Connie Chung did a feature story years ago on a small village in Japan called Yuzurihara.

At that time, over 10% of the village's population were over 85 years old.

Was it one large nursing home? Not at all. The people continued working, including farmers who labored in their fields four to five hours every day.

The town's doctor, Dr. Toyosuke Komori, says he rarely saw cancer, heart disease or Alzheimer's. He'd never seen skin cancer, although the people work long hours outside without applying sunblock.

They're active, healthy - and look much younger than their ages. They're clearly not 20 or 30 anymore, but their skin is much smoother than what you probably expect for people in their late 80's and 90's.

Oh, and some of them have smoked for decades. One guy blew smoke in Ms. Chung's face.

Dr. Toyosuke Komori Believed Their Anti-Aging and Smooth Skin Secret is HA

Unlike the rest of Japan, the people of Yuzuri Hara don't eat rice, because they live on a mountain where rice doesn't grow easily.

Instead, they rely on various potatoes and starchy root vegetables.

These potatoes contain large amounts of HA, and Dr. Komori believes that's their secret to long life and healthy complexions.

This is especially interesting because it parallels Okinawa. The National Geographic special on Okinawa pointed out people there spent many years relying on purple sweet potatoes as their main source of calories.

Okinawa has so many older people, it's considered a "Blue Zone." HA in those purple sweet potatoes may have contributed to their long life.

There's a good reason Hyaluronic acid is added to many skin creams and beauty products of all kinds.

It's a powerful humectant. However, that's a double-edged sword. It can moisturize - or dry! - your skin, depending on the weather.

Humectants absorb water from their surroundings.

One molecule of HA can attach to 1,000 molecules of water. 

Therefore, if you're in high humidity, HA will absorb water from the air and conduct it into your skin, moisturizing it.

That reduces the size and depth of wrinkles. It also increases skin elasticity and skin firmness.

The Dark Side of Humectants

If you're in air with low humidity, HA will actually conduct water FROM your skin . . . into the air. 

It basically tries to equalize moisture levels. If your skin is drier than the air, HA moisturizes your skin.

If your skin is more moist than the air, HA tries to "moisturize" the air - by drying out your skin.

HA is Often Added to Cleansers and Other Products for Marketing

By moisturizing your skin, HA helps it appear younger. That's from plumping your skin with water, minimizing fine lines and wrinkles.

However, it's not magic. It doesn't clean your skin. Don't pay extra money for products that won't stay on your skin long enough for HA to get absorbed. It won't work. 

HA Does Strengthen Your Connective Tissues

Doctors inject HA into people to relieve osteoarthritis. HA also helps wounds heal faster.

Your body makes its own HA, but of course that goes down as we age.

Food Sources of HA

These include:

* Potatoes, sweet potatoes and other starchy root vegetables.

* Dark green leafy vegetables, especially kale.

* Citrus fruits.

* Red wine.

* Dark chocolate.

* Almonds.

* Organ meats.

Reportedly, bone broth also has high amounts of HA. BUT - bones contain large amounts of lead, so I advise against using them to make broth.

The people of Yuzuri Hara eat very little meat, so they get all the HA they need from the potatoes in their diet.

HA Supplements

These are available, of course. Studies have found taking 80-200 mg per day for several months may be helpful for people with painful osteoarthritis.

It also seems to help relieve acid reflux and dry eyes. It slows the rate of bone loss and relieves the bladder pain of women with institial cystitus.

All that's useful, of course, but doesn't affect either beauty or living longer.

There are actually no studies that show taking an HA supplement will moisturize your skin. It may happen. The supplements do increase the levels of HA in your skin, so it's reasonable to hope that will do you some good.

And no studies show HA supplements will help you farm your potatoes five hours every day when you're 90 years old even though you're a pack and a half smoker.

HA Supplementation Safety

Your body does make HA, so HA supplementation is generally considered safe.

However, pregnant and breastfeeding women should avoid taking anything not approved by their doctors.

And there's some evidence taking HA supplements may stimulate cancer, so people who've had cancer are advised not to take those supplements.

For Natural Skin Beauty . . .

Find an HA moisturizing cream with 100% USDA certified organic ingredients.

Regular application of HA to your skin will give you the most health and beauty benefits.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY-dBiqafv4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tfi9IWjzA-8

https://www.dermstore.com/blog/foods-high-in-hyaluronic-acid/

https://intothegloss.com/2018/10/foods-that-contain-hyaluronic-acid/

hygieiaskin.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG4tjHe8Wqs

https://www.betternutrition.com/supplements/hyaluronic-acid/

https://www.medicinenet.com/hyaluronic_acid/supplements-vitamins.htm

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/hyaluronic-acid-benefits