Have you ever watched the movie classic, "Gone with the Wind"? When Rhett Butler takes hold of Scarlett’s hands, he can instantly tell that she’s been working hard. Her hands are a dead give-away. But it’s not just calluses or a case of dry skin that divulge your secrets. It can be readily apparent by examining your nails if you are getting the proper nutrients that a good diet provides.

You might be wondering how your nails could possibly show signs of poor nutrition. Thin, splitting nails are often the first clue that you are lacking some essential vitamins or minerals. This tell-tale sign can also indicate psoriasis, a chronic skin disease, or a fungal infection. You would be wise to check it out and begin treating the condition immediately.

Your hair can offer another clue that you need to concentrate on increasing vitamins or minerals in your diet. If your hair is falling out or you have a lot of split ends, it can be a warning sign that you are suffering from some nutritional deficiencies. It can also signal significant health problems, such as severe anemia, lupus, or hormonal imbalances. In any case, you should consult your dermatologist to identify the cause. With a blood sample a lab can determine iron, zinc, and biotin (vitamin B) levels, run a thyroid panel, check for anemia, or other diseases.

Not all hair and nail problems are caused by medical conditions. Other factors, such as the environment, can play a role. Air pollution, overuse of blow driers, and chemicals can cause your hair to lose its luster and the ends to split.

After you have eliminated medical or environmental causes and determined that your diet is the root cause of your problems, examine your eating habits. Are you consuming a lot of junk food? Haven’t had a chance to sit down for a well-balanced dinner in a while? For your hair and your nails to grow properly, they must have proteins, vitamins, and minerals. These elements will strengthen your nails and hair to withstand the damage that is a result of daily living.

A diet rich in proteins (salmon, tuna), calcium (green leafy vegetables – the more color the better), selenium (whole grains, nuts), zinc (lean red meat, eggs), and biotin (soy products, oats, nuts, carrots) provide these vital nutrients to every part of your body, including your nails and hair. For those people who have busy schedules and can’t always guarantee that they’ll be able to eat well-balanced meals, they should consider taking vitamin supplements. Ask your doctor before taking any vitamins or minerals. With proper nutrition when people compliment your nails or hair, they’ll admire your good health as well as your good looks.

Related Articles
	Beauty Through the Ages There`s so many old rules of thumb by which to live that it`s sometimes fun just to sit and reminisce about them. What`s most amusing is that the majority of them had no real logic at all and that today we hear them and wonder where on earth some of them came from.   ...Read more		The Truth About Beauty The truth: Our society is obsessed with beauty and a lot of women are willing to do almost anything in pursuit of it. These truths make it difficult to be a woman sometimes, but this doesn`t mean that we women have to live our lives by this truth, or that is should dictate how we feel about ourselves. ...Read more