Just Ask Terry

Terry is happy to provide his opinion on diet and nutrition, supplements and lifestyle choices. This information is for educational purposes only. It is not meant to replace the advice of your physician and is not to be considered medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Should you have any concerns please contact your physician directly.

Q. Dear Terry, “I think I have hit the terrible 40’s. So many things have happened since my 40th birthday that I can understand why people have such a hard time when the big 4-0 comes. I really don’t feel bad, but my hair and nails are terrible. My hair is thinning and it’s coarse and brittle, and my nails are brittle and grow very slowly. Several of my nails have a very dark, unsightly color. Are there any natural supplements that could help?” Sharon C., Nashville, TN A. Dear Sharon, The first thing that comes to mind is that you may be lacking the mineral silica. What you describe are very common signs of a silica deficiency. Many people never think about silica when it comes to hair, nails and bone health, but it is one of the most important minerals we need. Actually, our nails are a good indication as to what is happening to our bone health, so look at your nails and if they are not pink with a nice moon on the nail near the cuticle, I would definitely consider taking silica to improve the quality of your nails and hair. Look for a good quality, high purity organic horsetail extract, usually about 10 to 30 mg daily will be sufficient, but you can also increase the dosage to about 60 mg for a few weeks to saturate your body with silica. Natural silica from horsetail, with the impurities removed, in a formula blended with bioflavonoids and marine oil greatly enhances the absorption of this essential mineral. In one study in Europe using this formulation of silica for bone health, silica was able to increase calcium absorption into the bone by 50% and bone density by 15%. In another study, silica was able to improve the success of dental implants when used for 30 days prior to the implant and at least 30 days after. In Europe, calcium supplements are not as recommended as they are in the United States. Most consumers and physicians recognize silica as being the mineral of choice for bone health. A normal dosage of silica is 10 to 20 mg for overall good health. As I’ve suggested, take 20 to 30 mg if your nails and hair are not as healthy as you would like. In the case of a broken bone or a stress fracture, I would start with 60 mg daily for six weeks and then reduce the dosage.