Naturally Healthy Nails with Seaweed
Most of us have 20 nails. Finger nails. Toe nails. And while the industry is a multi-billion dollar industry and there are thousands of vitamins and minerals, the peer reviewed science [1] says that vitamins and minerals do not make for healthy nails naturally.
In late 2019, after about 1 month of sales, we started getting feedback from our customers that they were getting naturally healthy nails. At first we didn’t believe them. The science evidence was clear that supplemention with vitamins and minerals did not lead to healthy nails.
Yet here are just some comments back
- I have to cut my finger nails every week. Used to be every 2 weeks. Sidney – Adelaide, SA, AU
- My nails are the best they have been for 40 years. Judy – QLD, Aus
- Stronger nails Wayne, QLD
- My nails are the best they have been since I had thyroid cancer 20 years ago. Amazing. Why? Lea, QLD, Aust
Testimonial
Anais provided this testimonial. She ate seaweed as she saw the good food and vitamins. She was unaware about the effect on nails and hair. In just 3 weeks this is her story.
SEAWEED FOR NATURALLY HEALTHY NAILS
Artificial Products Promoting healthy nails
Nails are a beauty / personal statement and the consumer market is full of products that claim to make naturally healthy nails. The ingredients in these “miracle” lotions are generally synthetic vitamins, a protein complex and soy protein. The ingredients for this of “Sally Hansen Nail Growth Miracle” that is “vegan” and pure and states it is formulated without formaldehye, formaldehyde resin, toluene, xylene, acetone camphor, parabens, ethyl toluide, triphenyl phosphate animal-derived ingredients but does include:
Ethyl Acetate, Alcohol Denat, Butyl Acetate, Nitrocellulose, Tosylamide/Formaldehyde Resin, Aqua/Water/ Eau, Isopropyl Alcohol, N-butyl Alcohol, Triphenyl Phosphate, Trimethyl Pentanyl Diisobutyrate, Acrylates Copolymer, Ethyl Tosylamide, Benzophonone 1, Dimethiconol, Mercaptopropionic Acid, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Collagen, Tocopheryl Acetate, Dimethicone, Calciumpantothenate, Ascorbic Acid, Keratin Amino Acids, Sodium Chloride, Violet 2 (Ci 60725).
Ingredients for Seaweed. Seaweed.
What is the relationship between seaweed and naturally healthy nails?
We don’t know. The published peer-reviewed research papers say vitamins and minerals don’t help healthy nails [11] yet Cashman [7] says every nutritional deficiency affects health. Every popular media article insists that eating healthy and taking multi-vitamins will provide naturally healthy nails, especially if you use Product “X”.
Seaweed is full of vitamins and minerals. A daily serve of 4.2g of dry seaweed includes:
- Potassium: 30% of RDA (Recommended daily allowance)
- Vitamin A: 30%RDA
- Vitamin C: 30%
- Vitamin B – especially B1, B3 and B6: 10%
- Iodine: 15%
- Iron: 9%
- Magnesium: 6%
- Seaweed is full of trace elements such as selenium (elements in this table)
Maybe the people who took this were not eating healthy? But that does not explain the large number of consumers that all say the same thing. Some only noticed after 3 months when their nails had grown out.
Is the Reason due to Improvement in Gut Health?
Seaweed is an effective pre-biotic and changes the gut bacteria. Animal studies show a change in microbiome.
- Has 5% of daily dietary fibre
- Has high insoluble carbohydrate to provide pre-biotic improvements.
We know a diet of seaweed provides powerful anti-oxidants. In human and animal trials there is a reduction in fatty liver, lower blood pressure, less inflammation in liver, gut, and heart. So maybe this is involved?
Seaweed Does Moderate Hormonal Systems
- Seaweed has impact on oestrogen levels and has been researched for breast cancer and for other cancers and in antiviral studies. The evidence is that the seaweed assists in stabilizing hormonal levels.
NAIL GROWTH DETAILS
LOOK AFTER NAILS, NATURALLY
Naturally Health Nails Are Wanted!
A healthy fingernail has the function of protecting the distal phalanx, the fingertip, and the surrounding soft tissues from injuries. It also serves to enhance precise delicate movements of the distal digits through counter-pressure exerted on the pulp of the finger. We want healthy nails naturally as most don’t want to spend hours attending to them.
What Nails Tell Us About Our Health
There are many myths and stories about the health of our nails. This is just a list from health.com: 10 Things Your Nails Say About Your Health; by Kathleen Mulpeter. Most arise due to poor nutrition, and healthy living will give you naturally healthy nails.
- Yellow nails – occurs with age or with smoking
- Dry cracked or brittle nails; There are various physical causes such as overuse of nail polisher, frequent dishwashing, swimming. Brittle nails maybe associated with hypothyroidism
- Clubbing. may be a sign of liver or kidney disease
- White spots Some suggest it is associated with calcium but minor trauma is more likely
- Horizontal ridges. Minor trauma only
- Vertical ridges – age – like wrinkles on your face
- Severely bitten nails – sometimes OCB behaviour
- Spoon nails – thin nails and short of iron
- Pitting – may be psoriasis
- Dark stripes or a painful growth. Melanoma.
References
[1] Scheinfeld N, Dahdah MJ, Scher R. 2007 Vitamins and minerals: their role in nail health and disease.J Drugs Dermatol. 2007 Aug;6(8):782-7. (Pubmed)
[2] E. M. Brown et al., “Seaweed and human health,” Nutrition reviews, vol. 72, no. 3, pp. 205-216, 2014.
[3] S. Wanyonyi, R. Du Preez, L. Brown, N. A. Paul, and S. K. Panchal, “Kappaphycus alvarezii as a food supplement prevents diet-induced metabolic syndrome in rats,” Nutrients, vol. 9, no. 11, p. 1261, 2017. (Nutrition)
[5] Teas, J. et al. Could dietary seaweed reverse the metabolic syndrome? 145–157 http://apjcn.nhri.org.tw/server/APJCN/18/2/145.pdf (2009).
[6] du Preez, R. et al. Carrageenans from the Red Seaweed Sarconema filiforme Attenuate Symptoms of Diet-Induced Metabolic Syndrome in Rats. Mar. Drugs 18, 97 (2020).
[7] Cashman,M, Sloan, S 2010 Nutrition and nail disease 2010 Clinics in Dermatology Vol 28, Issue 4, July–August 2010, Pages 420-425 (Science Direct)
[9] Jung J, Lee JA, Ko MM, et al Gyejibongneyong-hwan, a herbal medicine for the treatment of dysmenorrhoea with uterine fibroids: a protocol for a randomised controlled trialBMJ Open 2016;6:e013440. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2016-013440