Nails are an area of the body that is made up of different layers of a protein called keratin, which is responsible for keeping them strong and healthy. When our body does not receive enough keratin, the nails become weak and brittle. Brittle nails are those that do not appear very thick, have little resistance and break very easily.
If your nails present with these characteristics, it can surely be due to several reasons, such as bodily disorders, external aggressions or a diet deficient in some essential vitamins to maintain nails in good condition. Therefore, in this oneHOWTO article we explain the 6 vitamins for brittle nails.
Biotin or vitamin B7
Biotin It is a vitamin that is within the vitamin B complex and is a coenzyme that is responsible for multiple processes that occur in our body. Some of these processes in which biotin acts are to help metabolize proteins and other nutrients, keep muscle cells in good condition and also ensure that hair, nails and skin remain healthy and strong.
That is why we include biotin in the list of vitamins for brittle nails Since thanks to its metabolizing and strengthening properties, it helps the principle of the nail (the whitest part) to improve and grow stronger and it also helps the nails to become thicker again.
This vitamin can be found in foods rich in biotin such as egg yolk, brewer’s yeast, wheat germ and oats among others. In addition, you can also include it in your diet through vitamin supplements in the form of tablets and / or capsules.
Vitamin B9 or folic acid
Vitamin B9 or also known as folic acid It also belongs to the vitamin B complex and is an essential nutrient due to its regenerative properties that help accelerate the growth and renewal of many structures in our body.
Thanks to these properties, folic acid also influences the state of our nails since it is necessary for the production of cells and their structures. A deficiency of vitamin B9 would affect the health of our nails since it is necessary for the regeneration and growth of new cells, which is why, in the end, they would become brittle nails due to poor growth.
Between the foods rich in folic acid we find: asparagus, beets, spinach, avocados, hazelnuts, lentils and chickpeas among others.
Vitamin B12 or cobalamin
Vitamin B12 or also known as cobalamin It is also considered an essential nutrient within our body as it helps to synthesize hemoglobin and in the production of cells, including the red blood cells that are responsible for transporting oxygen for the body to function correctly.
We include cobalamin in the list of 6 vitamins for brittle nails for its essential function in the production of keratin. Low levels of vitamin B12 can cause, due to lack of energy, that some of the functions that our body performs are not performed correctly, including the production of keratin, which will eventually lead to the formation of weak and brittle nails. .
Vitamin A
Vitamin a It is also included in the group of vitamins to improve brittle nails as it has properties that repair many tissues in our body, including the nails. It has also been shown that a deficiency of this vitamin can cause problems such as weak nails and easy to break and also a slower growth so, it can be considered a necessary nutrient to maintain good health of our nails.
In addition to its tissue repair function, vitamin A also contains antioxidant properties, which are ideal for protecting our nails from external agents that weaken their structure.
Vitamin C or ascorbic acid
Vitamin C or also known as ascorbic acid can also prevent the appearance of brittle nails due to its following functions and properties:
- Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant that protects and prevents both skin and nails from cell-damaging free radicals.
- It has immunological properties that help to increase our defenses thus preventing some diseases that can affect the state of our nails, making them brittle and weak.
- Vitamin C facilitates the absorption of iron in our body. This function is important since the lack of iron can lead to brittle nails, due to the lack of keratin production.
Vitamin E
Finally, vitamin E is also included in this list of vitamins for brittle nails Due to its powerful antioxidant property, which helps strengthen and increases the resistance of the nails against free radicals and external agents that weaken the structure of the nails such as sunlight, air pollution, the pH of water and tobacco .
In addition, vitamin E can also combat other problems that can occur in the nails such as wounds that occur in the skin that surrounds the nails thanks to its repairing and healing properties; and it also helps the nails to be stronger and more durable.
Vitamin E can be found in the following foods: wheat germ oil, sunflower seeds, almonds, oily fish and hazelnut oil.
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