Ever wondered about foods that are good for your nails? You can avoid those annoying hangnails that snag and rip, weak nails that crack and split, and nails that just don't seem to grow at all, simply through diet.

We often don't realise how much we use our hands. Whether you're a manual labourer and are lifting and moving heavy items, working in an office typing away, or just doing the everyday stuff, your nails are constantly being touched and knocked. This causes small fractures and damages that can lead to serious breakage. 

Eating these foods that are good for your nails can help you get the perfect, long, strong and beautiful nails you've always dreamed of. So say goodbye to acrylics, and hello to nutritious snacks.

Five foods that are good for your nails

Blueberries

Blueberries are an excellent choice when it comes to strengthening your nails. Not only are they delicious, low in calories and high in fibre, but they're also packed full of antioxidants which repair the damage caused to your nails through your everyday activities.

Antioxidants found in blueberries reduce inflammation and promote repair instead. They also neutralise free radicals. Free radicals are unstable atoms that can react with our bodies, causing cell damage. They're linked to ageing and illness.

Plus, blueberries are 85% water - and making sure you stay hydrated is essential for nail health. Upping your water intake can prevent nails from becoming brittle and dry, which is another major cause of breakage and peeling. 

Eggs

As you probably know, eggs are an excellent source of protein —which is literally what your nails are made of!

Eating protein helps refine the structure of your nails, preventing them from becoming brittle and snapping off with the slightest catch or knock. But it's not only the protein in eggs that do wonders for your nails. It's also a little B-complex vitamin called Biotin. It's found in the yolk and it's why eggs are one of the foods that are good for your nails.

Biotin — formerly known as vitamin H — is a water-soluble nutrient that helps you metabolise the carbs, proteins and fat you eat. It turns those foods into energy.

One symptom of biotin deficiency is brittle nails, so try and increase your intake for healthier, stronger nails.

Oysters

Oysters are an aphrodisiac because of their high zinc content. It's actually said they contain more zinc than any other food, with a whopping 74 grams per serving.

Zinc, along with the vitamin B6 also found in oysters, helps the production of testosterone. But it's this high zinc content that also makes oysters fantastic to eat for healthier nails. Your nails are made of cells that divide and grow at a fast pace - and this reaction is fueled by zinc.

You need to make sure you're getting the right amount of zinc in your diet in order for your nails to grow. If you don't, you might be left with weak, degenerative nail plates. If you're not getting enough zinc, you might notice little white spots forming on your nails.

If you're looking for foods that are good for you nails, oysters are an excellent place to start. And as an added plus, they're actually one of the most sustainable seafood options there is! But don't worry vegetarians - you can also find plenty of zinc in legumes, like chickpeas, beans and lentils.

Kale

Kale isn't just the leafy component in a super Instagramable salad — it's also one of the best foods that are good for your nails.

Kale is packed with magnesium, which is an essential mineral for the growth and strength of your nails.

Magnesium plays a huge part in your overall health, and it's involved with over 300 of your body's natural processes. For your nails, the most important process is protein synthesis. In simpler terms, magnesium helps your body to grow new proteins - and your nails are one of them.

The World Health Organisation predicts that almost half of us don't get enough magnesium, and your nails can be a tell-tale sign of deficiency. If you have vertical ridges on your nails, it could mean you're not consuming enough magnesium. Your nails could be weaker and have impacted growth as a result.

Kale not your thing? Don't worry. Pretty much all leafy greens are packed with magnesium, and it's included in pretty much every multivitamin on the market.

Cantaloupe

Cantaloupe - along with other citrus fruits high in vitamin C, such as oranges, kiwis and mangoes - is another option when looking for foods that are good for your nails. Vitamin C plays a huge role in collagen synthesis. This means it helps the structural protein grow.

Collagen is one of our body's most important structural proteins found in the skin, bones, ligaments, hair, and, of course, nails. It's also one of the main proteins that make up your nail bed, so it's essential that you're getting enough of it in order to have healthy, growing and strong nails.

Our bodies make collagen on its own, but its production slows down over time. This is why collagen is often thought of as something that makes us look youthful. Its production slows down as we age, impacting our skin, hair and nails most noticeably.

Vitamin C is a good way to improve the production of collagen, but if you're already seeing slowed production due to age, sun exposure, smoking or pollutants, it can be difficult to increase collagen production with food alone.

Absolute Collagen

That’s where Absolute Collagen comes in. Our drinkable sachets contain 8000mg of hydrolyzed marine collagen, as well as Vitamin C. 

Taking collagen daily can help increase nail growth, as well as keep nails strong. Our sachets make taking your daily dose of collagen easy - all you need to do is twist, drink, and done.

For Instagram worthy nails, eating these foods and taking collagen supplements are your best bet. But also avoid acrylics and slow down the trips to the nail salon. 

Check out more tips for healthy nails here.