Have you done everything you can to repair your dull, brittle nails, but nothing seems to work? If so, it may be time to re-think your strategy. You see, fixing the problem sometimes takes more than a couple dollops of cuticle cream!

So if you’ve ruled out culprits like cheap nail polishes or a protein deficiency, then you may need to add more potassium-rich foods to your diet. According to Michael Greger, M.D. of Nutrition Facts, an estimated 98% of Americans are not getting enough of this key mineral.

It’s a staggering statistic, especially considering potassium can significantly lower blood pressure, thus reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke. On top of that, a potassium-rich diet has also been found to support the adrenal gland, which produces the hormones that either make or break the quality of your hair and nails.

It’s not just about bananas!

For whatever reason, it seems that a majority of us have been conditioned to think that bananas are the “holy grail” food of potassium, but, interestingly enough, Dr. Greger says that there are at least 50 more foods that he would eat first before munching on a banana for potassium.

If you are looking to maximize your intake of this often overlooked mineral, try to focus on eating foods like potatoes (either white or sweet), watermelons, all kinds of squashes, chard, spinach, plain yogurt (not Greek!), black beans, and edamame.

Give your adrenal gland some love

To boost your potassium intake fast, consider adding this remedy recipe to your morning routine.

In order to get started, first gather together these ingredients:

• Organic natural honey (make sure it’s the real stuff!)
• Dried parsley leaves
• Ground ginger
• Brazilian walnuts
• Raisins
• Unsweetened almond milk (optional)

1. Throw a handful of Brazilian walnuts into a blender or food processor with a couple pinches of dried parsley leaves. Press the “chop” setting and wait until the mixture is evenly diced.
2. Add a teaspoon of honey, about a half dozen raisins, and a pinch of ground ginger to the mixture. Blend.
3. If the concoction is too sticky to remove, add a bit of unsweetened almond milk to the mix and stir.

Consume a couple of tablespoons of this adrenal gland supporting remedy before your breakfast in the morning. This process can be repeated 2 to 3 times per week. If you have some of the mixture leftover, be sure to store it in your fridge.

Additional benefits

On top of strengthening your brittle nails, focusing on eating foods that your adrenal gland needs can also help you produce hormones that support a healthy sleep cycle.

If you are an athlete, then you may also start enjoying a faster recovery time as potassium works to store necessary carbohydrates in the body.

As always, be sure to contact your doctor before you make any significant changes to your diet. Tell him or her about your potassium intake plan—they may have even more ideas on how to get the most out of this essential mineral!

Do you eat a potassium-rich diet? If so, what foods do you focus on eating? How do you keep your nails looking their best? Tell us all about your thoughts and experiences in the comments section below!