Strengthen Your Nails The Easy Way

While there are a wide array of products available claiming to add nutrients and strength to weak and fragile fingernails, there are much simpler ways to keep your nails in great shape.

We use our nails everyday and it's not uncommon to have the odd chip or breakage on a fingernail. However, if you find your nails are constantly frail and break often, your body is missing some essential nutrients that your fingernails need to stay strong.

You can apply nail serums and hardeners to combat the problem with moderate success. However, consistent nail breakage is often a sign that your body needs a boost in its diet. Nails gain their strength from your body's iron supply, so weak nails indicate you're not eating enough iron rich foods.

Iron is naturally found in many meat products, such as beef, chicken or veal. Certain cuts of meat, such as beef liver, have higher concentrations of iron. If you're not a big meat eater, don't worry. There are plenty of foods that will let you naturally increase your iron intake without resorting to supplements.

Beans, lentils, tofu, spinach and whole grains are just a few of the sources you can nibble on to add some much needed iron to your system and boost your nail strength.

Calcium and Vitamin D are also great for your nails. The most common source of calcium is from dairy products, such as milk, yogurt and cheese.

If you're looking for a natural pick me up for your nails, try soaking them in a little lime juice. Not only will it remove discolouration from your fingernails, it will also add a glossy shine. If dryness is a problem, olive oil is a long time champion for increasing hydration, while a soak in mustard oil will improve the circulation of nails.

Nails, like all of your body, don't need a lot of fancy ingredients to stay strong and healthy. A well balanced diet and good eating habits are the best long term solutions for naturally beautiful fingernails.

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