Ready for another fact? Here goes:
A fingernail or toenail takes about 6 months to grow from base to tip.
Actually it takes approximately 18 months for a toenail to grow from base to tip – and if you have ever lost a toenail, you know that it seems a lot longer than that. And, why is it that when you injure your toe or your finger, or any part of your body, that seems to be the part that sticks out the farthest and comes into contact with everything nearby. Couldn’t find an answer to that one.
There is an extremely strong protein called Keratin in your body which is a major component in skin, hair, nails, hooves, horns and teeth. Keratin is formed from various amino acids and the levels of these acids determine whether these parts of the body are hard, like nails, or soft like with skin.
What I found interesting was that keratin, for the most part is actually dead cells. Hair, skin and nails are all formed from these dead cells which the body sheds as new cells push up from underneath, and if these cells are kept in good condition, they serve as insulation that protects the delicate new keratin growing underneath. The cells slowly push their way upwards, eventually dying and forming a protective layer of cells. Thousands of these cells are shed every day, and the process can be accelerated by various medical conditions, such as psoriasis, and damage to the external layer of keratin can cause skin, hair and nails to look unhealthy or flaky.
Humans’ hair and nails may tend to become dry and brittle because the dead keratin is being pushed to great lengths. However, the proper diet can keep the hair and nails moist and can be grown out while still remaining healthy.
Now comes the diet part. Actually, the foods that will do the most good for your healthy growth of keratin are foods that you do or can eat every day without worrying about gaining weight, IF YOU EAT THEM ONLY WHEN YOU ARE HUNGRY AND STOP EATING THEM WHEN YOU ARE NOT! Those foods are plain and simple and include good sources of iron-rich protein:
clams, oysters, lean beef, turkey, duck, lamb, chicken, pork, shrimp, and eggs. And the vegetarian iron-rich protein includes: tofu, soybeans, lentils, beans, and black-eyed peas.
If you include these foods in your eating plan, you can be reasonably assured of healthy hair, skin and nails.
Think Thin Thoughts!
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