Q. What is Hyaluronic Acid?
A.Hyaluronic Acid is a special protein occurring naturally throughout the human body. One of the most heavily researched substances in medicine today with thousands of clinical trials mostly in the fields of orthopedics and eye surgery. Its function in the body is, amongst other things, to bind water and to lubricate movable parts of the body, such as joints and muscles. Its consistency and tissue-friendliness allows it to be used in skin-care products as an excellent moisturizer. Hyaluronic acid is one of the most hydrophilic molecules in nature and can be described as "nature’s moisturizer".

Q.Why do I need a hyaluronic acid supplement?
A.Hyaluronic acid is naturally produced by the body as a constituent of synovial fluid that lubricates the cartilage between the joints. As we age, the body produces less and less Hyaluronic Acid and it becomes more and more difficult to replenish it. With osteoarthritis, the cartilage and other structures of the joint begin to break down. In some people, a small amount of inflammation breaks down the hyaluronic acid so that proper lubrication is lost. Joints become stiff and movement is painful. Hyaluronic Acid supplements pick up where our bodies fail us.

Q.What does Hyaluronic Acid do for my joints?
A.The Hyaluronic Acid acts to help improve joint movement and cushioning. If we compare the joints of the human body to and automobile engine, the joint fluid in the body mimics the oil in a car engine. At regular intervals we replace the oil in our car engines because the heat and friction breakdown the oils viscosity. The oil becomes thinner and less able to protect the metal surfaces from excessive wear. As we age the viscosity of the joint fluid breaks down and becomes thin and is unable to cushion the joint cartilage. This leads to increased friction and wear on the cartilage surfaces of the joints. Taking Hyaluronic Acid helps restore the normal viscosity of joint fluid and prevent or arrest damage to the joint.

Q.What if I don’t have joint problems?
A.If you are not currently experiencing joint problems then HA may be used to provide benefits in the long run. Just as we change the oil in our car to help prevent problems, taking HA may help or prevent joint damage due to aging or daily abuse by maintaining proper joint fluid viscosity. Also, our hyaluronic acid production slows down considerably as we age, which accounts in part for the wrinkling of the skin, the joint pain, arterial degeneration, etc., so it makes good sense to compensate with supplemental Hyaluronic Acid.

Q.Are these products safe?
A.Since Hyaluronic acid occurs naturally in the body, taking small amounts of Hyaluronic Acid in our products should be of no health concern.

Q.Where does your Hyaluronic Acid come from?
A.Our acid comes from an extra cellular protein produced by bacteria. Our products are not derived from any animal source. Hypersensitivity reactions should not be a concern. Bacterial fermentation can yield higher molecular weight Hyaluronic Acid. The weight of the molecule directly influences its "moisture-binding" capability, and Synthovial Seven has the highest molecular weight Hyaluronic Acid in the market. This may explain the phenomenal results we are experiencing.

Q.Can your products be taken with glucosamine and chondroitin?
A.While Hyaluronic Acid is in the "family" of glycosaminoglycans, it is unique in its restorative ability, and will often provide improvement, where glucosamine and chondroitin have failed to do so. The synergistic action of all of these molecules is of course, the optimal way to address joint pain and stiffness, as they all represent the materials that comprise the matrix of our connective tissues.

Q.Do I need to take these supplements with food?
A.HA is easily tolerated with or without food. We recommend taking it first thing in the morning (this is a good way of getting in the habit of taking it every day). It is only necessary to take it once a day, although many people take it in the morning and again at bedtime and report excellent results. As with any nutritional supplement, it is important to be consistent and take it every day.

Q.Do doctors use Hyaluronic acid to treat their patients?
A.The answer is yes. Hyaluronic acid has been directly injected by needle into the affected joints. This has yielded great results by immediately increasing the viscosity of the joint fluid and restoring proper lubrication and cushioning. More work has been done in the field of orthopedics, cosmetic and eye surgery. It has been used in eye surgery as a replacement fluid in the eye. Applied topically to wounds and severe burns, can promote rapid healing and reduce scarring.

Q.How long has Hyaluronic Acid been used?
A.Hyaluronic acid was first used commercially in 1942 when Endre Balazs applied for a patent to use it as a substitute for egg white in bakery products. He went on to become the leading expert on Hyaluronic Acid, and made the majority of discoveries concerning Hyaluronic Acid.

