| Is the food that we eat actually more important than | | | | a basic constituent of connective tissue that |
| the cosmetics we use? If it is then how would we | | | | functions to cushion and lubricate. When we are born |
| know? Would we have to run a double blind test to | | | | our bodies have an abundance of this substance, but |
| determine this? | | | | it gradually diminishes as we age. Curiously this |
| Actually, no. There is something much more accurate | | | | substance holds and is comprised mostly of water |
| than a double blind test. The lifestyle of a whole | | | | which explains why it helps the skin and cells to retain |
| community. Just as communities in the western world | | | | moisture, thereby keeping the skin elastic, tight and |
| are known for obesity and premature health | | | | smooth. |
| problems, there are isolated communities sprinkled | | | | What is the future hope for aging and wrinkles? |
| around the world that have superior health and | | | | It is sad to say that with the introduction of western |
| flawless skin. | | | | style type foods that the younger generation has |
| In Japan there is a small town named Yuzuri Hara | | | | now adopted, debilitating diseases have now been |
| where people like you and I go about their daily lives | | | | appearing. Parents and grandparents are reporting |
| with the same stress and anxieties that we have. | | | | that they are outliving their children who moved |
| They even have some of the unhealthy habits that | | | | away to different towns and did not continue to eat |
| we have such as smoking cigarettes. Yet there is | | | | this staple food. Many of whom have since passed |
| something very different about this community. The | | | | away at a ripe young age. This is what the Japanese |
| elderly who comprise this community tend to live to | | | | refer to as the "upside down death pyramid." |
| ripe old ages, much longer than the American norm. | | | | Must we travel to Japan for this food? |
| What is more startling is the fact that these people | | | | Having a natural daily diet of these starchy roots |
| hardly ever have any reason to see the doctor and | | | | would be the best way to probably stimulate our |
| hardly have debilitating diseases such as Alzheimer's, | | | | body to naturally produce this substance. Possibly |
| cancer and diabetes. The most startling is the fact | | | | growing these roots in our own garden and |
| that they look much younger than their age, with | | | | harvesting them for our own diets would be a |
| little or no wrinkles and some people even have | | | | prudent thing to do. But depending on where we live, |
| spotless skin. For example, Takanshi who is 93 has | | | | these roots may not be suitable for growth. So we |
| labored outside in the tropical sun and not once has | | | | may conclude "must I travel to this city in Japan and |
| he ever used sun screen lotion, and his skin is soft | | | | partake of this "fountain of youth"?" For the vast |
| and supple. | | | | majority of us this would be impossible and |
| This village, Yuzuri Hara, is renowned as the "Village | | | | impractical. Therefore we may ask is there is a |
| of long life". Had the Spanish explorer Ponce de Leon | | | | supplement that we can take rich in hyaluronic acid? |
| landed here first in 1513 he probably would not had | | | | Various supplements are available in health food |
| left in disappointment. Of course the fountain of | | | | stores but whether or not these supplements |
| youth would not had been found in the water, but | | | | actually aid in the smoothing of skin is yet to be |
| rather in the staple food these people eat. Because | | | | seen. Hyaluronic acid however has been |
| of the soil and hilly terrain of this area are not good | | | | demonstrated to aid in wound healing. When added |
| for the growing of rice, as is the case with other | | | | to cosmetics and moisturizers as an ingredient it can |
| agricultural areas in Japan, these people grow | | | | pass through the skin and become utilized by our |
| something quite different. They grow a variety of | | | | own cell membranes. Because hyaluronic acid holds |
| roots similar to potatoes, sweet satsumaimo, a sticky | | | | water in the amount of about thousand times its |
| potato satoimo, and gelatinous potato imoji and | | | | own molecular weight, it is by far the best natural |
| konyaku a white potato type root. | | | | humectant available on the market. Much better that |
| What is in this mysterious diet? | | | | the commonly used synthetic counterparts such as |
| Researchers believe these starchy roots stimulate | | | | propylene glycol which most cosmetic manufacturers |
| the body to naturally produce hyaluronic acid which is | | | | use. |