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Hyaluronic acid may sound a bit intimidating, like something found in a chemistry lab. Yet this natural ingredient does wonders for our bodies inside and out. From a moisturizer to helping joint pain relief, reducing acid reflux, plus even more benefits, hyaluronic acid offers more than a glowing complexion according to WebMD.
Hyaluronic acid, or hyaluronan, is a naturally occurring substance found in the human body. The gooey, viscous substance helps with moisture retention and is most present in fluid in the eyes and around the joints. Taken orally or as a cream, it has these five unexpected benefits.
Boosts skin’s appearance
Glowing skin is truly beautiful, which is why hyaluronic acid is so popular in skincare products. Drawing moisture to the skin’s surface, creating a healthy revitalized look, it is found in serums, lotions, mists, cleansers, tonics, and foundations, according to The Guardian.
Call it a moisture magnet. It does wonders for everyone, plumping up your skin with a radiant, healthy look. And there is a good scientific reason why it has recently become a critical ingredient in many of the best-selling skincare products on the market. A Japanese study on people with rough, dry skin found that orally ingested doses of 120 to 240 milligrams of hyaluronic acid daily boosted reduced dry, flaky skin within three weeks
Helps wounds heal faster
Just as it soothes and restores dry, itchy skin, hyaluronic acid aids with wound care too. It has been found to be helpful in speeding up the wound healing process in a number of ways. A study in the Journal of Joint and Bone Infection found that due to its antibacterial properties, hyaluronic acid can cut infection risk when applied to open wounds.
Suffering from mouth sores? Used topically, hyaluronic acid has proved to be an effective healing agent after dental procedures. A 2016 study about topical dental therapies found that the substance helped heal oral ulcers and sped up recovery time following tooth surgery.
May relieve joint pain
From topical healing to internal remedies, hyaluronic acid eases and alleviates. It is naturally found in the human body’s joints, keeping them lubricated and preventing the uncomfortable grinding of bone on bone that causes joint pain according to WebMD.
So for people living with osteoarthritis, a condition in which the protective cartilage that covers the ends of the bones wears down over time, hyaluronic acid can provide significant pain relief.
A 2012 study from Japan found that taking 200 milligrams daily over 12 months combined with doing quadriceps exercises improved symptoms of knee osteoarthritis in both young and old.
Aids acid reflux relief
Here is another incredible property of hyaluronic acid! It helps to relieve the discomfort of acid reflux according to WebMD. Many are familiar with these irritating and often debilitating symptoms when stomach acid travels upwards into the throat. It can cause heartburn, chest pain, regurgitation, breathing difficulties, as well as sleep disturbance.
Hyaluronic acid can actually ease these symptoms better than a traditional antacid can alone. An Italian study published in Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics found that hyaluronic acid reduces heartburn symptoms. In their research, they found that a supplement made from a blend of hyaluronic acid and chondroitin sulfate, used alongside an acid-reducing medication, was more effective in easing reflux symptoms than the acid-reducing medication on its own.
Eases bladder discomfort
Many women will be relieved to hear that hyaluronic acid assists with bladder issues, especially interstitial cystitis. Also known as painful bladder syndrome, this condition affects three to six percent of adult women, according to The Journal of Urology.
The symptoms include a strong, frequent urge to urinate and abdominal discomfort. A 2015 study that can bring hope to women was published in Acta Biomaterialia. Researching the hyaluronic acid pathways, scientists suggest that hyaluronic acid can speed up healing in damaged bladder tissue and that it should be considered as a potential treatment.
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