Q.When Hyaluronic acid is taken orally, does the stomach acid break it down so you don’t receive the benefits?
A.At one time it was thought that stomach acids destroyed the Hyaluronic Acid molecule. More recent research has shown a large portion of the molecule goes undisturbed by the acid and goes on to be absorbed in the small intestine.

Q.What is collagen?
A.Collagen is a natural skeletal protein that is the most abundant protein found in the body, representing around 6% of the total body mass. It is the major component of skeletal and connective tissue and provides structural support. It is found throughout the body - in skin, muscle, tendon, and bone. Fibres of collagen are woven together like threads in fabric to form a framework into which new cells can grow.

Q.What is special about your product?
A.The products are a unique collagen system and are an alternative to having collagen injections. The results are progressive, it works from within and the longer you stay on the products the better your results will be.

Q.Why is it beneficial to counter ageing?
A.It appears that women lose collagen at a faster rate than men during ageing, a process that is accelerated to 2% following the menopause. There are a number of symptoms associated with a reduction in estrogen including epidermal thinning, declining dermal collagen content, dryness, decreased laxity, bruising and impaired hearing. A recent study reported a reduction in patchy discolorations, fine lines and wrinkles around the eye following collagen supplementation.

Q.Does it work for nails and hair?
A.Yes collagen has been found to strengthen brittle nails. The effect of daily collagen ingestion on the human scalp has been studied, this showed dramatic increases in the diameter of the hair ranging between 9.3% - 11.3%. The strength of the hair was also tested and this was found to have also increased. Your hair should be stronger and more elastic as a result of taking collagen.

Q.What does Collagen do for the Skin?
A.Collagen is a protein present in all the body’s organs and tissues. It provides the matrix that sustains the body’s structure. Collagen is too large of a molecule to be absorbed topically on the skin, this is why Collagen creams DO NOT work. Collagen’s main function is to sustain tendons, skin and cartilage. It provides integrity, firmness and elasticity to their structures. Maximizing collagen levels in your body will keep your skin supple.

Q.Does it work for reducing joint / muscle pain?
A.Numerous recent studies have shown collagen is effective in the treatment of arthritis and joint pain.

Q.Are there any side effects?
A.There are NO KNOWN SIDE EFFECTS.

Q.How long will it take before I see results?
A.Everyone's body is different. Some people see results in the 1st week - others take a few weeks. It is important that you stick with the program for at least 3 months to give the collagen time to build up in your system.

Q.Why should Collagen protein (peptides) be taken on its own away from other protein sources?
A.The consumption of Collagen along with other protein sources throws off the natural amino acid ratio of the collagen so it is no longer recognized as collagen peptides by the receptor sites in the stomach and small intestine. As a general rule amino acids and peptides should be taken alone as amino acids will literally compete for absorption. If collagen is taken with another protein source the amino acids and peptides combine with the other amino acids and peptides and form new proteins.

Q.What is a peptide?
A.The Collagen in the clinical research papers is hydrolyzed, which means enzymes were used to break down the original protein into smaller pieces of protein, which are called peptides. In the general hierarchy of proteins, the smallest protein individual unit is an amino acid, and when you link together a bunch of amino acids into a short chain they are called peptides, and when you link peptides together into a long chain they are called a protein. Collagen hydrolyzed or not, is an incomplete protein as it does not have the amino acid Tryptophan; therefore it cannot be used as a nutritional protein substitute.

Q.Why does the label state 'sometimes contains Magnesium Stearate'?
A.Magnesium Stearate is a vegetable based lubricant used to enable the Collagen powder to pass through the machines more efficiently. Collagen powder varies from batch to batch and so does the moisture content, thus making the Collagen powder more "sticky". Magnesium Stearate absorbs the moisture enabling the Collagen powder to flow freely through the tabletising machine.

Q.I am on medication can I take the capsules?
A.You should always consult your doctor before starting any food supplement. Collagen is protein and is in many foodstuffs i.e.: egg white, meat, jelly etc. however, your body cannot absorb the collagen from these foods, because your stomach breaks it down. Collagen is in Capsule (filled with powder) form and is able to penetrate the intestinal wall enabling it to be absorbed into the body. You can take collagen whilst on medication.

Q.Why is fish collagen peptide superior to other sources of collagen?
A. It has been demonstrated in studies that fish collagen peptide has superior absorption capabilities (up to 1.5 times more absorbable), than typical sources of collagen such as porcine, and bovine collagen supplements.