Our skin reflects the internal health of our bodies. When we are in relatively good health, our skin appears and feels soft, smooth, plump and has a bit of a glow to it.
One molecule that is key to this healthy glow is HYALURONIC ACID (HA). HA is member of the glycosaminoglycan family (which includes glucosamine and chondroitin) and can bind moisture. HA is naturally present in the body, primarily found in our joint fluid, the vitreous humour of the eye, and our skin. Because it can bind moisture, it provides lubrication and acts as a cushion. In the skin, binding moisture makes the cells “plumper” thus contributing to firmer looking skin with less obvious wrinkles.
Babies and young children have beautiful skin because we are born with higher levels of HA and their bodies process things differently than the adult body. For example, the enzymes that control the metabolism of hyaluronic acid tend not to work as well as we age. Part of the reason for this is degradation from exposure to UV radiation from the sun. This presents a good argument for wearing sunscreen daily!
But how else can we improve the HA levels in our skin? Thankfully, oral ingestion of HA, whether it be in our food or in supplement form can increase the HA levels in our body. Soy foods (e.g., tofu, soy milk), citrus fruits (e.g., oranges, grapefruits), tuber vegetables (e.g., potatoes, sweet potatoes), and green leafy vegetables are excellent sources of HA.
Studies have shown supplementation with HA can be highly effective at replenishing HA in the skin. Doses used in the studies range from 120mg -240mg. Supplements such as HYA-LOVE (from Canadian supplement company, CanPrev) contain 60mg of HA per capsule. This company includes l-lysine and vitamin C (to support collagen synthesis), silicon (to improve smoothness and structure of the skin), and biotin (to improve hydration and smoothness of the skin) for added benefits.
Side effects and interactions with medications are few; check with an Integrative Healthcare Practitioner to ensure this supplement is right for you. As always, make sure a healthy diet is at the root of your healthy living plan and make sure to drink lots of water to give the HA you ingest something to bind to!
Christine and Fred Cheng are a passionate, charismatic sister-brother pharmacist team at their unique, family-operated Pharmasave stores in Cloverdale and Steveston, B.C. They specialize in natural remedies and compounding for both human and veterinarian use. Everything mentioned in their article is available InStore.
