
20. Brittle nails and hair could be a sign of vitamin deficiencies.
If your fingernails and tresses are starting to become brittle, you may be lacking biotin, also known as vitamin B7 (via Healthline). This essential vitamin helps get your body to convert food into energy. While this deficiency is typically rare, when a patient is not getting enough biotin, your nails and hair may become brittle or easily break. You will also notice them starting to thin or split. This type of vitamin deficiency can also cause chronic fatigue, cramps, muscle pain, and some tingling in the hands and feet.
Some patients are more susceptible to developing biotin deficiency. That includes pregnant women, heavy smokers and drinkers. Individuals with digestive conditions like Crohn’s disease can also easily develop it. Another cause of biotin deficiency could be eating raw egg whites. Why? Because they contain a protein that binds to biotin and reduces the body’s absorption. You can include foods rich in biotin within your diet to counter this issue. That includes fish, meat, spinach, broccoli, cauliflower, sweet potatoes, bananas, and whole grains. Adults with brittle hair and nails may want to have 30 milligrams of biotin-rich foods in their daily diet.