Hyaluronic Acid is Key for Beautiful Skin

Collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid (HA) are the three key components you need for smooth, moisturized, and youthful skin.¹

HA is in the deep, dermis layers, and the top epidermal layers. It holds together the collagen and elastin fibers that keep your skin firm, elastic, and smooth. And, it moisturizes your skin by binding up to 1,000 times its weight in water, giving your skin a healthy glow.

As you age, your body can’t produce enough HA, which causes your skin to sag and lose its smooth, even appearance.

Eating soy will produce more HA and healthier, more youthful skin

Animal studies show that low estrogen levels (a big problem for menopausal women) can decrease collagen levels by about 2 percent per year, and reduce skin thickness by about 1 percent per year. So higher estrogen levels may help reduce wrinkles in older women.²

Soy, including fermented soy products like tempeh, miso, and soy sauce, have soy isoflavones. Soy isoflavones are chemically similar to estrogen and increase the production of HA.

Topical soy extract is also effective in producing more HA in the skin

A recent study shows soys’ topical benefits. An extract of fermented soy milk was applied to the skin, and after just two weeks the skin showed an increase in HA (it’s interesting to note that applying non-fermented soy did not have an effect.³). This is the reason more and more skincare products include soy extracts in their products.

Soy isoflavones play another role in keeping your skin young. They also protect your skin from sun damage.

Be sure to stick with fermented soy products like tempeh. Fermented soy foods do not have the toxins that non-fermented soy foods have.

References

1 Carol Turkington, Jeffrey S. Dover, The Encyclopedia of skin and skin disorders

2 Allison Tannis, Feed Your Skin, Starve Your Wrinkles: Eat Your Way to Firmer, More Beautiful Skin

3 Miyazaki K, Hanamizu T, Iizuka R, Chiba K., “Bifidobacterium-fermented soy milk extract stimulates HA production in human skin cells and hairless mouse skin,” Yakult Central Institute for Microbiological Research

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