Vitamins for Chronic Disease Prevention in Adults

From the Journal of the American Medical Association

Vitamins for Chronic Disease Prevention in Adults
Clinical Applications

Robert H. Fletcher, MD,MSc; Kathleen M. Fairfield, MD,DrPH
JAMA. 2002;287:3127-3129.

Vitamin deficiency syndromes such as scurvy and beriberi are uncommon in Western societies. However, suboptimal intake of some vitamins, above levels causing classic vitamin deficiency, is a risk factor for chronic diseases and common in the general population, especially the elderly.

Suboptimal folic acid levels, along with suboptimal levels of vitamins B6 and B12, are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, neural tube defects, and colon and breast cancer; low levels of vitamin D contribute to osteopenia and fractures; and low levels of the antioxidant vitamins (vitamins A, E, and C) may increase risk for several chronic diseases.

Most people do not consume an optimal amount of all vitamins by diet alone.

Pending strong evidence of effectiveness from randomized trials, it appears prudent for all adults to take vitamin supplements. The evidence base for tailoring the contents of multivitamins to specific characteristics of patients such as age, sex, and physical activity and for testing vitamin levels to guide specific supplementation practices is limited.

Physicians should make specific efforts to learn about their patients' use of vitamins to ensure that they are taking vitamins they should, such as folate supplementation for women in the childbearing years, and avoiding dangerous practices such as high doses of vitamin A during pregnancy or massive doses of fat-soluble vitamins at any age.

Author Affiliations: Department of Ambulatory Care and Prevention, Harvard Medical School/Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, and Department of Epidemiology, Harvard School of Public Health (Dr Fletcher); Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, and Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School (Dr Fairfield), Boston, Mass.

For more information on the Journal of the American Medical Association go to http://jama.ama-assn.org/

Kids' cancer risk can be halved

Kids' cancer risk can be halved: Study

Multivitamins, folic acid taken during pregnancy can help mother reduce baby's risk

February 21, 2007

Joseph Hall
Staff Reporter

Simply taking multivitamins and folic acid during pregnancy can help a mother reduce her baby's risk of developing the most common childhood cancers by up to one half, a new study out of Toronto's Hospital for Sick Children says.

The study, which looked at international research encompassing tens of thousands of children, could usher in a new era in which mothers would adhere to healthy prenatal vitamin regimens, Dr. Gideon Koren, the study's principal investigator, said today.

"That's why we are so excited," said Koren, director of Sick Kids' Motherisk program and a professor in paediatrics at the University of Toronto.

Published today in the journal Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics, the study found that multivitamins fortified with folic acid could lower the chances of contracting brain tumours by 27 per cent, leukemia by 39 per cent and neuroblastoma by 49 per cent.

It has been known for about 15 years that mothers could reduce the risk of their babies being born with Spina Bifida, a malformation of the spine, by as much as 80 per cent by taking folic acid prior to and during early pregnancy.

But even with that well-publicized information, Koren said, only 40 per cent of Canadian mothers bother to take the cheap, safe and healthy substance - one of the Vitamin B series of nutrients.

Koren said the new association between vitamin use and reduced cancer risks, however, could encourage far more women to start and stick to multivitamin regimens during their pregnancies.
And Jana Atkins, a Toronto woman now going through her first pregnancy, agrees.

Atkins, who has a Ph. D in clinical psychology, began taking folic acid and vitamins before her pregnancy, now in its 35th week, as a precaution against Spina Bifida.

But she said the study's cancer link would have given her even more motivation to turn to the daily pills and could encourage other women who might not take them at all.

"Maybe many people haven't heard of Spina Bifida, whereas cancer is a catchall phrase and it's a disease that we're all well aware of," said Atkins, 32.

Susan Georgoussis, a perinatal nurse at Toronto's Becoming Maternity and Parenting Centre, said the new cancer information would certainly encourage more women to use multivitamins.
Koren said oncologists at Sick Kids believed that the number of neuroblastomas they were seeing had started to drop substantially about five years ago.

A devastating cancer of the peripheral nervous system, the disease affects about one in every 6,500 children under five years of age in North America.

"The cancer physicians asked us in the Motherisk program if we could think of a mechanism for that reduction," Koren said.

"We told them that the only thing that happened to correspond with their impression was the (Health Canada mandated) addition of folic acid to flour in Canada in 1997 and 1998."

