Your hands and feet say a lot about you. People notice your hands because they are constantly in view. We use our hands for all sorts of practical tasks, to help express ourselves and to emphasise what we are saying,so it is essential to make the most of them.
The feet are the most neglected part of the body. There are 26 bones and 115 ligaments in each foot, as well as tendons and muscles, all of which serve to create dynamic arches that support the weight of the body. On average, we take 18,000 steps a day. So keeping your feet and hands in good condition is essential for total health.
Nails
Nails are made from the protein keratin, the same material as horse hooves, bird talons, feathers, bull horns, bear claws and even hair. They grow from a nail root that is under the end of your nails. This is the only part of the nail that is alive. The visible portion is dead, which is why it does not hurt to cut nails. However, in the case of a hangnail, the edge of the living nail root may have been accidentally opened up, causing pain.
Foods that help nails
Foods that are rich in iron, calcium, vitamin B and potassium are good for your nails. These include soy products, celery, yogurt, eggs and seafood.
Vitamin A and nails
If your nails are constantly peeling, snapping or generally just not in a good condition, look at your diet. It could be that there is an insufficient amount of Vitamin A.
Gelatin and nail hardening
Contrary to popular belief, consuming foods rich in gelatin will not help harden nails. If you are serious about the condition of your nails, look to your diet. Eating properly will help harden them.
If your nails are weak, splitting, or fragile, the problem could be an inadequate water intake. Most people don’t drink nearly enough.
You can encourage nail growth. All you have to do is massage your favourite cream into the cuticle, the nail and the fingertips. This will soften the skin, and as an added bonus encourage your nails to grow. Do this as often as you like.
Growth
It takes about 6 months for your fingernails to grow from the root all the way out to the nail tip. Your toenails take two to three times as long.
Enemies of your nails
Sun, chlorine and harsh cleaning products can make your nails brittle. Get into the habit of using a sunblock when outside and gloves on your hands when you are inside. Use a good moisturiser on your hands on a regular basis.
Nails and dishwashing
Try to get into the habit of using gloves when doing the dishes and, as an extra benefit, rub on a little hand cream first. The heat from the hot water helps in the absorption process.
Nail care
The nails help protect the ends of our fingers and toes from trauma, and pick up small objects. Over the last century, nails have become more of an object for decoration, with less emphasis placed on protection. Manicuring, the care of hands and nails, should be done at least once a week.
Hand care
• Remove old nail polish
• Shape the nail, using a file or emery board. File each nail tip from corner to center. Do not file in a see-saw motion because doing so can cause ridges and splitting
• Lightly buff the nails to remove stains from old nail polish and smoothen and shine surface of the nail
• Soak the hands in warm, soapy water for a few minutes to remove dirt. Clean under free edge of nail with orange- wood stick
• The cuticle is the skin that grows from the finger onto the base of the nail (nail root). I recommend that the cuticle not be pushed back. Leave excess cuticle build-up removal to the professional
• Apply a protective base coat, then two or three layers of polish, then finally a top coat. It is suggested that you let the layers dry between applications.
Easy steps to softer feet
• Soak your feet in a bowl of warm soapy water to soften hard skin
• To further soften areas of tough skin, add 2 tbs bicarbonate of soda (baking soda) to the warm water. Soak your feet for 15 minutes before setting to work with a pumice stone
• Smooth away problem areas with a foot file or a pumice stone. Work over the heels, sides and soles of your feet, but leave the toes alone. If you don’t have a pumice stone, use an ordinary scrub instead. The secret to dealing with hard skin is to gently rub it away every day rather than trying to remove it all in one session. Otherwise, you’ll risk ending up with red, sore feet
• Apply foot cream to your feet every day, rubbing it in well and avoiding the spaces between the toes. Take the time to knead and massage every inch of the sole, heel and top side of the foot
• Once a week, rub your feet with a thick layer of cream, pull on a pair of socks and head for bed. Your feet will be much softer in the morning.
