Fingernails can tell a lot about your overall health

Health experts often speak about listening to your body and its signs. Just like skin, your fingernails too can tell a lot about your overall health, and Ayurveda can offer great help. Healthy nails have pink nail beds and aren’t easily broken while white-looking. Meanwhile, brittle nails may mean nutritional deficiency or any other health problem.
Low levels of zinc or iron and thyroid problems can also cause brittle nails. Weak nails may also be a sign of aging. Nail analysis, or Naksha Pariksha, is a commonly practised Ayurvedic diagnostic tool. It is used because the nails are a by-product of the bones as well as other aspects of health.
In her recent Instagram post, Ayurveda expert Dr. Nitika Kohli talks about 4 signs of ill health that are apparent on your nails.
Longitudinal lines on the nails
These lines indicate a clear sign of malabsorption of nutrients in the body. The deeper the lines, however, the stronger the deficiency.
Horizontal lines or transverse groove
According to Ayurveda, a deep line that runs horizontal to the nail is an indication of a strong illness, infection, or depletion that occurred.
Absence of moons (Lunula)
Ayurveda, the lunula of the nail, represents one's Agni or fire in the body. If you notice nails and find there are no moons (lunula) or extremely small moons, this is a sign that there is weak digestion or fire in the system.
Large moons
If they seem larger than normal, this may show an overactive fire in the body, which can lead to Pitta issues such as loose stools, hyperacidity, inflammation and malabsorption of nutrients.