A subsequent study out of the hospital published three years ago showed that neuroblastoma had substantially decreased in Ontario after the fortified flour was introduced.

Today's paper, Koren said, looked around the world for similar data and included seven studies involving "many thousands" of children who had been exposed to multivitamins and folic acid during gestation.

"To our amazement and surprise, all available studies today from different parts of the world ...showed a similar trend (to the one in Ontario)," Koren said.

While the Ontario study concentrated solely on neuroblastomas, however, the international studies also looked at leukemia and brain tumours. As well, they included multivitamins along with folic acid in their nutrient scope.

But the inclusion of the multivitamins in the other studies has added some doubt as to which of the supplements are actually responsible for the cancer protection, Koren said.

"Presently, we cannot be sure whether it is just the folic acid or if there is also is an effect from other parts of the vitamins."

Because folic acid is instrumental in the body's DNA repair mechanisms, Koren said it is likely the largest contributor to the reduced cancer risks. Damaged DNA is a key cause of all cancers.
But the other vitamins in typical prenatal pills - which include A, the B series, C, D, E and iron- could well be playing a synergistic role, he said.

Dr. Michael Rieder, head of clinical pharmacology at the Children's Hospital of Western Ontario in London, said he's confident the report would help convince mothers to take recommended vitamins while pregnant.

"We've gone from a time when everybody took vitamins to a time when nobody takes vitamins and this does suggest that, certainly in the context of pregnancy, it really is important," said Rieder, a professor at the University of Western Ontario's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry.

"It's a cheap, minimal risk intervention which does show proven benefits in a number of spheres."

Rieder said the most common reason his patients give for not taking multivitamins is that the iron they contain can cause constipation.

"But I think that is a minor downside and there are ways around that," he said.

Dr. Donald Davis, president of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada, said that that multivitamins have almost no harmful side effects on pregnant women - aside from intensifying the morning sickness nausea experienced during some early pregnancies.

Davis said doctors should use the study information to encourage women to take multivitamins, which have also been shown to reduce the risks of such things as heart ailments and cleft pallets in infants.

Koren said that many childhood cancers begin to develop in the womb, though they might not present themselves until some time after birth.

He said that future studies might well determine that higher vitamin doses during pregnancy can elevate the infant's cancer protection even further.

Inviting - the key to building your business

by Norm Boaz, USANA Associate

Training is a pivotal part of success in this business, but not at the expense of ACTION.

We need to invite people to take a look, set appointments, and present the company and the programs.

Know clearly what you want, and make the invitations NOW. I've given you suggestions on inviting, but each of you is so very capable of expressing your sincere belief in Usana as a valuable consideration for anyone. Just invite them to take a look. That's it. The rest will unfold.

Don't let life, distractions, and False Evidence Appearing Real (FEAR) hold you back. Days and weeks go by, and nothing changes unless you do. The vibrant and refreshing vistas of new possibilities are waiting for you to grasp them and embrace them. Do you SEE your own possibilities? They are right there!

Go within and feel yourself in the perfect environment, state, and circumstance you wish for in the next one to five years. Do you truly want that? If not, then don't do anything and I guarantee it will not happen. But if you want your life to be a certain way in the future, then what will it take to be there? It will take daily action, daily steps in the direction of your destination, and constant focus and vision of that goal. It will be work at times, but also will seem easy at other times; clearly it will be worth it. Take the steps necessary now, my friends.

Duke Ellington said: "Never grow a wishbone where a backbone ought to be."

Everything you DO or DON’T DO NOW directly effects what you GET or DON’T GET LATER.

Successful people make daily decisions, and perform daily activities based on the impact of those decisions and activities on future results. Keep your mind happy and positive. Know that you are capable and loved, and that you can accomplish anything. Know what you want, and do what you need to do to get there. Do not fear the now. The NOW is what will strengthen you and prepare you for the NEXT.

Multivitamin Use Before Pregnancy Reduces Risk of Preterm Births

Preterm birth is associated with many health risks as well as a lower rate of infant survival during the first year of life.

Women who take a multivitamin before conception have only half the risk of preterm delivery than those who wait until after becoming pregnant to start taking nutritional supplements.

