How to grow strong fingernails

There are many pages on the internet telling you how to grow strong fingernails, but virtually none give you the full story. So that is what we are going to do here and you too will have beautiful strong fingernails if you take our advice to heart. How come that we are so confident about this? Because customers give our telephonists positive feedback all the time! From photo models, celebrities to teenagers, to mums and… horse owners (hoof growth!), they all rave about Aloeride.

Fingernail facts

Your fingernails grow at an average rate of 3.47 millimeters per month. Full-length growth takes up to 6 months. Because you are physically active during the day, nails grow faster during the day. Because it is warmest in summer, nails grow faster during the summer. Because blood circulation slows with age, nails grow faster when you are younger. During the menopause, as the primary female sex hormone oestrogen levels drop, so does collagen production, which is why brittler nails being one of the more surprising symptoms associated with menopause. The bottom line is that nails grow thanks to the nutrients in blood and blood circulation to the fingers. That is where Aloeride comes into it.

The shortcut to how to grow strong fingernails

As you know, your nails are made from keratin. The building blocks for keratin are fibrous structural proteins. That is, polypeptide strands depending on amino acid composition and their sequence + tight disulphide bridges + several inorganic minerals + several B vitamins. Precisely such nutrients is what Aloeride brings to the table in abundance, hence the positive feedback we get.

Aloeride gives you 7 out of the 8 dietary essential amino acids (Isoleucine, Leucine, Lysine, Methionine, Phenylalanine, Threonine, Valine, there’s no consensus on Tryptophan yet). Aloeride gives you 12 dietary non-essential amino acids (Alanine, Arginine, Asparagine, Cysteine, Glutamic Acid, Glycine, Histidine, Proline, Serine, Tyrosine, Glutamine, Aspartic Acid). Aloeride gives you vitamin B1, B2, B3, (indirectly B5), B6, B9, B12 and vitamin A and C. Aloeride gives you the inorganic minerals Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, Sodium, Zinc, Iron, Phosphorus, Manganese, Molybdenum, Copper, Boron and Chromium. Next to all these nutrients, Aloeride firmly supports your digestion and the uptake of your dietary nutrient. One vegetarian capsules at your washstand in the morning and one at your washstand at night, it is so simple to grow strong healthy fingernails…

Strong nails without the toxic trio

Those who regularly apply nail care products should use nail polishes without ‘the toxic trio’ toluene, formaldehyde and dibutyl phthalate. We are red flagging this because epidemiological studies by Dr. Thu Quach PhD (Research Scientist, Cancer Prevention Institute of California and Director of Community Health and Research, Asian Health Services and Consulting Assistant Professor of Epidemiology at Stanford University) on workers in nail salons (nail parlors) highlighted the dangers of the toxic trio in nail care products.
Toluene, a solvent that creates a smooth finish across the nail and keeps the pigment from separating in the bottle, can affect the central nervous system and cause reproductive harm.
Formaldehyde, used as a nail-hardening agent, is known to cause cancer.
Dibutyl phthalate, added to polishes to provide flexibility, is linked to reproductive problems.

Tips for nails that aren’t right

Whole nails are very pale – it is a blood issue or the lack thereof, so check for anaemia (also see vitamin B12 below) and malnutrition in eating disorders; check for congestive heart failure if you also have shortness of breath during exercise (other than unfit); check for liver disease like hepatitis if your alcohol intake is significant.
Yellow Nails – the most common cause is a fungal infection. Here’s a useful tip, 83% of participants in a study showed a positive treatment effect by using Vicks VapoRub. Apply that on top of your nail as well as under the front end of it. Vicks VapoRub contains camphor, menthol, petrolatum, eucalyptus, cedarleaf, nutmeg, thymol and turpentine oil.
Cracked or Split Nails – Dry, brittle nails that frequently crack or split have been linked to thyroid disease. A swollen fingertip, curved nail, thickening skin above a nail are often signs of thyroid disease.
Dark lines under the nail – brown colouring running into the cuticle, notably if it is on one finger only, should be investigated by a medical doctor (who may refer you to a dermatologist) without delay. The doctor will check for melanoma.
Nails and thyroid hormones – Ask your doctor to check your thyroid hormones if you have fatigue + hair loss (alopecia or thinning of the outer end of eyebrows) + low libido + dry skin + unexplained weight gain. In hypothyroidism your nails will change and may show Alunula (absence of the little white moons), Onychorrhexis (longitudinal ridging of the nails), Beau’s Lines (transverse grooves of the nail), Koilonychia (spoon shaped nail), Onycholysis (separation of the nail from the nail bed), Pterygium Unguis (thinning of the nail fold and spreading of the cuticle over the nail plate), Onychomycosis (fungal infection of the nail). Take note that Iodine is a major component of thyroid hormones as well as that it creates a microenvironment for thyroid cells to thrive in. Half a teaspoon (3 grams) of iodised salt over the course of the day is enough to avoid a deficiency. Take note that without enough Selenium your body cannot convert the inactive T4 thyroid hormone into the active T3 thyroid hormone. The latter is the thyroid hormone that communicates directly with your DNA and speeds up your metabolism and enables other thyroid hormone functions necessary for good health.

