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Dear Beauty-Conscious Reader,
Are your nails brittle? Do they crack or peel more often than they used to?
The solution could be easier than you think.
For starters, try giving your nails a quick filing every other day. That keeps the edges smooth so they’re less likely to snag and break. Always file in the same direction – never use a back-and-forth “sawing” motion.
The next step is to strengthen weak nails at the source. Here are the top natural remedies to your biggest nail problems…
1. Peeling. If your nails are peeling, dryness is probably the cause. Just as your skin loses moisture with each passing year, your nails lose natural oils. Exposure to harsh detergents and acetone nail polish remover can accelerate the effects.
Quick fix: I tell my patients to hydrate their nails by soaking them in olive oil a few times a week. And before bed every night, apply a thin layer of castor oil to the nails and cuticles. You should see a difference within a week or two.
2. Ridges. If your nail beds have an uneven, ridged surface, you might be missing out on a vitamin B12, also known as methylcobalamin. Other signs that you aren’t getting enough B12 are dry, brittle hair, fatigue and memory loss.
Quick fix: You need at least 100 mcg of vitamin B12 every day. Meat, fish and eggs are the best sources.
3. Breaking. Weak nails may be a sign that you need more nutrients – specifically, the structural proteins and amino acids that your nails are made out of.
Quick fix: Here are three things you need to nourish your nails for a stronger, smoother manicure…
- Animal protein. Remember that your body doesn’t store protein, so you need to have it at every meal. Get all the grass-fed meat you can, because it’s rich in protein and the eight essential amino acids you need. Free-range eggs and wild-caught fish are also great sources of protein.
If you’re a vegetarian, you’re missing out on 12 essential nutrients you need every day – including coenzyme Q10 and vitamins A, B12 and D. I recommend getting more protein from spirulina, quinoa and hempseed.
- Biotin. Also called vitamin B7, biotin is well-known for toughening up weak nails. You can get more biotin from liver, egg yolks, nuts, cauliflower, milk and legumes.
- Silica. This mineral gives your nails their structure. It’s a great way to help weak, brittle nails grow back stronger than ever. Seafood, green beans, spinach, root vegetables and beer are good sources of silica. But the best natural source in the supplement world is bamboo extract.
These nutritional changes will begin to make a difference right away, but your nails can only grow about two to three millimeters every month. It takes six to nine months to get a completely new set.
Here at the clinic, Dr. Sears and the Wellness Research team have been working on a new beauty formula designed to give you the extra nourishment you need for beautiful nails, radiant, youthful skin and strong, shiny hair. It’s an easy way to get a natural beauty boost.
I’ll share more information about this new beauty formula in future issues.
Sincerely,
Kamila Fiore, ARNP, NP-C
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[Ed. Note: Kamila Fiore is the resident Nurse Practitioner at the Sears’ Center for Health and Wellness in Royal Palm Beach, Fla. Kamila is passionate about taking a natural approach to healthcare. She believes it’s a vital necessity in this day and age – a time when our health is being jeopardized by the chemicals, toxins and processes that are incorporated in almost everything we consume, touch or breathe. She earned her Master of Science degree in Nursing from the University of Florida and became state-licensed and board-certified in 2007. Her professional experience includes Aesthetics, Internal Medicine/Geriatrics and Anti-Aging. Kamila educates her patients on health promotion and disease prevention.]
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