Fingernails Can Give Clues About Diet and Lifestyle

Original Article: https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/can-fingernails-reveal-clues-diet-and-lifestyle-2026a10000fg

The Main Idea

Doctors have long looked at fingernails not just for toxicology tests but also because their appearance can reflect aspects of a person’s diet and lifestyle. Research suggests that the mineral makeup and visible features of nails — such as color, texture, and shape — can provide clues about what someone eats over time and certain lifestyle factors like supplement use or smoking. This means that fingernails may act as simple, non-invasive indicators of our health.

What Nails Can Reflect

Fingernails are made mostly of keratin, a protein that depends on adequate nutrition and good blood supply to grow normally. Certain minerals and trace elements from the diet become incorporated into nails as they develop. Scientists have found that differences in the levels of minerals like selenium in the nails can be linked to dietary habits, such as how much animal-based food someone eats or whether they take specific supplements. These patterns can also be influenced by lifestyle factors such as smoking or alcohol use.

Why This Matters

Because nails grow continuously over weeks and months, they don’t just reflect a single meal or day — they can show a longer history of nutritional exposure. That makes them useful for researchers studying diet and nutrition patterns in populations without needing invasive tests. However, visible changes in nails — like color changes, ridges, or unusual texture — don’t diagnose a condition on their own; they serve as possible clues that might prompt further medical evaluation if there are health concerns.