According to Tibetan medicine, nails are a by-product of bones.And in ancient China, primary diagnosis was made based on the condition of nails and points on the body.
Currently, this method has become very popular, as it can be done independently.
You yourself can diagnose yourself and your loved ones and identify emerging disorders in the body.
Look closely at your nails. You will see that the holes have become much thinner than before or even disappeared completely. Only on the thumbs the holes are still large and light.
Heavy smokers or people who have lung problems will have small and thin sockets. Oriental medicine, by the way, believes that if a person does not have a hole on his thumb, then everything is not right with his head. The majority of people still have a hole on their thumb, but what about others?
It is believed that the index finger reflects the condition of the large intestine. If the hole on it has significantly decreased or is even absent, you need to pay special attention to the condition of the intestines, liver and pancreas. Inflammatory processes and gynecological diseases are also reflected in the nail holes of the index fingers.
The nails of the middle finger are responsible for the circulatory and vascular systems. If there is no hole on the nail of the middle finger, the person has problems with blood pressure, veins and capillaries.
The hole on the nail of the ring finger reflects the functioning of the endocrine system. The absence of a hole on the nail of this finger indicates metabolic disorders and problems with the lymphatic system.
The holes on the nails of the smallest finger are responsible for the condition of the heart and small intestine. That is why, with age, it is the little finger hole that disappears first. The small intestine becomes clogged and as a result the hole disappears. All this leads to disturbances in the functioning of the endocrine system (the socket of the ring finger becomes thinner), the heart cannot withstand negative changes (the socket on the nail of the middle finger disappears), and the last to give up is the large intestine.
Long lines on the nails indicate poor absorption of food in the digestive system. Transverse grooves on the nails indicate poor nutrition or advanced diseases.
Sometimes the nails are protruding, convex, bulbous, similar to drumsticks. This condition of the nails indicates weakness of the heart and lungs.
When the nail is spoon-shaped and concave so that it can hold a drop of water, it indicates an iron deficiency.
White spots on the nail indicate a lack of zinc or calcium.
Nail coloring may indicate specific problems.
If the moon is a crescent at the base of the nail (blue means liver problems; red means heart failure). 
Pale nail color indicates anemia. Excessive redness of the nails indicates an excess of red blood cells. Yellow nails indicate liver weakness or jaundice. Blue nails indicate a weak heart and lungs.
White speckles on the ring finger indicate calcium deposits in the kidneys. If there are white specks on the index finger, this indicates an accumulation of calcium in the lungs.
Each finger has a connection with a specific organ. The thumb is connected to the brain and skull, the index finger is connected to the lungs. The middle finger is connected to the small intestine, the ring finger is connected to the kidneys, and the little finger is connected to the heart.
If the nails are dry, hooked, rough, and break easily, then wind prevails in the body.
(in Ayurveda this body type is called Vata).
When the nails are soft, pink, tender, easily bendable and slightly shiny, then bile predominates in the body (in Ayurveda this body type is called Pitta).
If the nails are thick, strong, soft, highly shiny, with the same contour, then mucus predominates (in Ayurveda this body type is called Kapha).
Nail shape and structure
Nails are enlarged, convex (like a watch glass) - may be a sign of a respiratory, cardiac or liver chronic disease.
Nails are brittle and thin, concave, spoon-like (koilonychias) - a sign of mineral metabolism disorders, skin problems, anemia, thyroid diseases, this also indicates iron deficiency.
Transverse deepened stripes (Beau’s line) - with a temporary slowdown in the rate of nail growth. And transverse grooves on the nails indicate a poor, unbalanced diet or advanced diseases.
Longitudinal grooves - predisposition to rheumatism, intestinal problems, poor digestion leading to the formation of gas, poor digestion of food, a feeling of general fatigue, irregular menstruation, sexual weakness, depression, nervousness, insomnia, etc.
The absence of a hole on all the nails of the hand means a lack of vitamin B-12, dysfunction of the thyroid gland, and neurosis.
A greatly enlarged hole on all fingernails is a sign of cardiac weakness.