A study published in the November 2004 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology showed that the use of multivitamin supplements by women prior to becoming pregnant was associated with fewer preterm deliveries. Preterm birth is defined as birth at less than 37 weeks of gestation and is associated with a lower rate of infant survival during the first year of life.

Researchers utilized data from the Pregnancy, Infection and Nutrition Study which recruited 2,010 women during their 24th to 29th week of pregnancy. They compared the incidence of preterm delivery among women who took multivitamins prior to conception, before conception and during pregnancy, during pregnancy only, or not at all. Women who took a multivitamin supplement before conception had half the risk of early and late preterm delivery than those who took no vitamins. Women used multivitamins during pregnancy only had approximately the same amount of preterm births than women who took none at all.

This study, as well as many previous studies, reinforces the concern that waiting until pregnancy is diagnosed may be too late for nutritional intervention to benefit many pregnancy outcomes.

Am J Epidemiol. 2004 Nov 1;160(9):886-92.

Reducing diabetes risk

Lifestyle improvements are as effective as medications in reducing diabetes risk

Lifestyle changes appear to be at least as effective as medications in delaying or preventing type 2 diabetes among adults with impaired glucose tolerance, and are associated with significantly fewer side effects according to a new report published in the British Medical Journal.

The increase in obesity and decrease in physical activity in Westernized societies are strongly linked with the increase in prevalence and incidence of type 2 diabetes. People with impaired glucose tolerance have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and many trials have focused on such individuals. Various treatment methods have been utilized in research, including pharmacological (medications), lifestyle and herbal remedies.

A recent meta-analysis published in the British Medical Journal consolidated the evidence from 17 clinical trials that studied the effects of lifestyle, drugs and other methods on men and women with impaired glucose tolerance. Results showed that intervention can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in high risk individuals, and lifestyle changes seem to be at least as effective as drug therapy. Compared to individuals who received standard advice only, the effect of lifestyle changes resulted in a 49 percent reduction in the risk of developing diabetes.

Exercise alone or exercise combined with a healthier diet was more effective than diet alone. Oral diabetic medications were also effective in delaying or preventing diabetes, but were not as effective as lifestyle changes. Orlistat, an anti-obesity drug, was also effective in reducing risk when compared to control groups.

Although both medications and lifestyle changes were effective in reducing the risk of diabetes, diet and exercise were associated with considerably fewer adverse effects than those caused by pharmaceuticals, which were typically gastrointestinal effects and reduced liver function. Since it is fundamentally a lifestyle issue, the authors had concerns about the practice of treatment with a lifelong course of medication, especially since even minor adverse effects become more significant if a medication is to be taken for life. But they also noted that compliance is generally the key when it comes to lifestyle interventions, so strategies to improve compliance need to be enhanced and put into action.

BMJ. 2007 Jan 19; [Epub ahead of print]

If you want to be happy...

“If you want to be happy for an hour - take a nap.
If you want to be happy for a day — go fishing.
If you want to be happy for a month — get married.
If you want to be happy for a year — inherit a fortune.
If you want to be happy for a lifetime — help others. ”

— Old Chinese Proverb

Building Unshakable Self-Confidence

By Brian Tracy

Identify Your Biggest Dream
A young woman wrote to me recently, telling me that her whole life had taken a different turn since she heard me ask the question, “What one great thing would you dare to dream if you knew you could not fail?”

She wrote that, up to that time, this was a question she had never even dared to consider, but now, she thought of nothing else. She had realized, in a great, blinding flash of clarity, that the main thing separating her from her hopes and dreams was the belief in her ability to achieve them.

Most of us are like this for most of our lives. There are many things that we want to be, and have and do, but we hold back. We are unsure because we lack the confidence necessary to step out in faith in the direction of our dreams.

Determine What You Really Want
Just think: What difference would it make in your life if you had an absolutely unshakable confidence in your ability to achieve anything you really put your mind to? What would you want and wish and hope for? What would you dare to dream if you believed in yourself with such deep conviction that you had no fears of failure whatsoever?

Be True to Yourself
The key is to be true to yourself, to be true to the very best that is in you, and to live your life consistent with your highest values and aspirations.

Take some time to think about who you are and what you believe in and what is important to you.

Decide that you will never compromise your integrity by trying to be or say or feel something that is not true for you.

