Have you ever wondered what foods make your nails grow? Long nails are in style as every celebrity and fashion model is rocking sexy, dangerously long claws. It can be harder to wear some more intricate nail polish styles if you have short, brittle nails that break before they can grow. A manicure can cost upwards of $40 plus a tip every 2-3 weeks. Not everyone has the time or extra funds to afford such luxuries.
Luckily, there are many ways to have longer and healthier natural nails. Aside from keeping up with general hygiene and cleanliness, there are certain foods that can actually help promote nail growth. See which foods you can eat to help your nails grow faster and stronger.
What Foods Make Nails Grow Faster
Protein-rich foods are essential to grow long and healthy nails. Your nails are made up of a protein called keratin that your body naturally produces. Keratin helps form your body’s hair, nails, and outer layer skin. Many beauty products like shampoos and nail treatments have keratin as their main ingredient for this reason.
Increasing keratin in your body will help your hair and nails be stronger and grow longer faster. It is one of the main components in protecting your hair from heat and chemical damage. If your keratin levels are low, your hair and nails may be brittle and break easily. You may have thin skin that doesn’t heal as easily and may look dull in appearance.
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Foods With Highest Protein
The main food sources of protein include eggs, beans, lentils, chicken, and fish. Onions may not leave you smelling the best but are an excellent source of keratin due to containing N-acetylcysteine, an antioxidant that the body uses to form L-cysteine, an amino acid important for making protein.
If you’re a fruit lover, many fruit are a great source of protein. Some fruits with highest protein amounts are avocado, guava, kiwi, oranges, bananas, and peaches.
Of course meat is an excellent source of protein. Lean chicken breast, tilapia, beef steak, bison steak, salmon, pork, beef jerky, and tuna have the highest amount of protein of all the meats.
Quality cheese is not only delicious but can also add a healthy dose of protein to your diet. Parmesan cheese has the highest level of proteins with Romano and Swiss being good recommendations as well. Cottage cheese is also a high protein popular choice to add to any meal or eat alone as a snack.
Biotin is another nutrient that’s important when trying to grow long, strong nails. It is a type of B vitamin that helps the body convert food into energy and can help stimulate nail growth. Biotin can be found in egg yolk, salmon, avocados, sweet potatoes, nuts, and seeds.
Omega-3 fatty acids are also crucial for healthy nails. These healthy fats can be found in oily fish such as tuna, mackerel, and salmon, as well as in flaxseeds, chia seeds, and walnuts. If you’re not a fan of fish you can also find omega-3 fatty acids in some yogurts and fruit juices.
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Conclusion
If you want strong and healthy nails, make sure to incorporate protein-rich, biotin-rich, and omega-3 rich foods into your diet. By doing so, you’ll be on your way to achieving the long and healthy nails you see on Instagram and TikTok.
It’s not necessary to spend an arm and leg every two weeks at the nail salon, especially in today’s economy. Additionally, fake nails can cause havoc and even possibly permanently damage your natural nails. Increasing the amount of keratin in your body through eating protein rich foods will speed up your body’s natural process of nail restoration and growth.
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