Nutrients necessary for strong fingernails

If you are familiar with our MD’s articles then you will know that he is very keen on clever vegetable/fruit smoothies. The reason for that is, that clever smoothies take the difficulty out of thinking about individual nutrients commonly mentioned by those writing about how to grow strong fingernails. Nature works thanks to many nutrients working together. Thus increasing the intake of one nutrient is not how to grow strong fingernails naturally. Still, let’s go through a few of them:

Biotin (known as vitamin B7 and vitamin H) promotes healthy cell growth and aids in the metabolism of protein-building amino acids that are essential for nail growth. Taken as a supplement on its own, it takes over half a year to make an appreciable difference. So don’t take it on its own! Deficiency in Biotin is rare simply because it is found in liver meat, egg yolk, dairy products, yeast, salmon, avocado, sweet potato, nuts, seeds and cauliflower. No matter in which way you ‘graze’, you would be hard pressed to be deficient in B7 unless your gut doesn’t work particularly well, e.g. problems like dysbiosis. One study in 35 people with brittle fingernails found that 2.5 mg of biotin per day for six weeks to seven months improved symptoms in 63% of participants.

Silicon (a mineral) is the essential cofactor for prolylhydroxylase. Without this enzyme, both function and proliferation of fibroblasts (make connective tissue), chondroblasts (make cartilage) and osteoblasts (make bone) declines. The body levels of Silicon and these functions decline as you age. Adding it through diet helps with osteoporosis, heart disease and stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, hair loss, hair/nail quality and skin healing. It must be a part of your strong fingernails diet. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology published (2012) that Silicon significantly increased hair growth after 3-6 months of taking Silicon. Hair strands with higher Silicon content had a lower fall-out rate as well as greater brightness. To increase your Silica levels through diet, ingest lots of dark leafy greens, leeks, cucumber, celery (see our clever smoothies) green beans and asparagus. Drink horsetail extract (rich in Silicic acid and Silicates and providing 2% to 3% elemental Silicon) also would boost your Silicon levels:
1 cup of boiled water
2-3 tsp of fresh or dried horsetail herb
leave 5-10 minutes to brew
strain the tea
add a little raw honey to offset bitterness

Protein As you read above, the building blocks for keratin are fibrous structural proteins. So it stands to reason that adding more protein to your diet might be a good idea. Point is, that your body needs to digest proteins into aminoacids before anything positive is going to happen to your nails. Not everybody digests proteins well. Which is why ready-served aminoacids, notably in the very broad spectrum in Aloeride aloe vera, make quicker inroads. That is why it’s one of the favourite strong fingernails home remedies.

Vitamin C is essential for the production of collagen, a protein that gives shape, strength and integrity to many tissues. It is the building block of fingernails, hair and teeth. Vitamin C is an essential nutrient i.e. cannot be produced by your body. Citrus fruit destined for supermarkets are plucked off the tree so early now, that their level of vitamin C can be surprisingly low. Boosting vit C levels is quickest achieved via a well-made supplement like Vitamin C & Rosehips (ring01435 882880 quote Practitioner 191502). Red bell peppers have more than twice the vitamin C of an orange! Fresh tree-ripened oranges, strawberries, kiwi, bell peppers, green vegetables and tomatoes are good dietary sources of vitamin C.

Vitamin B12 plays a role in the development of red blood cells and iron absorption, both of which are necessary for keeping nails strong and healthy. B12 can only be absorbed by the body if bonded to the gastric intrinsic factor.  IgG antibodies against intrinsic factor are found in 50 to 70 percent of people with Pernicious Anaemia. Vegans and vegetarians stand a risk of becoming deficient in B12 because the best sources of it are foods of animal origin. The Journal of Family Practice published in 2012 that vitamin B12 deficiency can affect nails by turning them entirely blue, or causing blueish-black pigment with ‘wavy longitudinal dark streaks, brownish network like pigmentation and longitudinal darkened streaks’. Such changes were reversible and resolved with B12 supplementation therapy. Five foods rich in B12 recommended by Harvard Medical School are Beef (3 ounces contains 1.5mcg), Eggs (1 large egg contains 0.6mcg), Fortified cereal (1 cup contains 6mcg), Salmon (3 ounces contains 4.9mcg) and Milk (1 cup contains 1.2mcg). Adults need 2.4 mcg of vitamin B12 a day.

Folate (vitamin B9) is important for nail growth and health by contributing to red blood cell formation and the development of new cells. During pregnancy you need to take extra folate obviously. Folate can be found in dark green vegetables, citrus fruits, beans, peas, lentils, nuts, seeds and avocado. Veggies, nuts, seeds and avocado can be included in the clever smoothies. It is the easiest strong fingernails diet.

Magnesium is necessary for hundreds of enzymes reactions in your body. One of these processes is protein synthesis which is where nail growth comes into it. Vertical ridges in your nails may be a sign of a magnesium deficiency. Clever smoothies with dark green leafy vegetables are an excellent start to ingest more Magnesium. Whole wheat, whole grains, quinoa, almonds, cashews, peanuts, edamame, black beans are good sources too.

Zinc is required for many reactions in your body, including the growth and division of cells. Nails are made up of a type of cell that grows and divides rapidly. Because of this fast production, a steady supply of zinc is needed to promote the healthy growth of nails. Inadequate zinc intake can contribute to a degeneration of your nail plate, causing the appearance of white spots on your nails. Animal proteins like beef, poultry, fish and eggs are rich sources of zinc. However, soy, chickpeas, black beans, nuts (e.g. almonds and cashews) and seeds also contain it.