Have the courage to accept yourself as you really are-not as you might be, or as someone else thinks you should be-and know that, taking everything into consideration, you are a pretty good person.

Make A Plan to Achieve It
Being true to yourself means knowing exactly what you want and having a plan to achieve it.

Lasting self-confidence comes when you absolutely know that you have the capacity to get from where you are to wherever you want to go. You are behind the wheel of your life. You are the architect of your destiny and the master of your fate.

Use the "Act As If" Principle
Act as though it were impossible to fail. Act as though you already had a high level of self-confidence. And continually ask yourself, “What one great thing would I dare to dream if I knew I could not fail?” Whatever your answer, you can have it if you can dream it, and if you have the self-confidence to go out and get it.

Action Exercises
Here are three steps you can take immediately to put these ideas into action.

First, resolve to step out in faith in the direction of your dreams; just do it!

Second, ask yourself, “What one great thing would I dare to dream if I knew I could not fail?”

Third, be true to yourself, to the very best that is in you. Never compromise!

Increased fiber intake protects against cardiovascular disease risk factors

Increasing dietary fiber intake to at least 25 grams per day from varied sources provides a significant protective effect against cardiovascular disease. Researchers presumed that fiber intakes of 30- 35 grams per day would likely provide an even greater protective effect.

Increased dietary fiber intake is associated with reduced levels of a number of cardiovascular disease risk factors. The results of a study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition add to a growing body of evidence linking higher dietary fiber intake with a lower risk of heart disease. Nearly 6,000 men and women were selected from participants in an ongoing trial designed to evaluate the effect of antioxidants on cancer and heart disease incidence over an eight year period.

The highest total of insoluble dietary fiber intakes were associated with reductions in the risks of overweight and elevated waist-to-hip ratio, blood pressure, cholesterol, triglycerides, and homocysteine.


Fiber from cereals was associated with a lower body mass index, blood pressure, and homocysteine concentration; fiber from vegetables with a lower blood pressure and homocysteine concentration; and fiber from fruit with a lower waist-to-hip ratio and blood pressure. Fiber from dried fruit or nuts and seeds was associated with a lower body mass index, waist-to-hip ratio, and glucose concentrations.

The findings of this study illustrate the significance of increasing fiber intake from various dietary sources. The results also indicate that 25 grams total dietary fiber per day is the minimum intake required to attain a significant protective effect against cardiovascular disease, and that total dietary fiber intakes of 30-35 grams/day will likely provide an even greater protective effect.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 82, No. 6, 1185-1194, December 2005

Tap into USANA Webcasts!

Webcasts are a great way to learn about USANA from our leaders and experts! And also a great way to introduce USANA to your friends and family overseas.

From weekly Health and Freedom presentations by our top earner Collete Larson to special webcasts by Veterinarians and USANA Medical Advisory Board members- there is a wealth of information that we can all tap into no matter where we are.

Go to http://www.myeconference.org/ and click on calendar of events to see the schedule month by month. To get the events converted to your local time- change the timezone at the top left above the calendar.

Special note for team members with friends in Australia and NZ:

• All presentations beginning with AP (Asia Pacific) are done by leaders in our region
  
• Every Monday Aussie Gold Directors Nick Roditis and Andy Springer do a Health and Freedom presentation
  
• Every second week on a Tuesday Ruby Directors from Perth Jo & Warren Naseby also do a Health and Freedom presentation
  
• See calendar for more.

Dr Linus Pauling - Importance of Vitamin C

Dr Linus Pauling, the only person who has won two undivided Nobel Prizes, was well known for his advocacy of vitamin C and orthomolecular medicine. As a scientist he became convinced of ascorbate's (Vitamin C) value in combating the flu, cancer, cardiovascular disease, infections, and degenerative problems in the aging process. He added other micronutrients, such as vitamin E and the B vitamins, to his list of helpful supplements.

He maintained that biochemical individuality, molecular disease, or environmental stress may increase the need for certain micronutrients, such as vitamin C, considerably above the RDA. He also warned against overuse of such substances as sugar and chemical sweeteners. Unlike many advocates in the field of nutritional medicine, he considered orthomolecular medicine a crucial adjunct to standard medical practice and therefore did not rule out conventional treatments, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, when considered appropriate.