A holey nail is a malfunction of the spleen or pancreas.
The nail is flat, split at the end - characteristic of the presence of worms. In medical terms, this is “helminthic infestation”, “enterobiasis” and so on.
White cross strokes indicate a lack of zinc or calcium.
Red hole - indicates cardiovascular, autoimmune or endocrine problems, rheumatic diseases.
Additional signs
Long lines on the nails indicate poor absorption of food in the digestive system, inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract, and also indicate a lack of vitamin B12 and iron. It is also a signal of decreased liver and kidney function - which can cause a feeling of general fatigue;
A short flat nail is characteristic of people with organic heart disease, which is expressed in sensitivity to “stuffiness”, aversion to heat, and physical fatigue;
Large crescent size - tachycardia;
The absence of a crescent is characteristic of cardiac neurosis;
Elongated nails are observed in diabetes mellitus.
The nail of the ring finger in the form of a semicircle is characteristic of various kidney pathologies;
Stripes and inclusions on the nail appear in diseases of the spleen and small intestine;
Triangular nails are typical for people with diseases of the spine and spinal cord;
Growths at the end of the nails are a chronic lung infection;
Brittle nails are a sign of insufficient iron or vitamin A in the body, dysfunction of the thyroid gland, kidneys and poor blood supply;
Absence of holes - heart neurosis, insufficiency and circulatory disorders;
Blue holes are a sign of liver dysfunction;
Red holes are a symptom of heart failure;
Teasing is a signal of a lack of proteins, vitamin C and folic acid. The reason for this may be either insufficient consumption or poor digestibility;
Peeling nails are a signal of energy depletion of the digestive system, disturbances in the blood circulation, reproductive and nervous systems.
Diagnostic signs by nail color
Eastern medicine: What diseases can you learn about by your nails?
A pink nail is a healthy person's.
Yellow color is a sign of liver pathology.
Bright red - about erythremia.
Bluish-violet occurs with congenital heart defects.
White spots on the nails may indicate a disruption of the central nervous system.
And yellowish spots on the nails may be signs of brain dysfunction.
Cyanotic - cardiovascular pathology.
Pale nails, flat or curved, with longitudinal grooves are a sign of anemia - anemia, lack of iron and vitamins.
White can be due to damage to the adrenal cortex (Addison's disease).
Pale pink, transparent - changes in the blood, anemia.
Milky white - with cirrhosis of the liver,
Black - for thrombosis of the brachial artery and diabetic gangrene.
Gray during an attack of malaria.
Bluish-white in color - you need to see a neurologist and gastroenterologist.
Bluish (cyanotic) nails are one of the symptoms of heart or pulmonary failure, resulting from a lack of oxygen in the blood. Often accompanied by shortness of breath and weakness.
Discoloration of nails can be caused by nicotine, liver and gallbladder problems, and infectious diseases.
Bluish or greenish skin color at the base of the big toe - digestive problems
Nails do not grow well - you need to see an endocrinologist. Such changes occur with thyroid disease.
Fragility and brittleness of nails is a lack of minerals such as iron, calcium, as well as vitamins B and D. This is the body’s signal that requires short-term use of special medications to prevent more serious diseases.
Long-term studies have shown that it is the nails that reflect the early onset of any disease. They carry information about future diseases long before symptoms appear.
In Chinese medicine, diagnosis based on the condition of the nail plates is very popular. Specialists actively use it in combination with basic diagnostic methods. The advantage of this approach is that it allows you to identify many ailments in the early stages, 2-3 years before they appear.
Chinese medicine explains changes in the structure of the nail plates in a particular disease by the fact that each of the energy channels that go to the fingers is associated with one or another organ. Naturally, information about the changes occurring in them is displayed on the nail plates in the form of characteristic signs.
Thus, a large convex nail indicates pulmonary tuberculosis. But thin, shiny nails, as if covered with colorless varnish, indicate such a serious liver disease as hepatitis.
Chinese clinicians have been tracking all the signs associated with diseases of the internal organs for centuries, and today there are about 30 interpretations of nail pathology, which can be used to indirectly make a diagnosis.
