Can we really discover a lot about our state of health from examining our fingernails?

In many ways our inner health is arrayed before us within our outer appearance.

Some indicators may be more reliable than others, but we can get a general sense of ourselves with remarkably little knowledge and careful observation.

Charlotte Vohtz nails the subject in her book, Naturally Gorgeous, Essential Health and Beauty Sectrets.

Here are some indicators from the book:

1. White spots or flecks on nails indicate a zinc deficiency, which may have many causes — too much alcohol or even side effects from taking the contraceptive pill.

2. Ridged or brittle nails may highlight a calcium deficiency or lack of vitamin A.

3. Cracked or broken nails — in the absence of any other reason such as heavy manual work — may show up a lack of fluids. Dehydration can cause many conditions including blocked sinuses.

4. Nails which split easily may indicate a lack of fatty acids in the diet.

5. Dryness and very rounded and curved ends could be a lack of vitamin B12, which may be linked to an iron deficiency.

6. For super-healthy nails make half your diet consist of fresh fruit and vegetables, some raw. This will boost your intake of vitamins, minerals and enzymes.

7. Add foods rich in sulphur and silicon, like fish, broccoli and onions. Also foods high in biotin, such as soya and whole grains.

8. Foods like wild seaweed (kelp tablets will do), which contain iodine for the thyroid gland, an organ that plays a part in the growth of nails, hair, skin and teeth.

It seems we can discover a lot just by looking at our fingernails.

Researchers from the Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona have shown that extra virgin olive oil prevents breast cancer, and many other types of the disease.

Click on pic for a larger image. Photo by John Evans.

If it is consumed with other aspects of the Mediterranean diet, especially tomato-rich dishes, it seems to be even more effective.

The oil was found to launch attacks on tumours which stunt their growth and even make the cells implode. It also protects against cell DNA damage, a common cause of cancers.

Tests on rodents showed that olive oil disables a gene that controls the growth of breast cancer, while turning off proteins that cancer cells live on. More than 45,000 cases a year of breast cancer are diagnosed in Britain, making it the UK’s most common cancer.

Scientist Dr Eduard Escrich believes that everyone should consume 50ml of best olive oil a day for optimum health. That works out as around five tablespoons, or 500 calories, which may seems excessive to anyone reducing their weight. However, if the oil is substituted for butter and fats in savoury dishes, it simply substitutes other foods on a calorie for calorie basis.

Another study found that olive oil also affects genes that are linked with the hardening of arteries and other heart diseases.

Although Spain does have an interest in promoting olive products, this research backs up much evidence from previous studies worldwide.