Small Health Clues: Brittle Fingernails

Your nails keep breaking off or splintering and coming off in layers. So, what’s the obvious fix? Buy a nail strengthening polish and brush on a few coats prior to putting color on. But, doing this would be like continually slapping a Band-Aid on a wound that just won’t heal. There’s a reason for both and until you find the underlying problem, you’ll never actually “fix” anything. So, we are going to play a little game of sleuth and uncover some of the common issues that occur with your fingernails and what causes them:

Lines across your fingernails – these lines may pop up after an illness or if you are malnourished.

- Brittle or splitting nails – hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidsism or lack of adequate nutrition (most often iron deficiency or low biotin intake) can lead to brittle nails. If your toenails are strong and fingernails are not then an environmental cause may be to blame (winter heat, use of strong household cleaners or constantly washing and drying your hands).

If you have brittle nails, start wearing gloves when you wash dishes and clean your house, try non-acetone nail polish remover and apply lotion to your nails and cuticle areas often. Also, increase your intake of biotin-rich foods or can take this B vitamin as a supplement alone or in a B complex vitamin. Biotin rich foods include: tomatoes, romaine lettuce, carrots, oatmeal, onions, strawberries, Swiss chard, halibut, almonds and walnuts. Also, avoid raw egg whites or products that contain raw eggs since a protein in egg whites, avidin, can bind biotin preventing adequate absorption of this vitamin. When eggs are cooked, avidin no longer binds biotin.

- Abnormal shape (koilonychia) – if your fingernails have raised ridges are thin and curved inward, you probably have iron deficiency anemia.

- Pitting – depressions in your nail may be caused by psoriasis.

- General damage – disease, injury or illness can cause general damaged nails.

Here’s the bottom line – if you have issues with your fingernails that just won’t go away, even after your injury or illness has, it’s time to see a doctor. Sometimes seemingly little cues mean larger issues lie underneath.

Egg Recall: What You Need to Know

Eggs are one of my favorite foods, packed with protein and nutrients, but, I do play it safe when it comes to food safety. And, you should too. If you are concerned about the current egg recall, check the FDA’s website for continuously updated information: click here. Or better yet, click here for information on the exact brands and lots recalled.

And, if your eggs are among those recalled (Lucerne, Albertson, Mountain Dairy, Ralph’s, Boomsma’s, Sunshine, Hillandale, Tafficanda, Farm Fresh, Cal Maine, Shoreland, Lund, Dutch Farms, Kemp, and Pacific Coast – though there may be more as this recall is growing) or you aren’t sure, return them for a refund and then throw them out.

Young children, the elderly and those with a weakened immune system need to be especially concerned about consuming anything that can put them at risk for a food born illness such as salmonella. However, everyone should employ food safety standards at home and when eating out (check the restaurant, is it clean? Do the employees use gloves? What’s the Department of Health Score for the restaurant)? Because, it just makes good sense to do so!

At home, keep cold foods cold and hot foods hot. Be wary of buffets and avoid food that has been sitting out for hours on end (or touched by many people; think twice about that office picnic or office party – you never know how people handle food at home). Wash your hands thoroughly (for 20-30 seconds with soap; I can’t emphasize this enough as I’ve seen people go to the bathroom and eat without washing their hands more times then I can count). In fact, washing your hands is the easiest thing you can do to prevent yourself from getting sick and passing germs to other people!

For more information about safe egg handling, click here.

Cooking eggs thoroughly kills salmonella. However, when there is an outbreak, if your lot of eggs (or any other food) has been recalled, it’s best to play it safe and avoid eating them.