Moreover, a specialist can accurately determine when exactly the malfunctions in the body began. If the color of the nails has changed, then the violations have occurred within the last month. If the structure, shape, and relief of the nail plates have changed, then this indicates a serious chronic disease.
There are a lot of genetic prerequisites in nail diagnostics. For example, chronic alcoholics and their children will always have the same nail shape. Children with diabetes will also have a special nail shape in 60% of cases. This does not mean that sooner or later some will have to be treated for alcoholism, and others for diabetes. But based on such genetic characteristics, one can judge whether a person’s predisposition to the disease is congenital or acquired, and give appropriate recommendations for the prevention of possible ailments.
By the way, nails can tell not only about illness, but also about recovery. When a person copes with the disease, his nails become even and smooth, the outline of the halo takes on the shape of a small crescent, and the color of the nails of a healthy person is matte pale pink.
Serious nail diagnostics can be done by an experienced specialist; however, there are simple self-diagnosis techniques that do not require contacting a specialist - just compare the drawing and description of the shape of the nail plates with your nails.
One of the characteristic signs is the holes at the base of the nails:
- Well-visible nail holes on all fingers are an indicator of high vitality and good blood circulation.
- Very large nail holes indicate strong cardiac activity and a predisposition to rapid heartbeat.
- Very small nail holes or their complete absence indicate heart failure and poor circulation.
- If the nail sockets are separated from the rest of the nail by a horizontal line, this is an indicator of diabetes.
- The absence of holes may indicate cardiac neurosis.
The shape of the nails is also of great diagnostic importance. If the nail has lost its initially flat shape, this may indicate a disease of certain organs:
- Short, flat nail - organic heart disease.
- Large convex nail - pulmonary tuberculosis.
- A convex nail with a large crescent is a congenital form of tuberculosis.
- Flat curved nail - bronchial asthma.
- A tube-shaped high nail is a harbinger of possible oncology.
- Club-shaped nail phalanx - congenital forms of mental disorders, cruelty, aggressiveness.
- Concave nail - hereditary forms of alcoholism.
- A flattened and crushed nail is a helminthic infestation.
- Brittle grooves on the nail - lime deposits.
- Slag (salt) layers on the nail - acute diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Long nail - diabetes mellitus.
- The nail of the ring finger in the form of a semicircle is a kidney pathology.
- Almond-shaped veins (waves) on the nail - rheumatism.
- A bitten nail - neuroses, gastritis, sexual dysfunctions in women.
- Stripes and inclusions on the nail - diseases of the spleen and small intestine.
- Stripes without inclusions - intestinal diseases.
- Triangular nail - diseases of the spine and spinal cord.
- A holey nail or a flat nail with an elevation on the index finger - problems with the spleen.
- Change in the shape of the nail of the index finger - head disease.
- Change in the shape of the nail of the middle finger - gastrointestinal diseases.
- Change in the shape of the nail of the ring finger - kidney and lung diseases.
- Change in the shape of the little finger nail - diseases of the genital organs.
Experienced doctors can even use early diagnosis using fingernails to determine the condition of the body, because concave, convex or too flat nail plates cannot be considered healthy. Such deviations indicate certain problems, sometimes requiring serious treatment. Medicine confirms that the condition of the nail plates directly depends on human health. They are used to diagnose fungus, lung problems, anemia and other pathologies. There are several criteria for determining the disease by fingernails.
Diagnosis by fingernails
Even ancient people associated the appearance of nail plates with the condition of a certain internal organ. Today this has been proven by medicine, so it is often used to diagnose the body. Several characteristics are studied: color, structure, shape, hole and spots on the nail plate. Deviations for each of these criteria indicate a number of specific pathologies.
What does a healthy person's nail plate look like?
A nail plate without any cracks, tubercles, grooves, or spots is considered normal. It has an even pink color, a smooth surface, and a slight shine. The plate itself is slightly transparent, and the tips are white or ivory. The nail of a healthy person is moderately flexible, hard, and dense. At its base is a crescent-shaped lunula. Its color ranges from white to pale pink. The shape of the nail plate can be different, as it depends on hereditary factors.
