How Your Hair and Nails Forecast Your Health

Our health is backed by surefire signs that reflect either good or poor health. A hardcore athlete running sprints three times a day and eating a well-balanced diet has energy reserves from here to Mars. A preschooler scratching his hair endlessly is most likely suffering from lice. Like other body parts, your hair, hands, and nails can paint a picture of your overall health. Hard laborers have the stereotype of carrying calloused hands hardened by years of work. By looking at the condition of your hair and nails, you can know if you are following a correct diet regimen.

For starters, nails are excellent displayers of good or poor nutrition. The first sign of an ineffective diet is when you develop thin, splitting nails. This symptom is due to a lack of important vitamins and minerals to your system. In addition, splitting nails can be a sign of skin disease and infection. Your hair is also an excellent gauge to health. If clumps of hair accumulate on your shower train, it may be due to a lack of vitamins and minerals. In the worse case scenario, it can mean health problems like hormonal imbalances and lupus. To be on the safe side, visit your doctor and have a blood test done. Blood tests can detect vitamin deficiencies, like calcium. In scientific circles, it is said that too many white deposits found underneath the nail is a calcium deficiency. Take a quick look at them to see if this may be the case.

Keep in mind that poor nails and hair may not be because of your diet. Environmental factors may also be to blame. A hot climate can cause extreme split end damage to your hair along with the use of blowers, which 'cook' your hair and make it lose its luster. Show some savvy by examining your current diet. Are you eating too much Starburst and licorice? Are potato chips lining your food cabinet? If so, its time to rearrange your eating habits to include foods rich in proteins, calcium, zinc and biotin which are proven hair and nail nurturers. You can get these vitamins through green vegetables, whole grains, eggs, and nuts. Don't forget red meat and soy products as well. For those on the run, taking a multi-vitamin tablet once daily is enough. With the right nutritional regimen, you are virtually assured of a healthy head and perfectly kept nails.