Brittle Nails

Brittle nails are nails that chip off, split, crack and snap away at tips due to drying and weakening. Most women suffer from brittle nails and long for healthy, strong and long nails. Sometimes the nails appear thin and transparent; nails can talk about the general well being and health of an individual. Nutritional deficiencies and various other medical conditions can cause brittle nail condition.

Common Causes of Brittle Nails

• Food with no essential nutrients affect nails making them brittle and weak.
• Various household chores that involve frequent washing and cleaning can make nails brittle.
• Using substandard nail polishes and nail removers frequently.
• Calcium deficiency.
• Subjecting nails to harsh chemicals.
• Filing the nails too often.

Things You Could Do to Avoid Brittle Nails

• Have a healthy diet, drink your 8 glasses of water per day and include fruit juices.
• Whole grains, pulses, milk, egg, fish, meat, leafy fresh vegetables are great to avoid brittle nails.
• Dab little almond oil in a small cotton ball and rub into the nails before going to bed or during your free time , this is great for nails making them strong and healthy.
• Use gloves and protect your hands and nails while you go on with your house hold activities, guard them from the harsh chemicals that are contained in washing liquids.
• Go for a manicure every now and then.
• Eat calcium rich foods like yoghurt, cheese and milk.
• Avoid biting into your nails or pulling them.
• Brewers yeast and wheat germ are excellent to treat brittle nails.
• Massage your nails with olive or castor oil every night, this helps dehydrated nails.
• Let your nails breathe; keep away from nail polishes and removers. Keep them clean without any dirt and massage with your finger tips, this improves the blood circulation.
• Trim you nails often and keep them short and well moisturized to stay away from brittle nails.
• Vaseline is excellent for dry brittle nails, apply good amount of it before you go to bed to you nails and massage in.
• Avoid products that contain formaldehyde in your nail products, this dehydrates nails stripping them off its moisture.
• Along with calcium, zinc and iron are as much essential, taking foods rich in zinc and iron is therefore important to stay away from brittle nails.
• Fish, meat, eggs, cheese, whole grains, nuts, courgtettes and asparagus are a rich source of zinc.
• Liver, green leafy veggies, lentils, dried apricots are a rich source of iron and intake these foods help avoid brittle nails.