Eat Avocados to Fight Brittle Nails during Menopause

During menopause, many changes occur in a woman's body. Some are mental, others physical, and almost all are the result of the decreased level of estrogen. To best alleviate menopausal symptoms, it is essential to find hormonal balance. Estrogen promoting foods like soy, leafy greens, and vegetables should be incorporated into a woman's diet.

Additionally, if a woman's body is lacking in hydration it cannot absorb nutrients properly. However, there are certain foods that can combat these specific symptoms. For instance, foods rich in protein can help combat brittle nails. Avocado is not only rich in protein, but it also promotes estrogen production in addition to carrying several other health benefits.

Why Avocado Is Good for Your Nails

Avocados are all around nutritious foods. They are low in sodium and cholesterol and high in fiber and good calories. In fact, avocados are great for women who wish to lose weight. They help satiate appetites and keep you feeling fuller longer so you avoid mindless munching or overeating.

Avocados Contain:

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Calcium
• Monosaturated fat
• Zinc

All of the aforementioned nutrients are necessary in preventing and treating brittle nails.

How to Pick Avocados

California avocados (Hass avocados) have a dark pebbly skin and on average contain 200 calories. Florida avocados have a smooth green exterior and tend to be larger and higher in calories with the average size containing 300.

A ripe and ready to eat avocado is tender: If squeezed gently it produces a slight indentation, indicating that the avocado is ready to be eaten. Oftentimes, it's hard to find ripe avocados in the grocery store. If they aren't ripe enough, store them in a dark place at room temperature for a couple of days. To speed up the process, you can place the avocado in a paper bag.

Suggestions on How to Eat Avocados

Avocados can be eaten on their own -as a snack- or incorporated into any meal. They also make an easy garnish or side dish. One easy way to eat an avocado is in a sandwich. For a delicious and nutritious sandwich use the following:

• Whole grain bread
• Low fat white cheese (dairy is also good for nail health)
• Half of an avocado
• Onions
• Tomatoes
• Mustard

If you're preparing guacamole, try adding garlic or other spicy ingredients to help enhance the absorption of nutrients. In addition to being a great dip for chips, guacamole makes a great spread on sandwiches.

More Information

If your brittle nails are a result of changing levels of estrogen during menopause then lifestyle changes paired with a healthy diet should be enough to restore your nails to their healthy state. However, brittle nails can be the sign of other serious medical problems unrelated to menopause. To be sure, consult your doctor. Follow the link to learn more about the lifestyle changes to fight brittle nails.