What we put in our body influences a wide range of factors from our mental health (by reducing depression), to our physical health (such as improving our immune system and lowering our blood pressure). However, our nutritional habits also play a central role in the health of even the smallest details on our body such as our nails. Here is a list of five common and not so common foods to incorporate into your diet.
Eggs: Our nails are actually made up of a protein called keratin. Eggs are a great source of protein and vitamin A, both of which are linked with strong, healthy nails.
Spinach and Kale: For longer, healthier nails try incorporating leafy greens such as spinach and kale into your diet. Rich in vitamin B, these greens are not only beneficial to our emotional and mental health, but can be great help in nail growth. Leafy greens are also high in iron, another critical mineral for healthy nails and hair.
Oysters: Along with our heart and brain, our nails require zinc to be healthy. Without it, our nails can become discolored and brittle, with very little growth. Oysters are super rich in zinc. According to the National Institute of Health, one serving of oysters contains 500 percent of the recommended daily intake of zinc. Of course if oysters don’t delight your taste buds, nuts, legumes and other seafood choices are great alternatives.
Swiss Chard: This vegetable is not quite the household name like other leafy greens, but it should be. Swiss chard contains high amounts of biotin, a B vitamin that not only improves brittle nails but has also been found to alleviate depression. Although rare in generally healthy people, biotin deficiency has been linked with substance abuse such as alcoholism.
Walnuts: Walnuts are well known for their high omega 3 and folic acid content, which helps boost mood and fight depression by increasing the production of serotonin. And like all the foods on this list, the benefits of walnuts are widespread; the fatty acids nourish your nails while the folic acid keeps them strong.
