Your fingernals says a lot about your liver (Photo Credit: Creative Commons)

It’s interesting how our body shows physical signs that tell us of the condition of our internal systems and organs, including our liver. Many of us are not aware of these signs – some may even argue the reliability of these external manifestations. Still, as we keep an open mind for the sake of health and well-being, many health experts invite us to take a closer look at our fingernails and tongue, as they can tell us important things about our liver.

Fingernails are made of protein layers that grown underneath the base of the nail, just behind the cuticle. They are not made of living tissue, but rather of old cells that have accumulated and hardened. It takes some time for fingernails to develop, and during this period, any change in a person’s health would also manifest in the nail. This can come as changes in the shape, color and texture of the nail.

When any of these changes are observed, it usually indicates that there’s a medical problem that should be checked out.

It is important, however, to make sure that any change in the appearance of fingernails is not caused by other factors, such as fungus or forcible impact on the nail and fingers.

The tongue, on the other hand, is believed to be an indicator of your digestive health. When your tongue is smooth and pink, it shows that your digestive tract as well as your liver are in good shape. However, if you see that your tongue is coated, it’s very much a sign of several digestive and liver problems. Spotty tongues are often linked with poor digestion, and the presence of bad bacteria in the stomach. Since your liver helps digestion by generating bile, having a coated tongue could also mean that your liver is not producing enough fluid for your body to properly digest food, especially fat.

But then again, people who smoke, and those who are sick and dehydrated often get spotty, coated tongues. So be careful in making conclusions when you see that your tongue is not as smooth and pink as it should be.

It won’t take up much of your time to check on your fingernails and your tongue, and figure out what they could be saying about your body. You can think of it as your body’s own way of helping you take care of it!