As a prominent, knowledgeable, and articulate spokesman for the use of nutrients as means to achieve health, prolong life, and provide inexpensive, readily available, and nontoxic alternatives to drugs, Pauling gained a large number of ardent admirers among the public.
After retiring to the status of Professor Emeritus at Stanford in 1973, Pauling co-founded the nonprofit biomedical research organization that now bears his name. The Linus Pauling Institute of Science and Medicine was established primarily to conduct research and education in orthomolecular medicine, following his belief that nutrition could prevent, ameliorate or cure many diseases, slow the aging process, and alleviate suffering.

For more information on Dr Linus Pauling go to:
The Linus Pauling Institute - Micronutrient Research for Optimal Health.

Calcium and vitamin D enhance heart health benefits of weight loss

Weight loss and reduced waist circumference are related to an improvement in heart health and factors related to metabolic syndrome. According to a new study, supplementing with calcium and vitamin D during weight loss enhances heart health benefits in women with typically low calcium intake.

Recent research has shown that overweight individuals with low calcium and dairy consumption are at increased risk of developing metabolic syndrome. The findings suggest that adequate calcium intake could create a healthier metabolic profile similar to a balanced diet and regular exercise.

In a new study, researchers investigated this issue by testing cardiovascular benefits of long-term calcium supplementation in women with usual low calcium intake. Healthy, overweight or obese women with a daily calcium intake of less than 800 mg/day were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups: the group consuming 2 tablets/day of a calcium + vitamin D supplement (600 mg elemental calcium and 200 IU vitamin D/tablet) or the group consuming placebo. Both groups completed a 15-week reduced calorie weight-loss program.

Significant decreases in LDL cholesterol levels, as well as the ratios of Total to LDL and LDL to HDL were seen the calcium +D group. These changes were independent of the changes due to fat loss and reduced waist circumference. A tendency for more beneficial changes in HDL cholesterol, triglycerides, and total cholesterol was also observed in the calcium +D group.
This was the first study to show that consumption of calcium +D during weight- loss enhances the beneficial effect of body weight loss on cardiovascular risk factors in overweight women with typically low calcium intake.

American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 85, No. 1, 54-59, January 2007

Poly C

Notes taken at the presentation:
Introduction to USANA Nutritional Products
by Tyson Ng, USANA Hong Kong Nutritionist
February 9th 2007, Malaysian office

Did you know that Flight Attendants have the highest rate of certain types of cancer than any profession? Dr Monica Lewis in a recent presentation stated that a study was conducted giving flight attendants a huge dose of Vitamin C before takeoff and within 2 hours all had been depleted from their system. So now we know what to take when we fly! And that taking it once a day is not adequate.

Benefits of Poly C:
>>Maintains healthy immune system
>>Supports the production of collagen
>>Prevents cancer
>>Gives you a longer life

Humans and pigs are the only two species that cannot produce their own Vitamin C. For other species when they are in a stressful situation – eg a zebra being chased by a lion – their body will produce high levels of Vitamin C to deal with the stress and prevent oxidation. We humans cannot do this – so when we deal with environmental or emotional stress we burn up all Vitamin C present in our body AND oxidize. Oxidation leads to degenerative diseases such as cancer. We must get all our Vitamin C entirely from our diet.

And now with the current food chain and environment we must supplement to get what Vitamin C our bodies need.

Tyson Ng stated that it is generally recommended that people take a daily dosage of at least 2000mg of Vitamin C. He also said that if you are under a lot of stress, have cancer, are in a place with a lot of pollution then you should take more – 5000mg and above depending on your condition.

USANA Poly C differs from most other Vitamin C’s on the market as it is a patented blend of ascorbates with other minerals to ensure the Vitamin C stays in the body at a higher level for longer. Therefore bringing more benefit to you and your immune system.

Reversing Osteoporosis

According to Tyson Ng, USANA Nutritionist from Hong Kong, osteoporosis can be reversed by taking adequate Active Calcium! He stated that osteoporosis is all about the female hormones so by taking the recommeded dosage of USANA’s Phytoestrin and 1500mg of Active Calcium per day this disease can be reversed and the bones heal.

Active Calcium - needed for optimum health

Notes taken at the following presentation:
Introduction to USANA Nutritional Products
by Tyson Ng, USANA Hong Kong Nutritionist
February 9th 2007, Malaysian office


Everyone should be taking the Active Calcium in addition to the Essentials for optimum health.

