Finger nails indicate health conditions

Most of the times, by observing our body parts, we can identify the problems or diseases that we may get or going through. Finger nails also indicate us about our health conditions.

• When there is an excessive dryness with tendency to break, split, and crack in the nails, then they are called as Brittle nails. Reasons for getting brittle nails are dehydration, hands often in water, wearing dark nail polish without base coat, nail polish remover, aging, poor circulation, etc. They also indicate that the body is in need of vitamin A, vitamin B, calcium and Biotin.

• When the whole or part of nail is yellowish in color, they are called as yellow nails. Yellow nails are occurred due to tobacco stains, frequent use of dark nail polish without base coat, self- tanning products, Psoriasis, slower nail growth as we age.

• If the nail lifts up from skin underneath i.e., separation of nail from nail bed, then the possible causes are due to some oral contraceptives, psoriasis, impaired circulation, fungal infection, etc.

• Spoon-shaped nails i.e., nails curve upward in shape of spoon, instead of downward are caused due to anemia or iron deficiency.

• Blood in nail bed, cracked or split nail, ridging can be caused due to injury. For example, hitting on nail with hammer can cause temporary abnormality, but injury to the matrix where the nail develops can cause permanent deformity.

• Vertical ridges (grooves extending from nail base to tip) are caused due to slower circulation as we age. They also indicate that the body is in need of iron, vitamin B 12, folic acid.

• White bands or horizontal bands on nails are formed due to damage transmitted to matrix via nail, caused by overzealous manicures, typing, playing some musical instruments, etc.

• Horizontal ridges indicate that the body is stressed and in need of calcium and B complex.

• White spots on nails indicate zinc deficiency. These are caused may be due to trauma to the nail.

• Slow growth of nail indicates that we should increase amino acids in our diet.

• If the skin around nail is red, swollen and inflamed, then the condition is called as Paronychia. It is caused due to bacterial or yeast infection in nail.

• Dark band i.e., isolated dark band in nail, especially of concern to light-skinned people is caused due to melanoma and medications such as some antibiotics, etc.

• Beau’s lines (deep, horizontal ridges) are caused due to crash dieting, high fever, surgery, malnutrition, etc.

Common diet mistakes to avoid - 2

In our daily life, we commonly do some diet mistakes and should know how to avoid them. Oranges are rich in vitamin C. We generally, peel the orange and eat the fruit or squeeze the juice. It has a thick bitter rind that is usually discarded. The outermost layer of the rind can be grated and is called as orange zest. The white part of the rind, called the pericarp or albedo and including the pith, is a source of pectin and has nearly the same amount of vitamin C as the flesh. Orange peel has increased vitamin C and fiber. Orange peel can be consumed only if it is grown organically (without using any pesticides). Orange peel contains citral, an aldehyde that antagonizes the action of vitamin A. Therefore, anyone eating orange peels should make certain that their dietary intake of vitamin A is sufficient. Like all citrus fruits, the orange is acidic. Orange peel is used by gardeners as a slug repellent. Orange leaves can be boiled to make tea.

Olive oil, being almost pure fat, is dense in calories yet healthy, without adverse health effects. Olive oil is a source of at least 30 phenolic compounds. Unsaturated oils, such as olive oil, have a short shelf life and are prone to becoming rancid from oxidation, which will produce toxic byproducts and a bitter taste. Protection of unsaturated oils from heat and light will delay spoilage. Extra virgin olive oil is mostly used as a salad dressing and as an ingredient in salad dressings. It is also used with foods to be eaten cold. If uncompromised by heat, the flavor is stronger. It also can be used for sautéing. Epidemiological studies suggest that olive oil has a protective effect against certain malignant tumors in the breast, prostate, endometrium and digestive tract. Research has revealed that the type rather than the quantity of fat seems to have more implications for cancer incidence.




 Source: Wikipedia

Common diet mistakes to avoid -1

In our daily life, we commonly do some diet mistakes and should know how to avoid them. All of us know that eating good food or nutritious food can help us stay healthy. But do you know that the same nutritious food can make us unhealthy if we eat them in wrong proportions, wrong form or excess?  If your answer is no, then you should read about this.

Studies show that eating two or more uncooked egg- whites daily for several months can cause vitamin H (also called vitamin B7 or Biotin) deficiency.

This deficiency leads to hair-loss (include eyelashes and eyebrows), nails problem (i.e. may break, chip or flake easily), dermatitis (in the form of a scaly red rash around the eyes, nose and mouth, and genital area), conjunctivitis, depression, lethargy, hallucination, numbness and tingling, immune dysfunction, bacterial and fungal infections, decreased appetite and growth, etc.

Studies also show that, cooking and crushing tomatoes (canning process) and serving in oil-rich dishes (such as spaghetti sauce and pizza) greatly increases assimilation from the digestive tract into the bloodstream. Lycopene is fat-soluble, so the oil is said to help absorption. Lycopene in tomato paste is four times more bio-available than in fresh tomatoes. For this reason, tomato sauce is a preferable source as opposed to raw tomatoes. Processed tomato products such as pasteurized tomato juice, soup, sauce and ketchup contain the highest concentrations of bioavailable lycopene from tomato-based sources. Lycopene is not an essential nutrient for humans, but when absorbed from the stomach, lycopene is transported in the blood by various lipoproteins and accumulates in the liver, adrenal glands, and testes. Because preliminary research has shown an inverse correlation between consumption of tomatoes and cancer risk, lycopene has been considered a potential agent for prevention of some types of cancers. There are also cases of intolerance or allergic reaction to dietary lycopene, which may cause diarrhea, nausea, stomach- pain or cramps, gas, vomiting, and loss of appetite.

Source:Wikipedia