If you’ve spent years searching for the ultimate anti-aging secret in your bathroom cupboard, you may want to take your hunt to a totally different room of the house: the kitchen.
Because while there are dozens of lotions and potions on the market that promise to maintain your youth for years to come, there are also a host of rather surprising foods that contain an incredibly potent anti-aging ingredient that is found in many of those products – hyaluronic acid.
Actress Olivia Munn, 38, recently revealed that she relies on hyaluronic acid-rich Japanese sweet potatoes in order to keep her skin looking young, but admitted that her enthusiasm about the tubers has led to them selling out in multiple locations, leaving her unable to get hold of her skincare favorite.
You glow girl: Olivia Munn, 38, attributes her clear complexion and wrinkle-free skin to her love of Japanese sweet potatoes
Better than your sweet potato pie? These Japanese tubers are rich in hyaluronic acid, however Olivia’s public praise of them has made them incredibly hard to get a hold of
During an appearance on Busy Philipps’ chat show, Busy Tonight, Olivia confessed she’s been unable to track down the specialty potatoes after her online suppliers became overwhelmed by fans who were desperate to share her skincare secret.
Olivia also revealed that the purple potato hack was not something she discovered on her own – but rather a secret that she learned from a special news report by Connie Chung.
Overshare: Olivia made the potato so popular in the US even she can’t get her hands on one
The famed TV journalist was reporting on the wrinkle-free 80 and 90-year-olds of Yuzurihara, Japan, who not only have glowing skin but are able to endure four to five hours of hard labor a day – incredible physical traits that are attributed in large part to their daily consumption of the Japanese sweet potatoes.
Yuzurihara is actually known as the ‘City of Long Life’ and has even been studied by the World Health Organization in an attempt to understand more about its miraculously healthy, youthful looking locals.
And it’s not just the locals that are reaping the benefits of their native produce; Olivia says she noticed a massive difference when she was eating two of the specially-sourced Yuzurihara potatoes a day.
After a month she says she noticed her wrinkles starting to disappear and after several months she felt more flexible.
Her claims are certainly backed by the experts; according to a number of dermatologists, eating foods high in hyaluronic acid, like Olivia’s Japanese sweet potatoes, is an effective way to help keep skin plump, glowing and wrinkle-free.
In addition to the beauty benefits of hyaluronic acid, this ‘liquid gold’ is known to help maintain tissues in joints, eyes and the heart.
But if – like Olivia and Busy – you are struggling to get your hands on the Yuzurihara potatoes, fear not, because there are plenty of other more readily-available foods on the shelves at your local supermarket that also boast a hefty amount of hyaluronic acid.
FOODS THAT ARE RICH IN HYALURONIC ACID…
Bone broth
A favorite of celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow, Salma Hayek and Elle MacPherson, bone broth is made from simmering bones and other animal parts in water for a long time. It’s one of the most direct ways to consume hyaluronic acid and is a nutritious drink all-around.
Starchy root vegetables
Like the Japanese sweet potato, other starchy root vegetables may increase the production of hyaluronic acid. Jicama, Jerusalem artichoke, and other potatoes are a great source. Olivia likes hers roasted and dusted with cinnamon and olive oil.
Citrus fruits
Rich in naringenin which slows the breakdown of hyaluronic acid, snack on citrus to keep the liquid gold working. Try oranges, grapefruits and even non-citrus fruits like tomatoes and bananas which are also high in naringenin.
Leafy greens
Yet another reason to eat your leafy greens – they contain high levels of magnesium which is necessary to help hyaluronic acid production in the body. Try a salad topped with avocado, nuts and seeds which are also all high in magnesium.
Cabbage
Cabbage boasts high levels of hyaluronic acid and collagen, both superstars of skin health, hydration and elasticity. In addition, cabbage is a great source of fiber and other nutrients good for you blood pressure and bone health.
Black and green olives
Rich in hyaluronic acid and high levels of sulfur, this briny snack is a perfect addition to your hyaluronic diet. They boost both hyaluronic acid and collagen levels for a powerful skincare boost.
THE BEST HYALURONIC ACID SKINCARE PRODUCTS
Mask and moisturize: The Bath & Body Works Hyaluronic Acid Gel Sheet Mask (left, $4.95) does exactly what it promises on the packaging; it delivers a serious dose of hydration courtesy of the hyaluronic acid, and leaves your skin feeling perfectly primed for the next step of your skincare. If you want to double up on this key ingredient, look no further than the Youth to the People Kale + Spinach Green Tea Hyaluronic Acid Superfood Moisture Cream (right, $48), which not only helps to reduce wrinkles and fine lines on all skin types, it also contains green superfoods to help nourish the skin.
Super serums: Whatever your skincare preference, or budget, there is a hyaluronic acid serum out there for you. L’Oreal Paris’ new Revitalift Derm Intensives 1.5% Pure Hyaluronic Acid Serum (left, $29.99), is an incredible budget-friendly option that is a great starting off point for anyone wanting to introduce HA to their routines, or for those HA lovers who are eager to add a more thrifty option to their line-up. Then there’s the Peter Thomas Roth Water Drench Hyaluronic Cloud Serum (center, $65), which boasts a ‘super concentrated 75% hyaluronic acid’ formula and guarantees to leave your skin feeling and looking incredibly hydrated. Last up, the Snow Fox Cucumber Recovery Serum (right, $64), which contains ‘200,000 different weights of HA’ which work to plump the skin as effectively as possible.
Feeling blue: Drunk Elephant’s B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum (left, $52), is described as a ‘cool drink of water for your thirsty skin’. The formula is a great option for anyone hoping to give their skin an overall boost, both in terms of hydration and brightness. Then there’s the Dr. Dennis Gross Hyaluronic Marine Collagen Lip Cushion (right, $30) that focuses on eliminating signs of aging on the lips – so you can pucker up at any age!