Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Science/2019 July 21

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July 21

Diet and rate of fingernail growth

Hello. Is it true that if one eats certain foods, one's fingernails grow more quickly than they otherwise would, and if so, which foods are they? FreeKnowledgeCreator (talk) 08:29, 21 July 2019 (UTC)

check Nail_(anatomy)#Growth and Nail_(anatomy)#Effect_of_nutrition Gem fr (talk) 08:57, 21 July 2019 (UTC)

They don't mention specific foods. FreeKnowledgeCreator (talk) 09:10, 21 July 2019 (UTC)

They did mention that protein is the basic building material. Therefore, a lack of protein would slow growth down. However, more protein won't increase the growth rate unless you were deficient in protein/amino acids. That is, fingernails have a certain maximum growth rate, and more protein won't change that. Protein can be found primarily in fish, poultry, meat, dairy/milk, eggs, beans/lentils & seeds/nuts. Similarly, eating more of the micro-nutrients they listed won't help, unless you were deficient in those. SinisterLefty (talk) 12:41, 21 July 2019 (UTC)

Knox gelatin used to advertise that their product promoted nail growth. The following article states that according to MayoClinic.Com: "what you put in your mouth will have no effect on your nail growth"; it also includes much information on the subject:

• Sefcik, Lisa (July 18, 2017). "Knox Gelatin for Nail Growth". Our Everyday Life. —107.15.157.44 (talk) 20:26, 21 July 2019 (UTC)

"what you put in your mouth will have no effect on your nail growth" must be understood as "you cannot grow nail faster", as it only depends on the cells making the stuff, with their own agenda, provided they are healthy. However, poisoning or nutrient deficiencies, WILL have effect on your nail growth, of course. Gem fr (talk) 07:22, 22 July 2019 (UTC)

And eating sufficient quantities of certain things, e.g. Atropa belladonna or Conium maculatum, will cause your nails to stop growing entirely. Nyttend (talk) 04:19, 23 July 2019 (UTC)