Healthy as can be

Nails
We usually don't pay much attention to our fingernails, but they can give vital clues to general health.

Yellow nails are suggestive of respiratory disease, spoon-like nails curving outwards can mean iron deficiency anaemia, and lines going across the nails may be a symptom of diabetes.

Go to the doctor if there's any major change in the look or feel of your fingernails. Firm, pink nails, on the other hand, can be evidence of a decent general level of health.

Toilet time
Stools can speak volumes about overall health.

It is about consistency and colour.

A good stool is torpedo shaped, soft and easy to pass. Colour can depend on what you've eaten, but it shouldn't generally be grey, very pale, too dark or bright red. A mid-brown stool, passed easily and regularly without any sudden change in bowel habits is one sign of decent digestive health.

Urine
If you have pale yellow pee, you are drinking enough fluids and - in the absence of other symptoms - probably don't have any urinary tract infections.

A good colour is also a sign that your liver is working efficiently. Don't worry if you drink a lot of water and you're urine turns almost clear - apart from the inconvenience of all those trips to the toilet, that's no problem.

A darker yellow probably just means you've been drinking less - this colour is common especially when you pee after you wake up in the morning - drink more to avoid the symptoms of dehydration.

Dark or red-tinged urine - or pee with a sweet or strange odour - can be a symptom of health problems.

Drinking water
Drink a cup of water (100ml) every 2 hours is sufficient. It helps to flush out toxins. Drink two cups of water (200ml) every 2 hours if you are actively involved in outdoor sports or if you work in air-conditioned room most of the day.

A misconception about drinking lots of water is that we tend to gulp down too much, think 500ml of water all at one go. This method is wrong, and it can lead to too much water in the body, as a result, water-drunkardness occurs. This dilutes the blood and can cause serious health problems.

Shiny Healthy Hair
A fine and luscious head of shiny hair is a sign that good things are happening in your body. In particular, healthy hair can be a sign of a healthy diet.

Dull, dry and brittle hair can be caused by a lack or protein, vitamin E or essential fatty acids. Hair so healthy women want to run their fingers through it may be evidence that you're absorbing plenty of body-friendly nutrients.