Structure of the nail plate
When diagnosed, the surface of a healthy plate does not have pits, dents or bumps, is smooth, and evenly colored. It consists of dozens of layers of translucent smooth keratinized cells that are located close to each other. Thanks to its porous structure, it absorbs all substances that fall on its surface. This helps treat fungal diseases through local medications. When diagnosing, you can see several parts of the plate:
- eponychium is living skin at the base;
- hyponychium, or subungual plate - consists of spinous and basal cells;
- free leading edge – protrudes beyond the edge of the finger;
- lunula, or lunula, is a white area at the base in the shape of a crescent.
What organs are the fingernails responsible for?
One of the most “talking” parts of the body is the nail plates. Each of them reflects the state of a specific organ. Nail diagnostics are based on this principle. Organs for which each finger is responsible:
- lungs, bronchi, brain - thumb;
- teeth, mouth - index finger;
- heart, blood vessels - medium;
- nerves, kidneys – ring finger;
- intestines, female reproductive organs - little finger.
How to determine the disease by fingernails
To determine the health of your fingernails, you need to carefully examine the plates. Knowing their normal state, you can notice some deviations. During nail diagnostics, changes in the following characteristics indicate the presence of problems in the body:
- plate colors;
- shape or relief of the nail surface;
- lunula states;
- structures of the nail plate.
Nail color and disease
A healthy nail plate is pink. If it suddenly begins to change its shade, then this is a clear sign of a problem in the body. In this case, diseases of the fingernails are identified by the following diagnostic signs:
- Two-color plate. Its upper part is much darker than the lower part, which indicates kidney disease and renal failure.
- A dark stripe dividing the nail in half. Talks about the development of a malignant human skin tumor – melanoma.
- Brown shade. It is a signal of diabetes mellitus, diseases of the endocrine system, kidney failure, Addison's disease.
- Leukonychia is the appearance of small white spots on the plate. Develops against the background of a lack of calcium, iron and zinc. The body also lacks vitamins C, E and A. When spots grow and take the form of stripes, this indicates protein deficiency, poor circulation, kidney failure, and problems with the colon.
- Sineva. Indicates to a person pathologies of the respiratory system, including infectious diseases of the lungs. If a blue color appears at the base of the plate, then the diagnosis may be diabetes mellitus.
- Completely white nail plate. Appears in patients with liver cirrhosis or diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Yellow coloring of nails. They acquire this shade in case of liver disease and poor digestion, pathologies of the lymphatic system or lungs.
- Redness of nails. Occurs when the number of red blood cells – erythrocytes – increases.
- Cloudy yellowish color. It speaks of a fungal infection if, against the background of a change in shade, there is a thickening of the plate and its separation from the bed.
Shape and relief of the nail plate
In addition to color changes, some diseases may cause deformation of the plate. Diagnosis of fingernails allows one to identify the following associated ailments described in the table:
| Changes | What pathologies are indicated? |
| Convex nail that looks like a watch glass | Is a sign of chronic liver disease or heart weakness. It is also observed in blood diseases, thyroid diseases, congenital pulmonary tuberculosis, hepatitis, colitis, and malabsorption in the intestines. In rare cases, it may indicate the onset of cancer. |
| Concave nail that looks like a spoon | It is a sign of iron deficiency in the body. |
| Flat nail plate, split at the end | Indicates a helminthic infestation. |
| Triangular nail | It is a characteristic sign of spinal diseases. |
| Hole nail | Indicates pathologies of the spleen. |
| Short flat nail with elevation | Indicates organic heart disease. |
| Longitudinal grooves | Appear against the background of the development of rheumatism or inflammation of the teeth and sinuses. |
| Transverse frangible grooves | They signal pathologies of the liver and gastrointestinal tract, symptoms of spleen diseases. Often, transverse grooves appear due to a lack of zinc in the body. |
| Arced lines | They develop due to a lack of protein. |
| Small dimples throughout the plate | They talk about the beginning of inflammation in the joints, accompanying psoriasis. |
Nail hole
When diagnosing nails, the condition of the lunula is also taken into account. Its absence on at least one finger and a pale nail bed are a sign of decreased hemoglobin and red blood cells. These are diseases such as anemia and anemia. If the hole has become thinner or completely disappeared on a certain finger, then this also indicates problems in the body:
- On the thumb. The hole here reflects the condition of the skull and brain. If it disappears, then the person has serious problems with his head.
