Nail strengthening
I’ve been trying for years to get my nails to grow without success. They are very soft and either split or break off. Sometimes, they even peel off in layers, which looks terrible. They are also full of vertical lines - almost ridges. What can I take to strengthen them?
Nail problems, especially flaking and splitting nails, can be a sign of a deficiency in essential fatty acids (EFAs). I know barely a week passes without these nutrients being recommended on this page and that since so many of us now cook with EFA-rich vegetable oils it would seem unlikely that you may be deficient, but many of these cooking oils contain rancid forms of these oils.
Lots of nutrients fall within the umbrella term of essential fatty acids but the one most closely linked with nail problems is a nutrient that is formed when the body converts fatty acids into hormone-like substances called prostaglandin. These play a role in the healthy functioning of every single organ and cell in the body so it will not be only your nails that improve. Gamma Linoleic Acid (GLA) from Evening Primrose oil converts into prostaglandins so supplement your diet with a daily dose (250mg twice a day) of either this herb or use Borage oil, which is another excellent source of GLA.
According to Swiss research, taking biotin (one of the B vitamins) will help strengthen your nails - but only if you take the same dose for long enough. They gave a daily dose of 2.5mg to women complaining of brittle nails and reported a 25% improvement in nail thickness.