Foods for strong and healthy nails that you must try

As with skin, nails also need to be cared for and given nutritional intake to stay healthy. Healthy nails usually have a pink color, are not pale, have a white semicircle on the nails, and are not yellow in color. While brittle, cracked or discolored nails can be an indication of a lack of nutrition or even a health problem, such as hypothyroidism.

Eating a balanced diet that contains protein, vitamins and minerals will not only make your body healthy, but you will also make your nails look stronger and stronger.

Food for strong and healthy nails

Here are 6 foods for nails that you can consume to make your nails strong and healthy:

1. Apricots, bananas, grapes

The food for the first nails is fruit. Who doesn't know the benefits of eating fruit? The fruit is rich in vitamins that make nails stronger.

Some sources of fruit that can be used as food for nails are dried apricots which are rich in vitamin A, kiwi for vitamin C, and bananas for vitamin B6. In addition, you can also eat blueberries, blackberries and grapes which are high in antioxidants, which can improve nail health.

2. Vegetables that contain vitamin A, calcium and iron

Vegetables are rich in minerals and vitamins for a healthy body and strong nails. You can eat sweet potatoes, carrots and dark green vegetables - such as broccoli, spinach and asparagus which contain lots of vitamin A. You are also strongly encouraged to eat lots of other vegetables that are rich in calcium, iron and antioxidants.

According to a spokesman for the American Dermatological Society, Dr. D'Anne Kleinsmith, if you have curved nails it could be an indication that the body is deficient in iron.

3. Whole Grains

Nutritionist Ian Marber, known as the Food Doctor, recommends several whole grains that contain complex carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals as nourishment for healthy, strong nails.

Grains such as rye, barley and sunflower seeds, brown rice, and buckwheat seeds are rich in vitamin E, the B-complex vitamin, biotin and protein, which can make nails stronger and healthier. You can add these grains to cereals, bread dough, pancakes, or other foods according to your taste.

4. Eggs

Eggs contain a lot of protein which is essential for strong and healthy nails. Apart from providing a source of protein for maintaining nail health, eggs also contain a number of nutrients needed to keep nails stronger. For example iron, vitamin B6 - biotin, vitamin B12, vitamin A, and vitamin E.

The content of vitamin B6 found in egg yolks can help restore brittle or dry nails, making them thicker. You can eat eggs by boiling them or using them as an omellete or scrambled eggs. Eggs are a low-calorie and low-fat food choice, as long as you eat them in portions that are not excessive.

5. Meat

Eating lean meat has proven to be good for your health. You can find high levels of protein and iron from red meats, such as steaks and beef. According to American Family Physician, iron deficiency is associated with koilonychia - a nail disease characterized by spoon-shaped nails.

6. Peas

If you are a vegetarian, it is recommended that you eat soybeans, peas or other beans which are good sources of protein for a balanced diet. The reason is, nuts contain protein which not only increases nail growth, but is also a source of vitamins and minerals such as iron, zinc and biotin which are very good for nail health.

The content of biotin (also known as vitamin B6) has been shown to significantly increase nail plate thickness and reduce nail brittleness. In one study, Swiss researchers gave 2.5mg of biotin daily to a group of women with brittle nails. After a six-month trial period, women's nail thickness increased by 25%.