THE YOUTH MOLECULE
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collagen is depleted due to loss of structured water and can no longer ‘knit’ together as it used to. This in turn leads to a type of cellular dehydration which gradually deflates, thins and wrinkles the skin. Which all sounds absolutely awful, but it’s why anti ageing skin care companies are such massive businesses. This water accounts for about 60 percent of collagen by weight. We start losing 1.5% of collagen a year after the age of 30 and it accelerates after menopause in women. By age 40 when most people start to notice hormonal and body changes, the body has already lost approximately 15% of its natural collagen stores. But what are we really losing? Yes, we are losing collagen and elastin but more importantly we are losing water structure. This rule applies to all aspects of ageing from Alzheimer's to osteoporosis. A youthful appearance has everything to do with structure. The ‘Peter Pan’ gene or someone with “good genes” are common references for a person who doesn’t appear to age. Although water doesn’t have its own genes, it has a great deal to do with the quality of yours. I refer to water as the ‘immortal gene’ because water is an immortal element and stores information just as genes do. In fact without water, genes would not store genetic information. You can’t kill water, and it’s always in one of its various states. Ever wondered what happens to the water inside you when you die? It evaporates, it doesn’t die at all. Several books have been written about ‘death by dehydration’ being the real cause of ageing. These