Some of the common nail complaints we hear are thin, dry, brittle and or cracked nails, horizontal or vertical ridges, rounded, curved or spoon shaped, white spots, hangnails, fungus, etc. Can you guess the root cause for these problems? If you said poor diet, you are correct!

According to R.G. Heft, author of Hot and Cold Diseases, a book based on traditional Chinese and Ayurvedic medicines, the body digests, transforms food - nutrients in to blood in to structure, in to function, then, finally, in to health or disease. There are only two kinds of nutrients, foods either for building or for cleansing. Protein and fat, meat eggs, chicken, cheese, etc. build and fuel all structure and function. Water, sugars, minerals, fruits, vegetables, grains, etc. reduce, cleanse, cool and moisten.

The correct amount of building and cleansing produces and maintains the correct amount of structure and function: size, thickness, strength, color,etc. of the nails. Any amounts, greater or less, in the extreme, tend to weaken, thin, break, thicken, distort and or discolor the nails.

The nails are primarily protein (keratin). Does that sound familiar, as in hair? Low protein and low fat (milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, beans, nuts and seeds) diets, in the extreme, tend to weaken, thin the blood, which then weakens, thins everything else, including the nails. Protein and fat build and fuel. Low protein and low fat tends to thin, fall apart which is great for excess (high cholesterol, arteriosclerosis, tumors, cancer, etc.) that which needs to fall apart, dissolve, be eliminated, but not deficiency ( weak, thin, cracked).

Low protein, low fat (milk, yogurt, cottage cheese,beans, nuts, seeds, grains, etc.) and high carbohydrate diets in the extreme, tend to weaken digestion. Digestion digests or transforms food, nutrients into blood into structure and function.

Protein and fat build and fuel. Low protein and low fat diets, in excess, weaken all function, including digestion. Too many carbs (grain, pasta, bread, salads, raw vegetable, tropical fruits, juices, shakes, etc.), in the extreme, tend to dilute, clog and weaken digestion, acid and enzymes, decreasing nutrient absorption, blood, hair, skin, nails, bones, etc, and the general ability to transform.

Many women tend to eat low protein, low fat and high carb diets. Because of menstruation, they loose blood three to seven days every month for 30+ years. Blood carries nutrients. The combination of anemic diet and menstruation makes women more susceptible to blood, protein and fat deficiency, which tends to cause thin, cracked and or distorted nails.

So, according to R. . Heft, to have beautiful nails, you should increase protein and fat, especially animal products. Eat more green vegetables (kale, broccoli, collards, green cabbage, celery, etc.) Green vegetables are high in minerals and other cleansing nutrients that build the nails while improving circulation. Decrease raw vegetables, salads, tropical fruits, juices, smoothies, cold drinks, etc. if you suffer from weak digestion, fatigue, anemia, coldness, weak nails, etc.

Avoid coffee, caffeine, which tends to acidify the blood. Acidic blood tends to drain calcium and other minerals used to buffer.

So, if you really want nice nails, you might want to follow some of these nutritional guidelines. And it you find all of this too overwhelming, I would recommend using Isagenix to supplement your diet!