Come visit Yuzurihara, the Village of Long Life, two hours outside of Tokyo, where people routinely live into their nineties without any of the usual signs of aging. In fact, more than ten percent of the villagers are 85 or older, ten times our national norm. Cancer, diabetes, Alzheimer’s—all are practically unheard of in this village.

These villagers have found the secret of long life in their traditional diet, which is unique. Unlike other regions of Japan that grow rice, Yuzuri Hara’s hilly terrain is better suited to harvesting different carbohydrate-rich foods high in sticky starches that may prove healthier: things like satsumaimo, a type of sweet potato; satoimo, a sticky white potato; konnyaku, a gelatinous root vegetable concoction; and imoji, a potato root. These foods just happen to be rich in hyaluronic acid, and, as a result of their diet, the people of the village have higher levels of HA than most people have in their bodies.

This is a good thing. A very good thing. The skin of people in their eighties and nineties feels like a baby’s. Their eyesight is remarkable; most cannot remember a single day in which they were sick, even though many smoke. Doctors, farmers, innkeepers, all routinely practice their professions into their eighties.

Yet, you don’t have to visit Yuzurihara to take advantage of their longevity secret.

So what is HA? That’s a good question since it has only been in medical use here in the West since around 1997. Hyaluronic acid is a carbohydrate, more specifically a mucopolysaccharide occurring naturally throughout the human body. It loves to bind to water giving it a stiff viscous quality similar to “Jello.” And it is the fact that this long-chained molecule loves water that appears to be why it is so good for our bodies.

This viscous gel is one of the most heavily researched substances in medicine today with thousands of clinical trials mostly in the fields of eye surgery and orthopedics where it used as a shock absorber to protect the retina or joints, respectively. Its function in the body is, among other duties, to bind water and to lubricate movable parts of the body, such as joints and muscles. HA’s consistency and tissue-friendliness allows it to be used in skin-care products as an excellent moisturizer. It is one of the most hydrophilic (water-loving) molecules in nature and can be described as “nature’s moisturizer.”

But the most dramatic discoveries of HA’s healing powers are just around the corner. After all, HA is integral to virtually all tissues and organs—and now medical science has proven that oral and topical HA is absorbable and beneficial—provided, of course, that you’re using a high molecular weight, non-animal sourced molecule with proven absorption.

HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST FORMULA

There are many HA products available now on the market, making your shopping choice all the more important, according to experts in writing in 2004 in the Journal of Applied Nutrition who examined the different kinds available. The most absorbable and reliable choice would be a high molecular weight HA, around the 2.4-3 million Daltons range. The researchers note, “…dietary supplements containing HA are not equivalent due to the inherent properties of the three major types of HA commercially available as dietary supplement materials. Consumers and health care professionals need to be aware of the different types of HA and their very large differences in properties (even before ingestion). One source, hydrolyzed chicken sternal cartilage, is clearly unlike native HA, does not match the biological properties of native HA, and consequently should not be represented as HA to consumers on product labels...” Ultimately, the researchers recommend high-molecular weight HA, such as found in Synthovial Seven®, which uses purified non-animal HA that most closely resembles the substance found in the body. It is this HA that has powerful anti-aging and lubricating qualities.

The HA miracle is upon us. It’s you’re a-HA moment. Now what are you waiting for?

SO MANY GREAT PRODUCTS, SO LITTLE TIME!

Synthovial Seven, from Hyalogic, is easy to take. Just put a dropper full in a glass of water once a day. HylaRub soothes, moisturizes and maintains healthy joints. Ditto for HylaSoak moisturizing joint soak. HylaVision is for your eyes and combines HA with vitamins A, B2,C and E. Dr. John’s Formula toothpaste with HA and Xylitol is excellent for your gums. There is also an episilk hand and body lotion, shampoo and conditioners, facial cream and lip balm.

Everybody around here and all our friends at Healthy Living are raving about the Episilk HA serums! These ultra pure and potent topical formulas deliver every benefit that you could imagine, reducing appearance of age spots, uneven tones, lightening and reducing the appearance of dark circles under the eyes, firming and moisturizing your skin for an instant facelift. They’re completely hypoallergenic, too. You definitely won't want to miss the anti-aging benefits of these formulas!

Here are some of the most promising ways that HA can benefit your own quest to live as long and healthfully as possible.

