What Your Nails Say About Your Health

Did you know your nails can reveal clues to your overall health? A touch of white here, a rosy tinge there, or some rippling or bumps may be a sign of disease in the body. Problems in the liver, lungs, and heart can show up in your nails. Keep reading to learn what secrets your nails might reveal.

Very pale or white nails are sometimes linked to aging. But they can also be a sign of serious illness, such as:

• Anemia
• Congestive heart failure
• Liver disease
• Malnutrition

White Nails
If the nails are mostly white with darker rims, this can indicate liver problems, such as hepatitis.  In this image, you can see the fingers are also jaundiced, another sign of liver trouble.

Yellow Nails
One of the most common causes of yellow nails is a fungal infection. As the infection worsens, the nail bed may retract, and nails may thicken and crumble. In rare cases, yellow nails can indicate a more serious condition such as severe thyroid disease, lung disease, diabetes or psoriasis.

Bluish Nails
Nails with a bluish tint can mean the body isn’t getting enough oxygen. This could indicate an infection in the lungs, such as pneumonia. A slight bluish base may reveal diabetes.

Rippled Nails
If the nail surface is rippled or pitted, this may be an early sign of psoriasis or inflammatory arthritis. Discoloration of the nail is common; the skin under the nail can seem reddish-brown. Psoriasis is a skin condition that starts in the nails 10% of the time.

Cracked or Split Nails
Dry, brittle nails that frequently crack or split have been linked to thyroid disease. Cracking or splitting combined with a yellowish hue is more likely due to a fungal infection.

Puffy Nail Fold
If the skin around the nail appears red and puffy, this is known as inflammation of the nail fold. It may be the result of lupus or another connective tissue disorder. 


Dark Lines Beneath the Nail
Dark lines beneath the nail should be investigated as soon as possible. They are sometimes caused by melanoma, the most dangerous type of skin cancer.  

Gnawed nails
Biting your nails may be nothing more than an old habit, but in some cases it’s a sign of persistent anxiety that could benefit from treatment. Nail biting or picking has also been linked to obsessive-compulsive disorder. If you can’t stop, it’s worth discussing with your doctor.

Nails are only part of the puzzle
Though nail changes accompany many conditions, these changes are rarely the first sign. And many nail abnormalities are harmless -- not everyone with white nails has hepatitis. If you’re concerned about the appearance of your nails, see a dermatologist.

http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/slideshow-what-your-nails-say-about-your-health
 


  

19 New Reasons to Keep Fat Off

19 New Reasons to Keep Fat Off

16 Essential Weight Loss and Wellness Strategies

“How To Get Maximum Weight Loss & Fitness Results In Minimum Time”

1.      In the beginning, your fitness plan should not be overly aggressive. One of the biggest problems most people encounter when starting a fitness program is rapidly depleted motivation after only a few weeks due to an overly ambitious fitness plan. Two days per week of 20-minute low-intensity cardiovascular exercise (walking, jogging, biking, swimming); and two days per week of 30-minute light resistance training (using weights or resistance machines) is adequate in the beginning. As you become acclimated to the lifestyle “shift” you can add more days and get improved results. But beware: if you try to do too much too fast, you may end up quitting altogether. If you’ve tried and failed doing it alone, then I suggest you get a training partner or personal trainer who will help you sustain your motivation.

Easy Home Remedies For 5 Common Ailments

Simple Cures To Health Problems May Be Found At Home

Sarah McCurdy, Contributing writer

Home remedies are passed down from generation to generation and much more recently they've been shared using the Internet.

Home remedies are a great alternative to spending money at the drugstore for chemicals -- plus, you're using things you probably already have in the house.

After reading this article, there are things you may want to add to your collection of home remedies for future use, including plants, vegetables and even cream of tartar. Add these to your own collection of home remedies and see what works best for you and your family.

Read about home remedies for common problems, including how to sooth your skin after a day in the sun, ease the symptoms of a common virus, recover from a few too many adult beverages, breathe easier after a hiccup attack and, finally, relieve the itch from a not-so-popular insect.

Easy Home Remedy No. 5: The Skinny On Soothing Sunburns

No matter how careful you are, at some point in the future you will probably experience a sunburn. Here are some ways to take care of it at home:

Aloe vera -- The long green leaves of an aloe plant contain aloe gel. It is believed to serve as an anti-inflammatory agent. Cut a leaf open and apply the gel to burned skin. Just avoid the yellow latex. This is not for severe burns.

The fresher the gel, the more effective it's thought to be. To grow in your home, aloe plants are low maintenance and don't need much water.

Water -- this will help replace the fluids you lost by being out in the heat and the sun.

Topical Vinegar -- Some believe it relieves pain when applied to the skin. You may apply using a compress of clean towels with half water, half vinegar. Avoid contact with broken skin and the eyes.

Easy Home Remedy No. 4: Curing The Common Cold

Remainder of article listed her: http://www.ketv.com/health/25963587/detail.html

DFS Mind

The key to losing weight and maintaining it for a lifetime is to balance “quality calories in” with “quality calories out”.  To do this, it is necessary to determine what quality calories are.  Foods containing quality calories are ones that break down within your body slowly so you are able to absorb necessary vitamins and nutrients and flush out toxins.  Below are lists of some, but not all, foods that make up quality calories. 

  Lean                                    Complex                                    Healthy

Proteins                             Carbohydrates                                 Fats

Tuna                                       Whole Grain Bread                   Omega 3 Oils

Salmon                                   Vegetables                                Olive Oil

Skinless Chicken Breasts    Steel Cut Oatmeal                   Black and 

                                                                                                    Green Olives 

Skinless Turkey Breasts      Couscous                                   Nuts

For more information about needed nutrition for a healthy lifestyle, contact us at www.collegeofstrength.com,  info@collegeofstrength.com or 402-516-6750.