| Let's start out by looking at what hyaluronic acid | | | | from our diet, increasing the level of exercise and |
| actually is. Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a naturally | | | | living a more balanced life style will help in |
| occurring biopolymer, which serves important | | | | promoting natural levels of hyaluronic acid in our |
| biological functions in bacteria and higher animals | | | | system, not just in the skin.When considering |
| including humans. Naturally occurring, hyaluronic | | | | injecting hyaluronic acid into the skin to treat fine |
| acid may be found in the tissue of higher animals, | | | | lines and wrinkles, we are once again loosing sight |
| in particular as intercellular space filler. HA is found | | | | of the holistic approach to treating our bodies and |
| in greatest concentrations in the vitreous humour | | | | thus run a serious risk of introducing factors, |
| of the eye and in the synovial fluid of articular | | | | which may lead to side effects or other health |
| joints, but is also found in the skin, connective | | | | problems. Further, we also run the risk of creating |
| tissue and elsewhere in the body.Hyaluronic acid | | | | an imbalance in the chemical composition of the |
| was made 'famous' by an ABC News report in | | | | skin and who knows what possible problems await |
| which Connie Chung visited a Japanese village by | | | | us as a result.Some known side effects of |
| the name of Yuzurihara. She found that the | | | | hyaluronic acid injection therapy for aging skin |
| people there were living longer, looked younger, | | | | tissue hardeningunknown risks when used in |
| and were more flexible and active than their | | | | combination with collagenThese side effects are |
| western counterparts. These Japanese villagers, in | | | | serious enough to reconsider using injection |
| their 80s and 90s, have smooth wrinkle-less skin, | | | | therapy of hyaluronic acid as an anti-aging |
| a full head of hair and apparently no need for | | | | treatment for the skin.Remember too, that the |
| glasses.So what is it, that allows these Japanese | | | | people in the Japanese village do not use injection |
| to be so much more youthful, lead active, | | | | therapy... They life an holistic life style |
| productive lives at their advanced age, where as | | | | incorporating unprocessed foods and physical |
| in western countries most people in their 80s and | | | | activity together with a balanced mind-set and life |
| beyond are in old-age homes?The conclusion | | | | style.So where can you get a holistic source of |
| drawn in the ABC report was that these people | | | | hyaluronic acid from?There are a couple of ways. |
| ate 'sticky vegetables' and that this factor was | | | | The first is from "starchy root vegetables" such |
| the secret to their apparent youth. In addition, the | | | | as the ones mentioned by the village doctor in the |
| oestrogen-like molecules in their diet, fermented | | | | ABC report which include: Satsumaimo, a type of |
| forms of soy in miso paste and tofu, seem to | | | | sweet potato; Satoimo, a sticky white potato; |
| play an important role. These molecules, along | | | | Konyaku, a gelatinous root vegetable concoction; |
| with natural oestrogen, send a signal to the | | | | and Imoji, a potato root.These vegetables help |
| fibroblast cells to make more hyaluronic acid. But | | | | the cells of the body to thrive and retain |
| is this the whole answer? - I don't think so, but I'll | | | | moisture. Further, they keep joints lubricated, |
| get to this a little later.Next, let's look at what | | | | protect the retina of the eye and keep the skin |
| Hyaluronic acid does.According to scientific | | | | smooth and elastic by promoting collagen.Another |
| research by a variety of Universities and | | | | source of hyaluronic acid, for non-vegetarians, is |
| researchers, hyaluronic acid is used in the human | | | | to eat animal parts known to contain a lot of |
| body to cushion and lubricate joints, eyes, the | | | | hyaluronic acid. You could make a broth from fish |
| skin, and heart valves (see for an in-depth look at | | | | bones. That is, once you've taken off the fillets, |
| all the different diseases, syndromes and | | | | boil the rest of the fish, including their head and |
| conditions). Some treatments, which involve the | | | | make a fish stock. Similarly, you can make a |
| use of hyaluronic acid include: treatment for | | | | meat broth using animal joints, sinews and |
| osteoarthritis and other joint problems, as well as | | | | tendons, then adding a few root and other |
| a range of eye disorders, retinal detachment, and | | | | vegetables to create a healthy, nourishing soup.In |
| some cardiovascular disorders.However, it is in the | | | | conclusion, at Wildcrafted Herbal Products we do |
| anti-aging effect on the skin that we are focusing | | | | not believe that adding isolated ingredients in |
| on in this article and the effect hyaluronic acid | | | | elevated concentrations to our natural skin care |
| seems to have on the skin is at the level of | | | | products is a preferred option. Rather, using a |
| promoting the formation of collagen. These are | | | | holistically natural approach to skin care and for |
| the fibres that firm the skin. Now, hyaluronidase, | | | | that matter health care is a far more preferable |
| an enzyme that breaks down collagen fibres, is | | | | option.Skin care is as much about taking care of |
| produced by free radicals and UV radiation.These | | | | your skin as it is taking responsibility and care of |
| factors breaks down fibres of collagen can cause | | | | your overall health and wellbeing. Your skin is not |
| premature wrinkles and sagging of the skin. | | | | an isolated part of your body and should not be |
| Focusing on hyaluronic acid, it would seem | | | | treated as such.Again I would like to remind you |
| reasonable therefore, that reducing the free | | | | of the Japanese villagers - they do not inject |
| radicals is a major key to reducing the | | | | themselves with hyaluronic acid, they do not use |
| hyaluronidase enzyme and secondly to promote | | | | hyaluronic acid in isolation, they do however life a |
| normal levels of hyaluronic acid in the skin.Plant | | | | healthy, active and mostly balanced life |
| substances known as bioflavonoids, contained in | | | | style.Danny Siegenthaler is a doctor of traditional |
| foods such as grape seed extract, blueberry, | | | | Chinese medicine and together with his wife |
| cranberry, citrus bioflavonoids and milk thistle, etc., | | | | Susan, a medical herbalist and Aromatherapist, |
| inhibit the production of hyaluronidase, which helps | | | | they have created Natural Skin Care Products by |
| to achieve the first aim of reducing the free | | | | Wildcrafted Herbal Products to share their 40 |
| radicals. In addition, reducing processed foods | | | | years of combined expertise with you. |