TENDONS & LIGAMENTS/JOINTS/CONNECTIVE TISSUE

Connective tissue is found everywhere in the body. It does much more than connect body parts; it has many forms and functions. Its major functions include binding, support, protection, and insulation. One such example of connective tissue is the cordlike structures that connect muscle to bone (tendons) and bone to bone (ligaments). In all connective tissue there are three structural elements. They are ground substance (hyaluronic acid), stretchy fibers (collagen and elastin) and a fundamental cell type. Whereas all other primary tissues in the body are composed mainly of living cells, connective tissues are composed largely of a nonliving ground substance (hyaluronic acid), which separates and cushions the living cells of the connective tissue. The separation and cushioning allow the tissue to bear weight, withstand great tension and endure abuses that no other body tissue could. All of this is made possible because of the presence of the HA and its ability to form the gelatinous ground substance fluid. No wonder studies with oral HA demonstrate excellent benefits for supporting joint health!

EYES

Hyaluronic acid is a powerful eye tonic. No wonder, since HA is highly concentrated inside the eyeball. The fluid inside the eye called the vitreous humor is composed almost completely of hyaluronic acid. HA gives the fluid inside the eye a viscous gel like property. This gel acts as a shock absorber for the eye and also serves to transport nutrients into the eye. Eye surgeons inject HA directly into the eye to help maintain the shape of the eye during surgery. It has been said that after the fifth decade of life, our eyes stop producing the much needed hyaluronic acid resulting in various eye problems such as poor vision, dry eyes, and floaters. Today, oral and topical HA are also thought to help support ocular health, particularly based on proprietary research in Japan on HA pills in which users reported improved vision.

SKIN

Although HA can be found naturally in most every cell in the body, it is found in the greatest concentrations in the skin tissue. Almost fifty percent of the body’s HA is found in skin tissue, both the deep underlying dermal areas as well as the visible epidermal top layers. Young skin is smooth and elastic and contains large amounts of HA that helps keep the skin stay young and healthy. The HA provides continuous moisture to the skin by binding up to 1000 times its weight in water. With age, the ability of the skin to produce HA decreases leaving the skin unhealthy and wrinkled. That’s why topically applied HA is such a powerful anti-aging cosmeceutical.

GUM TISSUE

The gums (gingivae) are composed of dense fibrous connective tissue (ligaments) which secure the teeth to the alveolar bone (jaw bone). Once again, connective tissue is composed of a fibrous tissue surrounded by hyaluronic acid (extra-cellular matrix). Without the hyaluronic acid, the gum tissue becomes unhealthy and may lead to swelling. If the HA is present it helps to provide the tensile strength of the ligaments that secure the tooth in place by providing hydration and nourishment. Regular use of HA helps to maintain a healthy set of gums.

SCALP TISSUE & HAIR FOLLICLES

Actually the hair and the hair follicle are a derivative of skin tissue. There are two distinctive skin layers, one, the epidermis (outer layer), which gives rise to the protective shield of the body and the other, the dermal layer (deep layer), which makes up the bulk of the skin and is where the hair follicle is located. This dermal layer is composed of connective tissue and the connective tissue, with its gelatinous fluid like characteristics provides support, nourishes and hydrates the deep layers of the scalp. The result is healthy lustrous hair and a moisturized scalp. Again, all of this is made possible because of the presence of HA in the scalp tissue and its ability to form this fluid and hold water. No wonder consumers seek HA in shampoos and conditioners!

LIPS

The lips are a core of skeletal muscle covered by skin tissue. The dermal layer of the lips is composed primarily of connective tissue and its components hyaluronic acid and collagen that give the structure (shape) and plumpness to the lips. The hyaluronic acid binds to water creating a gelatinous fluid that hydrates the surrounding tissue and keeps the collagen (responsible for keeping the skin tight) nourished and healthy. The result is healthy well hydrated and plump lips that are well protected from the environment. Again, lip balms.

EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX

The (ECM) is a gel-like fluid that surrounds almost all living cells and is essential to life. It gives structure and support to the body and without it, we would just be a trillions cells without a shape or function. It is essentially the mortar between the bricks. The skin, bones, cartilage, tendons and ligaments are examples where the ECM is located in the body. The ECM is composed of material (fibrous elements) called elastin and collagen surrounded by gelatinous HA. HA’s roles in the ECM is to prevent the stretchy fibers in the body from overstretching and drying out by continually bathing them in this nutritious water base gelatinous fluid. It also serves as a wonderful medium through which nutrients and waste are transported to and from the cells of these structures. This fluid would not exist if it was not for the ability of the HA molecule to bind up to 1000 times its weight in water.

Resources

Synthovial Seven, Episilk topical serums and other Hyalogic formulas are available at natural product supermarkets in the skin care and supplement sections. Visit www.hyalogic.com to learn more about this amazing anti-aging supplement or call them toll-free at 866-318-8484. Obtain a free sample of their topical serums at www.nutritionfreebies.com.

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