Food Matters: Eating Right for Healthy Skin and Nails

New Orleans’ food is famous for its rich tastes. There’s nothing quite like jambalaya, authentic gumbo, big muffulettas, or spicy crawfish etouffee. The area has perfected a unique flavor that is immediately recognizable. Needless to say, people here love their food. Whether you realize it or not, though, what you eat can impact your feet. The right foods can actually contribute to healthy skin and nails.

Your skin and nails are part of your body’s first line of defense against invading infections. When they are healthy and doing their jobs, they keep pathogens out. Unhealthy skin and nails not only leave you vulnerable to problems, but they can be symptoms of serious issues in your body. They can also look unsightly and unpleasant, which makes many people self-conscious.

Eating right can change your foot health, though, even for skin and nails. Just like every other part of your body, they need nutrients, vitamins, and minerals to function. Stocking up on the right foods can help you transform the health and appearance of your lower limbs.

Antioxidants like beta-carotene, vitamin C, vitamin E, and vitamin A help keep skin fresh and young-looking. Most fruits and vegetables are high in these nutrients. Blueberries, strawberries, grapefruit, peppers, spinach, and kale in particular are packed with antioxidants. Fatty omega-3 acids help give your skin tissue strength. Wild salmon, sardines, and walnuts are great sources for this.

Your nails need these vitamins, too, as well as other nutrients. Protein is important, since it’s a major building block for growing your toenails. Minerals like iron and zinc help strengthen keratin as well. Biotin and vitamin D keep nails from drying out and peeling. Fragile nails might also need more B vitamins.

You don’t have to live with unsightly or unhealthy skin or toenails. Sometimes, however, these are symptoms of a bigger problem that needs more treatment than a diet change. If you’re struggling with changes in your lower limbs, let us know at Gulf South Foot & Ankle, LLC. We’ll help determine the cause and how to fix it. Just call our Metairie, LA, office for an appointment. You can reach us at (504) 708-4810 or use our website contact page.