And by HA, I mean Hyaluronic Acid, which in my mind is the greatest thing since sliced bread. Hyaluronic Acid is a carbohydrate, actually, it’s a really long chain of sugars, and it’s found throughout your body. It binds to other molecules, which is neither here nor there for this conversation. It’s when it binds with water that it becomes a miraculous substance. This stuff can attract 1000 times its weight in water, and it becomes a sort of “Jell-o”. Why is this important?Well, let me count the ways:
This goo becomes part of synovial fluid, the lubricant for our joints. Synovial fluid is the shock absorber for our joints, and it delivers nutrients and removes toxins from our joints. That alone is really important, - but wait! There’s more.
You’ll find HA in your tendons and ligaments, where they separate and cushion the cells of the connective tissue. This allows these tissues to bear weight and withstand tremendous stress. Good for all your moving parts.
You also find Hyaluronic acid moisturizing and lubricating your eyes, where it acts as a shock absorber as well as transporting nutrients into the eye.
Then there’s your gums – where the HA helps to secure your teeth to your jaw by providing hydration and nourishment to the gums.
How about your lips? Mostly collagen and Hyaluronic Acid, when you have sufficient HA, you have plump lips.
Your scalp, too, needs HA. The dermal layer of your scalp (that’s the deeper one) is made of connective tissue, which is mostly Hyaluronic Acid. When you have enough, your scalp is moisturized and your hair looks healthier.
Its hydrophilic (water-attracting) properties also make it a superb ingredient for skin. Actually, about half of the HA in our bodies is in our skin. It surrounds the collagen in our skin, keeping it elastic, which means smoother, baby soft skin. It also attracts and holds water in the skin, giving us that wonderful supple skin. HA also helps to protect our skin from UVB rays from sun, which can cause sun spots.
Good news – our bodies produce their own supply of HA. Bad news – as we age, we sort of wear it out. More good news – you can take HA internally or apply it externally. I really like serums that feature Hyaluronic Acid. I use one after my cleanser and toner. I don’t even let my toner dry, I dab the serum on moist skin and apply my moisturizer right after. The most potent are from Hyalogic, which has a pure HA and water formula, and Nature’s Way, who makes a serum that is 88% HA. You’ll also find HA as a major ingredient in many other natural facial serums, including ones from Derma e, Reviva and MyChelle.
Taking it internally helps all of the above, including skin, but for me, I like the hydrating feeling of the serums, so I do both. For internal use, Hyalogic makes a liquid called Synthovial Seven, it’s easy to take. If you prefer a pill, Solaray 60mg Hyaluronic Acid Veg. Caps is just one of the many products we have that are in capsule form. Now you know. HA!
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Ms Snodgrass
posted on Friday, September 28, 2012 4:55:11 PM America/Los_Angeles