Benefits:
Maintenance of good bone health

Recommended dosage:
4 per day for 18 years and over, 13- 18 years 6 per day as teenagers have higher calcium needs.

Most forms of calcium on the market are not in the right form for the human body. The calcium does not go into the bones but into soft tissue and causes calcification and other problems.

Single product supplementation does not work – we need to be taking a blend of other vitamins and minerals with calcium. That is why USANA's Active Calcium is calcium citrate blended with magnesium and vitamin D. It is also very important we are taking the Essentials with our Active Calcium to ensure full absorption.

The body can only absorb 500mg of Calcium at one time – any more will go into the wrong places. So take only 2 Active Calcium at one time.

Inadequate vitamin levels may result in poor athletic performance

Active individuals with low Vitamin B intakes in may perform worse in high-intensity exercise and have a decreased ability to build and repair muscle. National B-Vitamin recommendations may be too low for active individuals. Athletes with poor or restricted diets should consider and multivitamin supplement.

Active individuals lacking in B-vitamins may perform worse during high- intensity exercise and have a reduced ability to repair and build muscle than individuals with nutrient-rich diets.

These B vitamins, which include thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6, B12 and folate, are necessary for the body to convert proteins and sugars into energy, and are used during the production and repair of cells, including red blood cells.

Researchers analyzed the diet and athletic performance of several elite and collegiate athletes, as well as less competitive individuals. Even a marginal deficiency in these nutrients negatively influenced their body's ability to repair itself, operate efficiently and fight disease. Exercise induced stress, the changes in body tissues resulting from training, increased loss of nutrients in sweat, urine and feces, and the additional nutrients needed to repair and maintain higher levels of lean tissue mass may all affect an individual's B-vitamin requirements.

The researchers noted that current national B-vitamin recommendations for active individuals may be inadequate, and that chronic deficiencies could jeopardize their abilities and long-term health. Athletes and individuals with poor and restricted diets should consider a multivitamin and multimineral supplement to ensure adequacy.

Kathleen Woolf; Melinda M. Manore Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2006(16) 5.

Presenting the compensation plan

From the training webcast of Mick Altmyer -

Purpose of our business: Communicate with people and discover if they have a "need", a "want", or a "do not want" that our product or service will provide. Keep explanations simple, not complex when showing the plan.

Before ever mentioning the product, company or service, Mick Altmyer suggests following these three 3 Steps :
1. Discover the Income need
2. Illustrate the power of leverage
3. Within 3 minutes, diagram exactly what must be done to acquire the needed income.

The degree to which someone feels a particular goal is possible is their level of intention.

Increased Vision= Increased Motivation.

A dream + team+ vision= residual income

As leaders our job is to point the way, be unstoppable

Goal Setting and Action Plans

GOAL SETTING AND ACTION PLANS
By Pete Zdanis, Diamond Director

I spend a lot of time working with new people in my group helping them develop their goals and action plans for their Usana business.

I always ask them to make the initial effort to put their goals and plans in writing, and then share them with me for review and suggestions. The main reason I do this is because, unless they develop their goals themselves, they will never take ownership of them and will likely not take the necessary actions to reach the goals.

What I usually discover in the first draft I receive from new distributors is one of two extremes:

o Very general and vague - "I want to earn $1,000.00 per week in Usana."

o Extremely detailed and mind-numbing "business plans" which would require a Harvard MBA to understand.

The first example is far too general, and doesn't provide any detail on what must be done to achieve the goal. At the end of every day, there would be no way to measure if you made any progress toward your goal.

The second example is far too detailed, and usually overwhelms people and causes "paralysis by analysis". It would be impractical to review an elaborate business plan daily to measure progress.

What's the solution?:

Start with one or two high level goals with a specific target date, and then "work backward" to develop more specific action plans to achieve the goal(s).

For example:

Primary Goal:

"Become a Gold Director in 12 months."

Good. That's a specific goal with a defined time frame.

Now, let's break that down into smaller, manageable actions steps that are needed to achieve the goal.

For example, we know that the average Gold Director has personally sponsored 30 to 40 new Distributors.


So, let's define an action step, or secondary goal, to reach the primary goal:

"Personally sponsor three new Distributors per month".

OK. That will certainly get us to our primary goal, but - How do we sponsor three new Distributors per month?

