• The condition of your finger nails can reveal your overall health.hands care #6 image by Adam Borkowski from Fotolia.com
  
  If your finger nails break doing the simplest tasks, appear to be unhealthy, or are riddled with an abundance of hangnails, you may have weak finger nails. Whether the cause of weak nails stems from underlying health issues, your diet, or natural causes such as old age, maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the best way to promote strong and nourished fingernails.
  
  

Insufficient Vitamin Supply

• A deficiency of essential vitamins such as vitamins A, B, C and D, along with a lack of calcium, protein and zinc are some of the most common causes of weak finger nails. Calcium plays an integral part in overall finger nail health by strengthening the nail and the nail bed. Lack of vitamin D found in calcium can ultimately lead to rough, dry and brittle nails. Vitamins B and C assist in preventing soft finger nails and hangnails. Daily intake of vitamins B and C will promote healthy cuticles as well as strong nail surfaces. Lack of vitamin A inhibits the processing of protein efficiently in the body, ultimately resulting in weak finger nails that constantly shed, while a significant deficiency in zinc is often responsible for visible small white specks found on the nail's surface.
  
  

Iron Deficiency and Anemia

• Nails that are unusually shaped or possess abnormal textures like vertical ridges etched in the finger nail are usually a result of an iron deficiency. A nail that curves upwards from the base or grows in a spoon-shaped form is normally caused by a condition called Koilonychias, which is also associated with low iron and anemia.
  
  

Health Ailments

• Visible discolorations of the nail are also a condition of weak finger nails. A yellowing of the nail could be an indication of psoriasis or serious liver problems. Fungus growth due to a lack of good bacteria in the intestinal track may cause nails to appear yellow. Blue-tinted finger nails usually indicate poor circulation problems of the heart or low oxygen levels. Onycholysis, which causes brittle nails and or splitting of the nail, can be caused by thyroid disease; and illnesses such as kidney disease and psoriasis can produce recurring damage to nail plates.