Take the Nail Test

Condition

May indicate a lack of:

Things to include in your diet:

Dry Cuticles

Vitamin C, Folic Acid, Protein

VITAMIN C can be found in a wide variety of fruit and vegetables. Good sources include peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, sweet potatoes, oranges and kiwi fruit.

FOLIC ACID is found in broccoli, Brussels sprouts, asparagus, peas, chickpeas and brown rice
PROTEIN is found in meat and fish, as well as cereals, dairy products, nuts, lentils, pulses and some vegetables

White Bands Across Nails

Protein

See above

Dryness and Brittleness

Vitamin A

VITAMIN A is found in cheese, eggs, oily fish (such as mackerel), milk, fortified margarine and yoghurt.

Fragility

Vitamin B

VITAMIN B is found in a variety of foods including pork, chicken, turkey, cod, bread, whole cereals (such as oatmeal, wheatgerm and rice), eggs, vegetables, soya beans, peanuts, milk, potatoes and some fortified breakfast cereals

Horizontal and Vertical Ridges

Vitamin B

See above

Excessive Dryness

Vitamin B12

VITAMIN B12 is found in meat, salmon, cod, milk, cheese, eggs, yeast extract, and some fortified breakfast cereals.

Rounded and Curved Nail Ends

Vitamin B12

See above

Darkened Nails

Vitamin B12

See above

Spoon Nails

Iron

IRON is found in liver, meat, beans, nuts, dried fruit (such as dried apricots), whole grains (such as brown rice), fortified breakfast cereals, soybean flour and most dark green leafy vegetables (such as watercress and curly kale).

Vertical Ridges

Iron

See above

White Spots in Nails

Zinc

ZINC is found in meat, shellfish, milk and dairy foods such as cheese, bread, and cereal products such as wheatgerm.

Fungus Under and Around Nails

Lactobacilli (Friendly Bacteria)

LACTOBACILLI can be found in probiotics, such as drinks and yoghurts.

Splitting Nails

Hydrochloric Acid

HYDROCHLORIC ACID production can be stimulated with cayenne pepper or vinegar, and is helped Vitamin B Complex and Folic Acid