Well, let's break it down into even smaller steps................

There are many, many different ways and methods to sponsor new distributors - warm market, classified ads, purchased leads, etc., etc. The various methods, combined with the individual Distributor's belief, confidence and experience level, make it difficult to determine specifically, at least initially, how many presentations a particular Distributor would have to make to sponsor one new Distributor

For the sake of this exercise, let simply, assume that they would sponsor one out of every ten people they make a presentation to. Note: By "presentation", I am referring to an H&F Meeting, a one-on-one H&F Presentation in person, an information pack sent by snail mail or e-mail, or a telephone presentation using the H&F Presentation, Fast Facts, etc. Therefore, we would need to make thirty presentations in one month in order to sponsor three new Distributors in a month.

So, our next level goal or action step would be:

"Make 30 presentations per month."

OK - Hang in there, we're almost done.............

Not everyone we talk to is interested in learning more about becoming involved in Usana. So, we're obviously going to need to contact more than 30 people in order to schedule 30 presentations. Again, the ratio of contacts to presentations varies widely based on many variables, similar to those listed above. But, for the sake of example, let's assume that half of the people we contact would be interested in learning more about Usana, i.e., would be willing to view / attend / listen to a presentation.

So, our next level goal or action step would be:

"Make 60 contacts per month." (Or an average of two per day)

NOW we have something to grab on to. We now know that, in order to become a Gold Director in one year, (Primary Goal) you would need to make an average of two contacts per day (Single Daily Action Plan – SDA).

Now, at the end of every day, you can look back at your activities for the day, ask yourself if you took needed action to reach your primary goal, provide an answer, and rate yourself:

o Zero Contacts - "F" - failed for the day.

o One Contact - "C" - did okay, but need to do better tomorrow.

o Two Contacts - "A" - achieved my goal, and am on track to reach my primary goal.

o More than two Contacts - "A+" - I may reach my primary goal faster than my target date.

CAUTION: Don't get all hung up about the numbers in the above examples. They are simply that - examples. As you gain in experience and knowledge, you may find that more than half of the people you contact would be willing to learn more about Usana, and that more than 10% of the presentations you make will result in a signup. In fact, I KNOW that will be the case.

Best of success!

Pete Zdanis

Time to get USANA into the blood stream

Here is the USANA Scientist’s response Andrea Hagan received to a question from an Associate. This could be helpful for you too.

Question:
My Comment to Associate:
The beauty of these supplements is that your body will take what it needs and discard the rest. You’ve started on the recommended supplements at dosages suggested by Dr. R. Strand. It takes 3 months to completely get it into your blood, 6 month into your organs and 9 months into your bones.

Associates Resulting Question:
Why does it take 3 months (as per your note) to get into the blood stream when food stays in the small intestine for up to 4 hours where nutrients…. enter the blood stream?

Response:
USANA Scientist’s:
……….the life of blood cells is approximately 100 days (ie. they turn over completely about every 3 months), and for many organs it is about 6 months and for bone about 9 months. This has nothing to do with digestion or absorption. The tablets and gelcaps disintegrate within about 30 minutes and are available for absorption immediately thereafter, as with any other food other liquid.

Get attached to the process. Not the results.

“The only difference between you and those at the top is that they have heard more nos. It's all part of the price we pay for success. But remember, you do have control- you have control of YOU.”

by Paula Pritchard

Building a network marketing business is pretty cut and dry. You show, they decide, some get involved (with the product, the business or both), they show and it starts all over again. If we were all robots working day in and day out, success would be a given.

Unfortunately, it's not that easy. We are human beings and the real variable in our journey to success revolves around emotional issues; the most important being rejection. Nos have claimed more would be successful network marketers than anything else. The fear of rejection can and does paralyze people. It contributes to procrastination, forces people to lie about their activity and postpone their dreams.

How big a part the emotional issues play in our journey depends on how much baggage we bring with us when we start our network marketing business.

That's why, in this industry, both time and effort is devoted to personal development with a major focus on ways to increase our self-esteem and self-confidence.

In the process of building a network marketing business, there are two areas where the likelihood of rejection tends to run very high. They are:
The invitation to see the business The decision to get in the business.

