With Dr. Chris Meletis
by Lorin Shields-Michel
A question and answer
session between reporter
Lorin Shields-Michel and Dr.
Chris Meletis, N.D., the executive
director of the Institute for
Healthy Aging, a non-profit educational
group in Carson City,
Nevada, and co-author of “The
HA Anti-Aging Answer: Using
Hyaluronic Acid for
Flexible Joints,
Vibrant Skin and a
Healthy Heart”
(Currant Book,
2007).
Hyaluronic acid is nature’s anti-aging miracle,
helping to make skin, joints, eyes and even
other parts of the body more youthful. But
don’t take our word for it. Here’s what the experts
have to say:
DPHL Why is HA considered “nature’s anti-aging
miracle”?
Dr. Meletis HA is highest in our skin when we are
infants, hence the saying “baby soft skin.” As we
get older, we experience what I term the plum-toprune,
grape-to-raisin phenomena of aging. We dry
out. Not surprisingly HA helps retain moisture in our
tissues. Some experts have reported that HA can
hold 1,000 times its weight in water. What I can say
clinically, is that whether it is topical or orally, I see
great results with high molecular weight HA. It is
key that it is high molecular weight, for it is this form
that is bioidentical to the form in our bodies. The
fact is the HA is made by our bodies daily, yet as
we get older our ability to make it and also optimally
incorporate it into our tissues drops. HA is critical
for cardiac health, joint health, skin health and even
neurological wellness.
DPHL How is HA useful in controlling joint issues,
as related to the advent of age?
Dr. Meletis HA helps maintain fluidity and lubrication
in the joints. We now see in conventional
medicine the use of HA as an injectable for knee
and joint issues. Kind of like oiling the Tin Man in
The Wizard of Oz.
DPHL How is HA useful in helping the skin, as
related to aging, lines and wrinkles?
Dr. Meletis I clinically have my patients wash
their faces with warm water prior
to going to bed and then dab it
dry leaving some moisture on
the skin, then apply the HA to
the skin surface. From what I
have seen clinically, it really
helps hydrate the skin. Certain
other ingredients have been
incorporated into HA serums to
help relax the wrinkles.
DPHL Does HA help skin differently depending on
the part of the body? For instance, facial skin versus
hands (just as an example)?
Dr. Meletis I find consistent results and hear the
same from other colleagues.
DPHL How does HA affect facial skin?
Dr. Meletis I have had patients come into my
practice after applying topical high molecular
weight HA each morning and evening prior to bed
and taking it orally as a clear tasteless liquid for a
couple of months, and I have literally had to take a
double take because they look so much more radiantly
healthy and youthful relative to their skin.
DPHL Can HA help rejuvenate skin after weight
loss? Can it help joints after weight loss?
Dr. Meletis Yes and yes. HA, helps put resilience
back into tissues, I have yet to have a patient not be
impressed at some level with HA and its ability to
help their body, which is not surprising since basically
what they are liking is what their body was making
more of when they were younger. It is like turning
on the fountain of youthful HA production again.
DPHL If there was one thing you'd want people to
know about HA, what would it be?
Dr. Meletis We were created with high amounts
of HA during life within the womb. Upon entering
this often harsh world, everything from free radical
damage, poor diet and stress contribute to the
breakdown of our skin/joints and tissues and ultimately,
our HA production can't keep up. Bottom
line, you can't argue with creation of the HA’s higher
abundance in youth and dramatic decrease later in
life. It does not take a rocket scientist or nuclear
physicists to see that a simple common sense
approach to healthy aging is replacing substances
that decrease during the passage of time; HA is
exactly one of these nutrients. It is my hope that
common sense prevails and we give the body a
helping hand, so we can look and feel as young as
the rest of our health allows.
Hyalogic LLC, of Shawnee, Kansas, is America's leading HA
company. Hyalogic formulas are available nationwide. To find
a store near you visit www.hyalogic.com.
Copyright 2009. All rights reserved.
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