The health of your nails tells a lot about your general health. Your nails are mostly made up of a protein called keratin, which protects the sensitive nerves at the tips of your toes and fingers. Proper blood supply should keep your nails pink. Nail problems usually indicate nutrient deficiency or are caused by emotional or physical trauma.

The Signs and What You Can Do

? Dry and brittle nails indicate a vitamin A and/or calcium deficiency. Eat more carrots, sweet potato and spinach.

? White nails may indicate anaemia or a liver or kidney problem. Include wheatgress in your diet.

? Vertical or horizontal ridges can indicate vitamin B deficiency or a tendency to develop arthritis. Eat more wholegrains, oily fish, avocado and dark green leafy vegetables.

? Round or dark nail tips may indicate a vitamin B12 deficiency. Include shitake mushrooms, tempeh, trout, yoghurt, miso and sea vegetables.

? Splitting nails indicate a reduced hydrochloric acid production. Eat umeboshi plums.

? White spots can indicate zinc deficiency. Eat more oysters, brown rice, pepitas, miso, sardines and legumes. Avoid stress, smoking and excessive sweating.

? Inflammation around the nail bed indicates a Vitamin C deficiency or arthrities. Include broccoli and capsicum and avoid red meat, dairy and smoking.

? Cut and cracked nails mean your body is dehydrated. Drink more water.

? Drittle nails can indicate thyroid problems, iron deficiency or poor circulation. Exercise, relax and include wheatgrass in your diet.

Healhy Nail Tips

? Food high in calcium and magnesium are needed for nail growth. Include wheatgrass and sea vegetables, dark greeen leafy vegetables, sunflower seeds and tofu.

? Essential fatty acids promote healthy hair, skin and nails. Include flaxseed oil, soy products, royal jelly, fish oil, parsley or pumpkin seeds.

? Protein-rich food such as legumes, grains, nuts and seeds aid nail growth.

? Sea vegetables are helpful due to their high mineral content and ability to pull toxins from our body.

? Broccoli, fish and onions are high in silicon and sulphur, which are needed for strong nails.

? Carrot juice is high in calcium and phosphoris, which strengthen nails.

? Avoid chemicals on your hands as they dry them out, cause nail problems and can lead to contact dermatitis.

Feed Your Skin

Like your nails, what is going on inside your body and what you expose it to directly affects your skin's health and appearance. Proper sleep is important, as is avoiding alcohol and environmental toxins and improving poor digestion. Try to reduce exposure to sun in the afternoon as it dehydrates us.

Your Skin Care First Aid Kit

? Bruising: include Vitamin C food such as broccoli, guava and blackcurrants.

? Reduce inflammation and weeping lesions with essential fatty acids found in fish, flax seeds, nuts, seeds and dark green lefy vegetables.

? Lesions and growth: vitamins V foods such as legumes and wholegrains.

? Psoriasis, acne and skin tone: Vitamin A from yellow, green, red or orange foods and wheatgrass. Vitamin D (from the Sun) also helps with psoriasis.

? Eat umeboshi plums and follow rules for good digestion like eating before 8pm, chewing properly, eating simply and do nothing else while eating except eating!

? Do not have alcohol or cigarettes if you want nice skin.

? Avoid processed and refined foods.