Dare to go Bare

While I have always wanted to be one of those ladies with a perfect French manicure all the time, my job at the hospital prohibits me from doing so. Instead, my precious tips encounter almost hourly hand washing with skin drying soap or endure the alcoholic sting of hand sanitizer. So alas, I have decided that I can be the girl with perfectly healthy nails au natural!
Going nude with your nails may help you to uncover many unknown things about what’s going on with your body. Just like our skin, nails are our body’s natural barometer of deficiencies we may have.
Deliciously healthy nails are somewhat smooth (slight vertical ridges are normal) and have a pinkish nail bed (this is indicative of healthy blood flow and a healthy heart!). But if you decide to swipe off that $35+ manicure to go bare and notice some abnormalities, your diet may be to blame.

Some examples of nail abnormalities are: 

-Spoon shaped nails (indicative or Iron deficiency)
-White Spots (vitamin and mineral deficiency ex. Zinc)
-Thin Nails (vitamin B12 deficiency)
-Horizontal Ridges (physical or mental stress)
-Discoloration (well, give your nails a rest from those crazy colors for at least a week, then see if the color came from you “Fire Engine Red” polish. Otherwise speak to your doctore, as discoloration can be from other health problems)
Nails are made up of the protein Keratin, so foods high in protein such as legumes, nuts, meats and fish may help you whip your tips into shape! Also, foods high in calcium like dairy products and green leafy vegetables might be just the ticket to strong, healthy nails! And while I don’t like to endorse supplement use, a good multivitamin, especially if your 50+years of age may be a good option for you!
So I dare you to go bare with your nails and become in tune with your bodies nutritional needs! That’s my Beauty Recipe!