How can I strengthen my nails?

Brittle nails that are soft, thin and easily torn are a problem for many women. The solution is biotin, a B vitamin that helps strengthen nails. Before opting for a biotin supplement, try snacking on walnuts. As well as being an excellent source of biotin, walnuts are rich in other beauty enhancers -- like wrinkle-reducing omega-3s.

There is some evidence that taking biotin, a water-soluble B vitamin, does help treat brittle nails. Otherwise, dietary changes that supposedly strengthen nails don't work. For example, unless you're deficient in protein - rare among people in the United States - adding protein to your diet won't strengthen your nails. Similarly, all those teenagers in the 1960s were wrong; eating or soaking your nails in gelatin won't help either.