Do you give enough attention to your nails? Or are you one of those who pay only the smallest attention to them, only caring to cut them once a month or if they grow too long?

When it comes to taking care of our body, we all should never forget even the smallest parts, not even the nails! They take very little space on our hands, but these little things are what protects the sensitive part within where the nerves are located.

Nail Damage and Breakage
Men and women alike have to give importance to avoiding scratches on the surface of the nails, chips on the tips and most especially, the breakage of the nail and other more severe damages.

Day after day, our nails get worn out because of wear and tear. We use our hands for almost everything and it leaves our nails vulnerable and usually unprotected from the activities we do that might damage it.

More often than not, whether we admit it or not, our own nails get taken for granted. The problem with our own inability to give proper care will result in unhealthy nails that are not in the pristine condition that we like.

Healthy Beautiful Nails
Did you know that your nails can also contribute to the overall appearance you give to other people? Keeping your fingers and nails in tip top shape will give the impression of impeccable grooming. Men should keep their nails trimmed, and give proper attention to the dirt and grime that might get stuck in between. Women, especially for those who prefer their nails long and elegant, should always maintain them by keeping them in perfect shape, with no chip to their nail polish.

Keeping the nails clean enhances the beauty of your hands. Most people will say that dirty, unkempt nails make the hands look older and unsightly. It is important to know proper nail care to keep them strong, clean and healthy all the time.

Proper Nail Care Routine
Taking the time to give your nails inspection will go a long way in determining the problems and what you need to do to take care of them. Examine the texture of your nails and the color, notice if there are any scratches to be treated or chips that need to be trimmed.

Most especially for women who wear colored polishes, it is very important to take off the polish at least a week or more and let the nails sit bare for a while. Speaking of nail polishes, it is a must that you only use nail polishes that does not make your nails a sickly yellow.

Make it a habit to drop by the nearest nail parlor once in a while, for your monthly nail maintenance. If you don’t frequent nail salons, then make it a point to learn the basics of nail grooming. Do a manicure at home if you know how to do it. What’s important is you put a little effort into maintaining the health of your nails

Always keep a hand and nail kit in your drawer, with at least the basic equipments and nail care products. Stash your clippers, nail files, nail balms and ointments, anti-bacterial or sanitizing hand gels, as well as your favorite nail colors and top coats.

More than maintenance, it is also wise to stop bad habits from ruining our fingernails. One common example is chewing nails. Without even thinking, certain people do this by force of habit and it is one of the main causes of chipped, uneven nails.

Caring for your nails mean reducing the dangers against possible damage. Refrain from using your nails to scratch stains off from anything, even from scratch-off cards, use a coin or a flat metal item instead. Always use gloves whenever doing the dishes, cleaning or washing clothes because the harsh cleaning soap or detergents may damage the nails.

Finally, it’s important to never forget your diet. The healthier you feed the body, every bit and part will be, too. Eating healthy food, taking vitamins and regular intake of fluids will reflect on your nails, keeping it stronger and healthier.

There’s a valid reason why each and every household cleaning product is branded “Keep Away from Children.” However, research has shown that children aren’t the only ones susceptible – animals, plants, infants, the sick and the elderly, and even to healthy members of the household are also effected.

There are thousands of different types of cleaners being bought all over the country everyday. Even though we all know they are made from chemicals and potential toxic substances, we don’t recognize the threat that it poses as a major health hazard inside the home. From floor polish to detergents to window wipe solutions, they come in many form, uses and brands. But they all have one thing in common: the toxins from chemicals are poisonous to virtually every living being.

THE THREAT
More often than not, consumers of the cleaning products do not know what they have in their hands. It’s not that they don’t check the ingredients, because some do, but the fact that there are chemicals and toxic mixtures that they are not familiar with and thus may use it despite the bad thing it poses. Whether it is wiping cleaners to make their furniture glossy and shiny, spraying the room with odor-absorbent aerosol, or use it on their dishes to clean the utensils, all of the members of the household are at risk.

The mid to late 1990’s was the time where an astounding number of children ages 3-6 years old were prone to poisoning, where all of these cases were due to household chemicals that had been ingested by the child. The sad thing about these occurrences is that it does not simply cause temporary hospitalization, but resulted in more complications inside the child’s body.

WHAT TO AVOID
It was around the same time that studies proved the ill effects of bleach. Then and now, bleach is a very common household cleaner used daily, weekly, or monthly in all and every part of the house. This study directly proved that bleach usage heightened the risk for women to develop breast cancer, as well as other malignant diseases. Bleach has also a negative impact on children, causing behavior disabilities and illnesses.

In all common cleaning products, there are chemical mixtures like EGBE or 2-Butoxyethanol that upon frequent one can suffer from extreme headaches and irritation of the nose and eyes. A deeper look into these kinds of hidden chemical in household products reveals that it causes major damage in the organs and more. Lab animals exposed to this mixture have indicated a potential high-risk for testicular damage and defects in fertility.

One of the experts when it comes to hazardous air pollutants is Mr. William Nazaroff of UC Berkley’s Energy and Resources Group. He has conducted a thorough study of EGBE and has stated that people using products with this chemical have 12 times the exposure than what they should, which is obviously not good.
Another ingredient common to household cleaners is glycol. The colorless substance with the sweet smell seems like a favorite for manufacturers for their cleaning products. From aerosols, to room fragrance and even to fruity-smelling all purpose cleaners. Again, this product has been proven to be harmful to animals and humans upon frequent exposure.

WHAT YOU CAN DO
Here are a few things you can to limit the toxins in your household:

1. Check labels! There’s no going around this one. Aside from that, do research about specific manufacturers and their stand on wholesome cleaners with lesser toxic chemical substances in their products. Checking to see if they are complying with the department standards helps a lot, too.

2. Use only those labeled (and those which are truly) environmentally-friendly products. Green and earth-friendly products may include, but are not limited to, fragrance-free cleaners, plant oil-based ingredients.

3. Rely on your D-I-Y! Nothing wrong with making cleaners on your own. Using available ingredients right in your kitchen will help you in the assurance that you know what you’re putting in your own cleaners!