Vitamin A for Healthy Nails
Vitamin A is important for vision, bone growth & reproduction, it helps regulate the immune system, promotes healthy skin, mucus membranes & (of course) proper nail growth.
Generally speaking, eating a balanced diet of whole foods with plenty of fresh fruit & vegetables should provide adequate sources of this vitamin. With proper diet, vitamin A deficiency is rare in western cultures & it should be noted that this vitamin can be toxic to the body in large doses.
Beware, too much of Vitamin A can cause hands & the soles of your feet to turn orange.
Two types of A
There are two different types of this vitamin & sorry vegetarians but animal sources are actually easier for our bodies to use.
Preformed vitamin A (retinol)
Comes only from animal sources.
Provitamin A carotenoid
Comes from colourful fruit & vegetables, the body converts these carotenoids to vitamin A.
Food Sources
There are a number of tasty sources.
Animal Sources
Liver, butter, cheese, eggs, yoghurt, milk, oily fish (such as mackerel) & fish liver oil.
Fruit & Veg Sources
Tomatoes, carrots, cantaloupe, sweet potato, spinach, apricots, broccoli, pumpkin, red palm oil.
Signs of Deficiency
Vitamin A aids in processing protein, which is an important part of healthy nails. Signs that you aren’t getting enough vitamin A in your diet include dry, brittle nails often with hangnails and/or irritated cuticles.
Get Your Vitamins Every Day
Remember, it’s always better to get your vitamins from the food you eat, not a little vitamin pill. A fresh, unprocessed diet should supply you with all of the vitamins you need for long, strong & healthy nails.
Be sure to check out the other vitamins that are important for nail health and stay tuned for info about vitamin B next week.
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