oyster; other shellfish, such as lobster, are also good sources. Other good foods for copper include nuts, avocados, potatoes, organ meats, whole grains, and beans and peas. You may also be getting some from your drinking water if it goes through copper pipes. Copper is also found in most good daily multi supplements.
It’s important to keep your zinc and copper levels in balance, because the two minerals compete with each other to be absorbed into your body. Most nutritionists recommend a ratio of ten parts zinc to one part copper. In other words, if you’re taking 30 mg of zinc, be sure to take 3 mg of copper as well—but don’t take more than that.
FACTS ABOUT COPPER:
- Copper required to convert the body’s iron into hemoglobin.
- Makes the amino acid tyrosine usable, allowing it to work as the pigmenting factor for hair and skin.
- Copper present in cigarettes, birth control pills, and automobile pollution.
SnoreZip Stop Snoring
Description:
Related articles by Zemanta
- When toxic metals are in products there is outrage…isn’t there? (leftbrainrightbrain.co.uk)
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=cb86f48c-2960-44f7-ac23-b27d69ac107c)
-
Search
-
Related links
-
About vitamins and minerals