- On the index finger. On it, the hole disappears in diseases of the liver, lungs, large intestine and gynecological problems.
- On average. The disappearance of the hole here indicates diseases of the circulatory system, problems with blood vessels and pressure.
- On the nameless one. The hole on this finger reflects the state of the lymphatic system and metabolism.
- On the little finger. Here the lunula reflects problems with the small intestine and heart rhythm disturbances and other heart diseases.
Grooves and stripes
Transverse grooves detected by diagnostics are often a sign of improper hand care. In addition, they may appear due to stress, an infectious or other disease. A lack of zinc in the body and poor nutrition also manifests itself as grooves on the nail plates. Longitudinal lines do not appear as often. Their causes may be:
- acute malnutrition;
- severe arterial disease;
- arthritis;
- lichen planus;
- excessive consumption of carbohydrates;
- intestinal diseases;
- lack of iron.
Diagnosis of diseases using fingernails when a pattern appears
Problems in the body are indicated not only by a change in color, but also by the appearance of various patterns in the form of spots, lines, bruises, etc. In a normal state, this should not be observed. A healthy nail plate has a uniform pink color. The appearance of any pictures on it indicates the following diseases:
- White spots. They talk about low hemoglobin, reduced immunity, symptoms of neurosis, and lack of vitamins.
- Black spots. Appear against the background of endocarditis.
- Pairs of horizontal stripes. Observed when there is a lack of protein in the diet. It is excreted in large quantities from the body in case of kidney disease.
- Divided crosswise into 2 halves of different colors - milky and normal. Indicates kidney pathology in an advanced stage.
- A line that did not appear due to mechanical impact. Appears in case of fever and high temperature. Indicates previous illnesses.
- Brown or beige stain. It is a warning about the development of cancer.
- A brown or yellow spot at the edge of the nail plate indicates psoriasis.
- Crumbling grooves or white flake-like spots. They are a sign of fungal diseases.
- Bruising. Observed when there is a mechanical impact on the nail plate. The reason is rupture of the blood vessels underneath and hemorrhage into the soft tissue.
Problems with fingernails and nutrition
The main cause of nail problems is poor diet. Based on specific changes in the plate, you can easily diagnose a deficiency of certain microelements or identify an unbalanced diet. As a result, the nail plates become fragile and often break. Their beautiful, healthy appearance can be restored only after identifying the cause of the deterioration. Diagnosis of fingernails with signs that indicate a lack of microelements or nutritional imbalance will help with this.
Lack of vitamins and microelements
Healthy nails grow without hangnails and there are no cracks around them. With a lack of vitamins of a certain group, some deviations from the norm appear:
- cracking along and across the plate, nail plates bend and peel – due to a lack of vitamin C;
- deep hangnails – with a deficiency of vitamins A or E;
- numbness of the fingers – due to a lack of B vitamins;
- white spots – with low zinc levels;
- slow growth – with a lack of calcium;
- brittle nails - due to magnesium deficiency.
Imbalanced diet
An excess or lack of certain foods in a person’s diet also affects the condition of the nails. In this case, the following changes may be observed:
- white spots on the plate - excess sugar in the blood;
- horizontal dents - a sharp change in diet;
- concave plates are a sign of anemia (iron deficiency);
- vertical grooves – poor absorption of nutrients;
- any changes in shape and color indicate insufficient protein.
Diagnosis of toenails
Similar to the diagnosis of fingernails, the health status of the feet is also studied. In this case, the following signs are taken into account:
- absence of lunula – decreased number of red blood cells in the blood, anemia;
- two-color nail (light at the base, dark at the edge) – kidney failure;
- discoloration and dark longitudinal stripe – skin cancer (melanoma);
- yellow color against the background of delamination and separation from the nail bed - an advanced stage of a fungal disease.
