Copyright People’s Pharmacy

Q: Is there a correlation between eating avocados and strengthening one’s fingernails? I never had nice fingernails.  They were always soft and splitting.  About a year ago, I started eating avocados.  Not only do I have stronger fingernails, but my hair is thicker and healthy-looking, despite my years.

A: Avocado (Persea Americana) is a uniquely American fruit.  Its origins have been traced to Mexico roughly 10,000 years ago.  The nutritional value of avocados is distinctive.  They contain ample vitamins C, K, and E, and several B vitamins.  In addition, the fruit is high in potassium, a mineral that is often low in the American diet.  There is another unique benefit aspect of avocados.  They contain lots of heart-healthy monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs).  There was a time when nutrition experts advised against foods with a high fat content.  That has changed.  Now, nutrition experts recognize that the kinds of fats in nuts, olive oil and avocados are quite healthy.  For example, one avocado has about the same MUFA content as 2 tablespoons of olive oil or 1.5 ounces of almonds.  We could find no scientific research demonstrating that avocados can strengthen fingernails.  That said, a lot of folk literature supports this concept. Your experience suggests that it just might be true.  The healthful fats in avocados may play a role in this effect.