A nail fungal infection is an infection that occurs when a fungus attacks the fingernails, toenails, or nail bed. Fungi may attack the nail through the small cuts that appear on the skin surrounding the nail or through the space between the nail and the nail bed. This won’t cause any complications when you are in the pink of health.
Causes of Nail Infection
Nail fungal infections may be caused by molds, yeasts, and other types of fungi, the most common of these belong to a group known as dermatophytes. Fungi grow best in an environment that is dark, warm, and moist. It is more likely to spread from one infected person to another or through contact with an infected surface. Anyone who likes to walk barefoot in public places like swimming pools and locker rooms may be prone to this condition. This can be acquired from sharing personal items like nail clippers with others.
When you are susceptible to infections due to some medical conditions like diabetes, they tend to recur. If you don’t do anything to prevent or treat the infection it is likely to become severe.
Common Symptoms
Nail fungal symptoms take time to develop. A nail infected with fungus often shows the following symptoms: the nail becomes thicker, the nail turns yellow, brown, or green and the nail becomes crumbly and brittle, and it may also separate from the nail bed. The infection does not usually cause pain unless it becomes severe and gets in the way of wearing shoes or walking. In some cases, the infection may also give off a foul smell.
Diagnosis
For diagnosing a nail fungal infection, the doctor has to look into the nails and skin of one’s hands and feet. Your medical history is also important. Usually, a nail sample will be taken from you and sent to a lab for testing to find out the pathogen that caused the infection.
Treatment
The most aggressive nail fungus treatment is the oral antifungal which has to be taken for several months up to a year. A good alternative is a topical antifungal which has to be applied directly to the nail.
1Nutritional Profile of Yam and Egg
Yams are packed with carbohydrates and fiber, but they have a low protein content. They also do not have fat. However, these are packed with folate, vitamin B5, thiamine, and vitamin C. Yams are also rich in potassium, magnesium, manganese, and copper.
On the other hand, eggs contain high amounts of vitamin B5, vitamin B2, folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin A. They are also rich in several minerals like phosphorus, calcium, selenium, and zinc.
As an Antimicrobial
The purple yam sap extracts contain secondary metabolite components that can be used for their antibacterial properties. These secondary metabolite compounds include tannins, saponins, alkaloids, phenols, triterpenoids, and flavonoids. The extracts were proven to have inhibiting properties against gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli) and gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus).
On the other hand, eggs are known as a complex antimicrobial biological fluid. The egg white has several popular antimicrobial proteins namely ovotransferrin, lysozyme, and protease inhibitors. It also has several minor antimicrobial proteins that have been established recently.
Other Health Benefits
Each component of the yam and egg combo meal has its own set of health benefits. The following are some of the benefits you may enjoy from eggs:
Supports weight management
Eggs are loaded with protein. Protein makes it more filling compared to fat or carbohydrate. As a choice of food, eggs rank high in terms of satiety. Studies have shown that an egg breakfast is more filling and sustaining than breakfast with the same calorie count. What makes it better is that it can lessen your calorie intake later on.
May help with heart health
Eggs are rich in several nutrients like betaine and choline that support heart health. A study conducted on half a million people in China suggests that consuming an egg daily may lessen the risk of getting a stroke or any heart disease. Medical experts, however, stressed that eggs have to come with healthy lifestyle practices for them to be highly beneficial.
Eggs may help with mental health
Eggs are known to contain a potent concentration of choline, iron, tryptophan, and vitamins B2 and B12. They are all associated with reducing symptoms of depression and stress, the risk of depression, and naturally helping with sleep.
Meanwhile, yams are also known for their own set of health benefits which include the following:
Improves the body’s blood sugar levels
Studies revealed that yams are known to help regulate blood sugar levels. This is because they contain resistant starch which helps prevent rising blood sugar levels, particularly after a full meal. The starch takes time to digest and it also slows down glucose release from the consumed food. This is why yams are perfect food for those who are diabetic.
Helps promote healthy skin
Yams contain lots of antioxidants that may help rebuild skin cells. Such antioxidants may help lessen oxidative damage brought about by free radicals. Moreover, yams are also rich in vitamin C which aids collagen production in the body. It is a protein that helps in maintaining the skin’s elasticity. As people age, collagen production is reduced and this affects the skin’s elasticity. By consuming yams, we can maintain the body’s collagen production and ensure skin health.
Helps maintain gut health
Yams contain a substantial amount of dietary fiber, which functions as food for healthy gut bacteria. This helps the bacteria to grow and fight off harmful microbes in the body. Studies on yams also revealed that phenolic components found in yams possess antimicrobial properties. This makes yams beneficial for gut health.