Deterioration in the appearance of nails
Sudden deterioration in the appearance of nails can manifest itself in different ways. More often their growth slows down. In addition, they become too brittle and brittle. The phenomenon of delamination and splitting of the plate is not uncommon. All this indicates problems in the body. If you take timely measures, you can restore the condition of the nail plates, returning them to a healthy appearance with an even, smooth structure, matte pink color, and pale pink lunula.
Why is this happening?
If the nail plates become brittle and brittle and grow slowly, then the main cause of this condition is a metabolic disorder. Such changes may result from:
- lack of iron, vitamins B, A;
- deterioration of the thyroid gland or kidneys;
- poor blood supply.
When the nail peels or splits, the cause is energy depletion of the digestive system. This is also observed with poor blood circulation. Other causes of delamination:
- malfunction of the nervous system;
- problems with the genitals;
- regular application of varnish, removal of the coating with a liquid containing acetone;
- dry air, gap between the temperature of the street and the house;
- circumcision with pliers or scissors;
- using household cleaning products without gloves.
What to pay attention to
The first thing that fingernail diagnostics advises you to pay attention to is your diet. If you are deficient in vitamins, you should include more fresh fruits and vegetables in your menu. When cleaning the house or washing dishes, be sure to wear gloves, and after contact with aggressive agents, wipe your nails with apple cider vinegar. Hands should be given a break from polish at least once every 2 weeks. For filing, it is better not to use a metal plate, because it severely damages the nail plate.
Nails and body diseases with photos
Video
Determining the disease by nails
The nail plate is visible to the naked eye, which often helps the specialist prescribe the correct examination and treatment for the patient. You can identify a particular disease by assessing the relief, color, and shape of the nail. Also, clues can be various patterns and stripes on the nail plate, their color and location. An important indicator is the structure of the nail, its hardness and fragility. Knowing all the intricacies of the violation of the nail plates, you can assume the presence of certain health problems and begin to solve them in time.
Diagnosis of nails by condition
If the appearance of the nails has become brittle, brittle and peels off easily, then this indicates a lack of minerals in the body, such as calcium and zinc.
Thickened nails may be a sign of fungal infections. With this disease, the nail plate often turns yellow. At an advanced stage, detachments from the nail bed may appear.
Also, splitting and splitting of the nail indicate problems in gynecology.
Diagnosis of nails by shape
The shape of the nail plate can say a lot. For example, if it is convex and has a round shape, then it can be assumed that there are problems with the cardiovascular system. People with this nail shape are often diagnosed with a heart defect, as well as problems with the thyroid gland and respiratory system.
A concave nail plate signals a lack of iron in the body. You should pay attention to your hemoglobin, since a decrease in it in the body gives a lot of unpleasant symptoms. Provide your body with iron.
Diagnosis of nails by color
Diagnosis by nail holes
You can often catch a disease by the tail by detecting it at the very beginning. It is enough to pay attention to the nail hole. Its absence or reduction on at least one nail plate may be an alarming sign.
Diagnostics by relief
Ideally, our nail plate should be smooth and even. If the body's functioning is disrupted, it can change. So, when depressions appear on the nail, one can judge about problems with the skin and joints, such as psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and osteochondrosis.
Convex lines along the nail may also be observed, which indicate the presence of inflammatory processes in the sinuses and teeth.
Transverse grooves on the nail indicate pathology in the digestive system. It is necessary to pay attention to the liver, intestines, and pancreas. The same picture can be seen with a lack of a microelement - zinc.
Convex arc-shaped lines signal a decrease in protein in the body. 
Diagnosis of the time of onset of the disease
It is known that in about six months our nail plate is completely renewed. About one millimeter of nail grows per week. Based on this, you can calculate the approximate time of the onset of a particular abnormality in the body. Looking at the picture, we can assume that problems in the body began about 4-5 weeks ago.
