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.

With autumn round the corner, it’s time to shed that dull looking, dried-out summer skin.

During the sunnier weather it’s not necessary to wear as much makeup and it’s not great to clog the skin with thick foundations, so it’s time to give the skin some TLC before winter sets in.

Beauty starts from the inside, so a good diet will help produce healthy looking skin. Increase your vegetable and fruit intake and reduce the amount of salt you eat to deal with puffiness and minimise the risk of spots and blemishes.

Health food stores often sell supplements to pep up the skin, but use discernment as it can sometimes be trial and error when finding out what’s right for you.

Start by tightening up your daily facial routine. Invest in good, natural cleansers, toners and moisturisers and start doing those toning facial exercises you promised yourself you’d try out. You’ll be surprised what a difference this makes.

Next, ensure that you’re using a good exfoliant on a regular basis. A gentle facial scrub will slough off dead skin cells that make the skin look dry or dull and leave you with fresh, new, glowing skin underneath. The massaging action that you use will also help stimulate the blood and lymph flow in the facial area, getting the circulation going and eliminating toxins.

Deal with those puffy eyes and dark circles – there are plenty of beauty products on the market that promise to soothe the eye area and draw out toxins. Using green tea bags as a poultice will really make a difference too – they’re full of antioxidants and much cheaper than chemical based cosmetic products that have just come out of the lab.

If you still want to reach for the foundation, try a lighter, moisturising product with a high SPF that will protect your skin from increased sun exposure. Experiment with colours for the eyes and lips and go for shimmer all the way – think light and bright and you’ll step into the new season looking fresh and vibrant.

Rhian Gibbings

You’ve probably noticed the mountain of health and beauty products on the market containing Aloe Vera and wondered why cosmetics manufacturers make so many fantastic claims about its benefits.

Aloe Vera is part of the lily family. It’s a spiky looking plant that oozes a thick gel when the leaves are split. This gel was used in Ancient Egypt to heal and rejuvenate the body and is said to have a hundred active ingredients, three quarters of which contain compounds with healing properties. Scientists have confirmed it contains anti-inflammatory agents, amino acids and a variety of beneficial minerals.

Consequently, Aloe Vera based products are often recommended to soothe and abate painful skin conditions, including acne and psoriasis, to moisturise dry, or even burnt, skin. Aloe Vera also has additional antibacterial and antifungal properties, which make it ideal to apply to the skin after shaving or waxing.

What’s more, it is often suggested Aloe Vera juice or gel can be taken internally, as a beauty supplement that works from the inside out.

Manufacturers of Aloe Vera juice and gel products claim that it is a natural detoxifier, cleansing the blood and improving circulation, which contributes to healthy, glowing skin.

As with many herbal or plant based products, however, there are guidelines that should be followed with regard to dosage amounts and frequency and there are some side effects and contraindications that are worth noting to ensure you’re not putting yourself at risk.

If you don’t fancy taking Aloe Vera internally, why not try one of the pure gel type products available for topical application. The results should be pleasing and will certainly give some of the chemical infused moisturisation products on the shelves a run for their money.

Tomatoes have long been known to possess many health benefits. Whether eaten raw in salads and sandwiches, or cooked and processed into soups, purees, pastes and sauces, the good news just keeps on coming.

We’ve heard about their effect in preventing various types of cancer, of prostate and the skin, and the humble fruit’s use against heart disease and stroke. Now it’s a great cosmetic too.

The benefits are credited to lycopene, the pigment behind the distinctive red skin and a powerful antioxidant.

Professor Birch-Machin, of Newcastle University believes tomatoes are a cheap and simple way of improving health and looking good.

After a joint study by Manchester and Newcastle universities, he said, “I went into the study as a sceptic, but I was quite surprised with the significance of the findings.”

The British Society for Investigative Dermatology’s annual conference was told that tests using ultra-violet lamps showed that tomato-eaters were a third better protected against sunburn at the end of the study than at the start. Other tests suggested a tomato-based diet boosted production of collagen, the protein that keeps skin supple.

Tomatoes also protect the mitochondria, the parts of cells that turn food we eat into energy. “Being kind to our mitochondria is likely to contribute to improved skin health, which in turn may have an anti-ageing effect,” Professor Birch-Machin said.

The researchers now recommend two tomato-based meals a day for optimum health.