After lapband surgery, it’s hard to get proper bariatric nutrition. One of the first places that poor nutrition manifests is in the health and beauty of your nails.
You can’t have beautiful nails without having proper nutrition.
Fingernails are made of layers of protein, laminated together. Fingernails grow from the base of your nails, under your cuticles, up towards your fingertips. When the new nail grows, it pushes the old nail out. That part of your nail becomes hard and compacted.
When you can only eat tiny amounts of food at a time, it’s hard to get the nutrition you need to have healthy looking fingernails and good health. Thin, brittle, cracking or splitting nails can be a sign of poor nutrition or nutritional deficiencies.
Biotin is a B vitamin that is important for growing strong fingernails and also growing strong hair. Biotin is also called Vitamin H.
Biotin is in food like brewer’s yeast, soy, and brown rice. Biotin actually produces keratin, which is the material that makes up your nails! A side benefit of Vitamin H is that it helps you maintain a steady blood sugar level.
Methylsulphonylmethane, more commonly known as MSM, is sulphur, which is a mineral that is found in all living things. You need sulfur for your body and organs to function, and MSM also helps create strong nails and healthy skin. MSM is often recommended for helping people with arthritis or connective tissue problems. MSM is not a food additive or a vitamin. And though it’s found in all plant and animal tissue, it’s seriously depleted by processing foods.
Nails with white spots can indicate a zinc deficiency.
Gamma-linolenic acid is an EFA or Essential Fatty Acid, that you need to grow beautiful nails.
Nails grow fastest in the summer. But at best, fingernails still only grow an average of 3mm/month. So it may take some time before you can see nutritional changes in your nails.
You can use bariatric supplements to help improve the health of your fingernails, as well as your hair and skin.
In addition to the nutritional support offered by gastric bypass supplements, there are other things you can do to grow out your nails:
1) Massage your nails. This increases blood flow and will help your new nails to come in faster. It also feels pleasant!
2) Frequent handwashing is one of the best ways to prevent colds and flu but it also will dry out your hands and fingernails. Make sure you use a high quality hand moisturizer after you wash your hands. Rub the hand lotion into your nails and cuticles.
3) Wear gloves while washing dishes or doing other household chores. You will be far less likely to break your nails!
4) Regular, professional manicures can keep your nails in good condition and help them grow out stronger.
5) Carry a nail file with you
In sum, growing great nails starts with good nutrition from your post gastric bypass diet. Bariatric vitamins can help supplement when you can’t always eat right.