Interesting fact: Men's nails grow much faster. Growth is particularly rapid in warm climates and in the summer.
Diagnosis of diseases using fingernails when a pattern appears
An alarming sign may be the appearance of a dark vertical stripe on the nail. This pattern indicates a possible disease - melanoma.
If you notice a similar line on your nails, you should immediately consult a doctor, since melanoma is a fast-growing tumor.
Multiple white spots merging together indicate an acute lack of zinc and calcium. 
Patterns on the nail plate indicate severe psoriasis. The nail splits into two parts.
A blue nail, partially or completely, indicates hemorrhage that could occur as a result of injury.
What organs are the fingernails responsible for?
The condition of the thumbnails tells us about our neuropsychic system and is responsible for the functioning of our brain.
The appearance of the nail of the index fingers tells about the respiratory system. If any deformities appear on the nail of the index finger, you should undergo a chest examination. Often with this picture, chronic diseases such as bronchitis can appear.
A modified nail on the middle finger indicates disorders in the digestive organs, such as the liver, intestines, stomach, pancreas, as well as possible inflammation in the female part. 
The state of the endocrine gland and lymphatic system is judged by the nail of the ring finger.
The nail plate of the little finger characterizes the functioning of the heart and vascular system.
Doctors can often miss an important point about your health, since many women resort to applying decorative gel polish, which makes it impossible to visually assess the condition of the nail plates.
Interesting fact: Manicure is considered a fairly ancient activity. Some sources mentioned nail design as early as 4,000 years ago.
Problems with fingernails and nutrition
As has already become clear, the phenomena on the nails are just a consequence. To eliminate the cause, you need to consume foods whose deficiency causes changes in the nail plates. For example, if you find white spots on your nails, then you should eat foods rich in zinc, iron and calcium. Zinc is found in poultry, seafood, legumes, cheese, beets, tomatoes, and pumpkin seeds. Rich in calcium: cottage cheese, milk, green peas, cucumbers, apples, low-fat cheese. Iron-containing foods: buckwheat, liver, apples, pomegranate. It will be useful to use a special product made from bovine blood protein - hematogen. 
When the nail plate becomes completely white, you need to radically reconsider your diet and stop eating fatty, fried, and spicy foods. You need to switch to light foods, avoid taking aggressive medications and alcohol, and focus on protein foods such as liver, vegetables, non-acidic fruits, boiled beef, low-fat dairy products, jelly, dry wheat bread.
If brown spots appear, remove any sugar from your diet. Sweets are only allowed with fructose. An excellent choice would be dishes made from cereals and pasta. For meat, preference should be given to beef, chicken, and turkey. Dairy products are also acceptable. But you need to be careful with fruits, because despite their sour taste they contain a large amount of sugar.
This is important: Drink more water, as if there is a lack of it in the body, your nails become dry and brittle.
In all other cases, a diet will not hurt, but limiting foods cannot eliminate the pathology, which is why a doctor’s visit will be necessary.
Nail defects cannot be ignored. It is not for nothing that a person is given such a visual representation of his body on his nail plate. Pay attention to your body's signals and stay healthy!
Occasional cracking, redness, blueness, or whitish lines on the nail usually occur after a minor injury that gradually resolves and the nail bed recovers. But if your fingernails change color, shape, or texture for a long time, this could be an early warning sign of serious health problems. If you have one of the following signs, there is reason to see a doctor and undergo an examination to rule out dangerous diseases.
If your fingernails look thin and pale, this may be a sign that your body is not getting enough iron. A deficiency of this important microelement reduces the amount of oxygen that the blood carries throughout the body. You should try to increase the amount of iron-rich foods in your daily diet (beef liver, red meat, dark leafy vegetables, legumes, etc.). After consulting with a specialist, you can take a course of vitamins or dietary supplements enriched with iron.
Since iron deficiency in the body is closely related to anemia, constantly thin and pale nails may indicate the onset of this unpleasant disease. If, in addition to pale nails, a person often feels tired, drowsy, or dizzy, then he needs to quickly take a blood test to find out the exact diagnosis and, if necessary, begin treatment.
