changes in nail strength with calcium rich diet

According to my dermatologist, nail characteristics are largely genetic. I've never grown strong fingernails no matter which diet changes I make. Buy, ironically enough, very strong toenails. Not exactly the outcome I'd prefer but that's what I got. I do have friends who have seen improved fingernail growth and strength modifying the amount of various B vitamins that they've added to their diet. And there are some trace elements like silica and such that can make a difference but that might be if someone's diet is deficient in them. Now given that there's so much soil depletion in the US, a lot of produce is no longer grown in mineral-rich soil. So as with any of everything in our diet, we are generally not getting the same quality of nutrition out of food as our ancestors did a century or so ago. My rule of thumb is that if the soil can't support earthworms, it's likely not great for growing mineral-rich food either.

Would you please site your sources for the soil depletion theory? Thanks

My hair & nails seem to grow more and my fingernails thicker, whether from medication (Evenity, then Reclast) or calcium, vitamin D and multivitamin supplements.
Also my eyelashes got thicker & longer!

A simple Google search will get you started. I did a 15-week Master Gardener course in Palm Beach County Florida through the Extension Service there. And we learned a lot about soil depletion and health and in that short course. There's no shortage of information available. I'm attending an organic growers conference in North Carolina this weekend and one whole segment of the weekend is on soil health and remediation. It's a complicated subject because some of it also has to consider the depletion of a wide range of minerals complicated by airborne and water runoff toxicities from other participants in the environment.

This past year I started Prolia. I also started taking collagen powder. Previously, my nails were splitting and breaking. I am now enjoying long, beautiful nails that are thicker and don't break. I don't know whether to give credit to the collagen or Prolia. Maybe it is both.

Pami, how are you doing on Prolia? What were your t scores and did you use prior osteomeds? Also, what collagen supplement are you using? My Dr wants to put me on Prolia indefinitely and I'm concerned. I had an ntx test that shows I'm not breaking down bone fast. Appreciate your insight.

I took Reclast for 2 years and increased my spine bone density from a -4.5 to -4.1 in my spine.  I just finished my first year on Prolia and did not expect to get a big gain. I was shocked when my spine bone density increased to a minus 3.6. Left femoral neck increased from -2.4 to -2.2. Right femoral neck stayed the same at -2.5. Reflecting on what I did different after reading everything I could find, I began eating 5-6 prunes throughout the day, walked 3 miles 5 times a week, did a leg press machine and a pull down T-bar 4 times a week, made a fruit and kale smoothie daily with 1 scoop of Collagen in it, took 2 Triple Action Osteo-Biflex, 200 mcg Vitamin K2-Mk7, 250 mg Magnesium, 2000 IU Vitamin D, 1 Mature Multi Vitamin and ate or drank Calcium all throughout the day. I try to keep myself hydrated. I also have increased the amount of protein I eat to 60. I use 1/2 scoop of Vital Proteins (3 Types of collagen) and 1/2 scoop of Dr. Axe's (5 Types collagen). Read about prune studies.

Also, my neighbor is on Prolia. She said she hardly gets any gains from it. I know she exercises daily and is a vegetarian. I increased my protein consumption and wonder if that helped.

pami, may I ask your age? You've made remarkable gains in what your doing.

I took Alendronate for 4 yrs, stopped in 2019 on med holiday but lost all gain over pandemic. I now walk 3 miles 5-6 days/week and just restarted gym weight machines. Although I haven't tried a leg press or pull down T-bar. I'm now looking into my diet and supplements. I know the benefit of prunes. I'm taking 3 a day, however, considering adding at least two more/day.

Are both Collagens - Collagen Peptide? Is Dr Axe's now called Ancient Nutrition? Is the Triple Action Osteo-Biflex the UCII collagen formula? What brand Vit K2-MK7, Magnesium, D and Mature multivitamin? You mention ate or drank calcium all throughout the day. What food and drink, all milk/dairy products?

If I had to guess I'd suspect it's the protein, collagen and exercise that is working for you beyond Prolia.

Did your doctor offer you a bone building med e.g., Forteo or just Prolia? Did you use an endcrinologist? Did your doctor use bone marker tests to determine which med to put you on?