Nail logical 👀

Do you ever care about your nails? The fun fact is your nails can determine your health. Our body is very intelligent, if something is wrong with our body it shows on the outside, and if we observe that we can cure anything before it becomes too difficult.

What are nails? Why should you care for them?

Your nails are made of keratin(type of protein), which is the same substance that our body uses to create hair and the top layer of skin. When cells at the nail root grow, it pushes out old nail cells. That is how a nail grows. Since the nail bed is on top of blood vessels, our nail looks pink in color.

Fun fact: Nail grows at the rate of 2.5 mm per month 

How does a healthy nail look?

It should look uniform in color without any discoloration.

Do your nails look like this? 

1. White spots on nails:

 

White spots can occur on the nail for a variety of reasons:

-if you had a nail injury, then it can cause white spots.

-Or, it means you have calcium, zinc, or magnesium deficiency

It is due to poor diet or mal-absorption of nutrients.

Reduce intake of unhealthy foods and take more nuts, legumes, and seeds.

2. Pale nails:

 

Pale nails are due to anemia(low blood cells ) or iron/b12 deficiency

If you experience fatigue, frequently getting hurt, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, or your tongue and under-eye is light pink then it's anemia.

3. Yellow nails:

 

It may be due to several factors

- It can be due to genetics, low immunity, liver issues(jaundice), or excessive use of heavily pigmented nail polish.

4. Nail-biting:

 

It is when one is anxious or stressed bites the nail. It is done without any awareness. Saliva can mix with germs on the nails and enter your body and when the nail gets exposed to saliva, it gets prone to infection.

Do you wear nail polish?

 

Nail painting is seen as a form of self-expression. But what does nail polish contain? 

It contains: 

• Dibutyl Phthalate (DBP): It makes products more flexible. Short-term exposure to DBP causes nausea and irritated eyes, skin, nose, mouth, and throat. Some studies indicate DBP to have a damaging effect on the reproductive system (especially in males).
• Toluene: It is a colorless, water-insoluble liquid that is used as a paint thinner. Exposure to toluene vapors causes dizziness, numbness, dry skin, and irritated nose, eyes, and throat. 
• Formaldehyde:  It is used as a paint hardener. The quantity of formaldehyde is a lot on nail polish, which is around 0.5%.

But isn't nail a dead tissue, then what's the problem?

Even though it is dead tissue, toxins in nail polish gets absorbed while eating or enters the blood through the nail bed.

And Ayurveda also suggests that nail symbolizes bones and hair health

Nail care tips(Dos):

1. Apply nail polish on special occasions and remove them at night (just like makeup).

2. Apply cold-pressed sesame oil or jojoba oil on the nails to make them stronger.

Pro tip: Avoid inhaling the smell of nail polish because in long term it will cause serious damage to the lungs.

Nail care tips(Don't):

1. Don't leave your hands in water for too long. It may cause them to bend and break(Have you heard of the term "Duck nails"?)

2. Don't bite your nails and cuticles and please don't eat the nails when you bite them.

3. If the nail is half-broken, don't pull off the nail. It might cut off deep into the nail bed. Always use a nail cutter.