2. Pale nails with a bluish base
When the body doesn't process sugar well, a lack of energy and nutrients can lead to pale nails, just like with an iron deficiency. However, in this case, the base of the crescent-shaped nail usually turns a bluish color. Most often this happens with insulin deficiency or diabetes, when the functions of the liver and pancreas are impaired. This stops the production of enzymes needed to regulate blood glucose levels. If you suspect diabetes (along with its other characteristic signs), you need to take a sugar test, consult a doctor and try to limit your consumption of sweets.
3. White stripes
Fingernails marked with several pale gray or white horizontal stripes may indicate a lack of protein in the body. Most likely, the person in this case is too carried away with the consumption of fiber and carbohydrates. Meat, legume vegetables, nuts, seeds, fish and others will help add protein to the body. After the diet is normalized, the whitish stripes on the nails usually disappear. In some cases, nails with such stripes may indicate problems with the kidneys and liver. Only a doctor can correctly diagnose these diseases.
Loose and brittle nails on the toes and hands with a yellowish tint most often indicate the presence of fungal diseases on the nail plate and skin of the fingers. Fungal infections actively develop between the nails and skin. It can be very difficult to get rid of this scourge. The easiest way to do this is at the initial stage of the disease. In advanced forms, treatment can last for several years. At the same time, medications prescribed by a doctor often cause unwanted side effects.
But the fungus is not always to blame for the yellowish tint of the nail plate. This symptom often occurs in those who suffer from liver disease. If at the same time the nails begin to grow much more slowly, then perhaps there are problems with the functioning of the lungs, including such serious diseases as emphysema or pleurisy.
5. Redness at the base of the nail
If there is redness at the base of the nails and the color of the nail “crescent” seems brighter than the usual pink hue, then this may indicate poor blood circulation and a diseased heart. When redness appears irregularly in the form of reddish lines around the cuticle or on the sides of the nail bed, it may be a sign of an autoimmune disorder such as lupus. When it occurs, the body begins to attack its own healthy tissues, mistaking them for pathogens or foreign substances. If redness is noticeable throughout the nail plate, this is often associated with erythremia, a type of leukemia, a tumor disease of the hematopoietic tissue.
6. Bluish or purple nail plate
The bluish-purple color of nails most often indicates problems with the heart, blood circulation and blood vessels. These could be congenital heart defects, arrhythmia, tachycardia, angina pectoris, etc. In this case, poor blood flow deprives the nails of oxygen, so the skin under them turns blue or takes on a cold, dark purple hue. To rule out this fact, it is best to take blood tests, undergo a cardiogram and talk to a cardiologist.
7. Dark streaks
If there are one or more dark brown stripes along the entire length of the nails, formed for an unknown reason (not a bruise or contusion), and dark brown spots and moles begin to appear more and more often throughout the body, then the development of skin cancer may have begun. If you have such suspicions, you should immediately consult a doctor to clarify the diagnosis and, if necessary, begin urgent treatment. In addition to professional therapy, for cancer patients it is useful to include more foods rich in antioxidants in the diet. This will help slow down the further spread of free radicals that damage healthy cells in the body.
Nails marked with many small pits may signal the early stages of psoriasis, an inflammatory skin disease that later leads to the formation of large, painful rashes throughout the body. Irregularities in the nail plate also occur due to fungal infections, or after physical trauma to the nail.
9. Brittle or thin nails
Lack of nutrients has a bad effect on the health of nails: they become thin and brittle. But sometimes this condition of the nails, along with a constant feeling of fatigue for no apparent reason, are symptoms of hypothyroidism - a disease in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough hormones to maintain the body's metabolism at the proper level. If, in addition to brittle nails, a person experiences bouts of nausea, suddenly gains weight and begins to have difficulty hearing, then he should visit an endocrinologist.
10. Peeling nails
Nails peel for a variety of reasons: vitamin deficiency, stress, fungus, lack of calcium, improper care, allergies, injuries, etc. But if the nails begin to peel and easily separate from the nail bed for no apparent reason, then this may indicate an excess of thyroid hormones.