There is no question that inviting someone to see the business and getting his or her decision to join can create intense anxiety. If you help a new distributor become proficient in these two areas that will give them the confidence and resilience to hang in there and successfully stay the course.

Distributors tend to measure their success based on the results they get in these two areas, so I try to insulate my people from the consequences of rejection the best ways I know by:

1. Getting them sold first. Elevating their belief level in the industry and the company to solidify their commitment. This also includes creating their vision and internalizing their goals, so that it's easier to stay on purpose knowing that the direction they're going is the right one for them.

2. Increasing their skills so they feel competent. Teach them how to invite, avoid skepticism, present the business, respond to objections, ask for the decision, get someone started and get them trained.

3. Making them understand the process and minimizing the psychological effects.
80 percent of recruiting is preparation. Companies don't send their salespeople out on sales calls without preparation. Sports teams do not take on their opponent without a great deal of preparation. Preparation is critical.

Early in my career, I found some ways to personally prepare against the effects of rejection.
First of all, I imagined putting on an invisible suit of psychological armor. Imagine this invisible shield that nothing can penetrate, not bullets, arrows or even nos. You want to feel bulletproof. (And yes, that IS possible. I'll be showing you how soon.)

Second, I began to live by the concept, "Get attached to the process not the results".

I know that this is a little different from what we are taught in life. After all, Albert Einstein said, "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results".

In life, most of our successes are based on measuring results to confirm that we are on the right course. Sports would be pretty boring without results (and so would life).

What makes it worse, is today's society wants instantaneous results. There are young people who, because of technology, do not know what it is like to wait for information and results. They live in a now world.

Understand, I don't mean you continue to do something that isn't working. I do mean, since the process required in network marketing is pretty standard and many others have succeeded before you, then stay the course. Don't get attached to the answer immediate answer or to being right. Don't get attached to a yes or no.

After all, a yes can mean no if they get involved and do nothing, and a no can mean no for now and yes for later, if you left a good impression.

That's how the mantra next... came about. You know: Some will. Some won't. So what. Next.... It's critical to level your emotions, not allowing yourself to get too excited if they say yes and too depressed if they say no. After all, success is in the show it is not in the yes or no. It's also not in the sell or the sign.

If you have to sell them to get in the business, you will have to sell them to do something.
They will probably do nothing because they didn't get in for the right reasons to begin with. On the other hand if you think that merely signing them into the business is success, you will be sadly disappointed when they do nothing, and trust me... there will be some who do nothing.
Treat your network business like a traditional business. A retail business wants traffic. They don't get hung up on one who says "Yes, I'll buy" and who says "No". It's the same in real estate. Selling a house is all about traffic. It revolves around the Law of Averages and it's the same in network marketing.

You cannot control who says yes or no, just as you cannot make someone successful, but the sheer numbers will mean that you can be a success anyway, irrelevant of your powers of influence. You just have to show enough people.

The best part is that you can control the number of people you talk to, and if you focus on the numbers, you will end up with enough people signed in your business to take you to the top.
Let me simplify further. There are ratios involving the number of people you talk to and the percentage of that number that actually want to see the business.

Then there are ratios between the number of people you show the business to and the percentage of that number that actually sign in. Finally, there are ratios between the number of people who sign into the business and the percentage of that number that actually do something.
For example, if you have shown the business to 25 people and five have joined you, then your ratio is one in five. If of those five that signed on, one is a real leader, then your ratio is a constant one in five across the board. This means that if you need three leaders in your business to reach the top position, you will need to sponsor 15 and show 75.

Knowledge of the numbers and a willingness to work those numbers will put you in control of your business. No more guess work. You know what to do.

When you understand this completely, you will understand how important it is not to get caught up in the answer of the moment. Just put on your bulletproof armor and proceed with the process.

Success does not have to be elusive. The only difference between you and those at the top is that they have heard-- and let go of-- more nos. It is all part of the price we pay for success.

But remember, you do have control. You have control of the one and only thing that really matters-- YOU. So, get attached to the process not the results

USANA a good choice in a slow economic market

On the radar: USANA 21 Dec 2006

When the economy turns sour, companies like USANA Health Sciences start to look a little sweeter. Erik Dellith, Reuters

“The pace of economic growth in the United States is slowing and looks set to keep expanding at a sluggish rate. At such times, a smart strategy is to seek investments that are less susceptible to fluctuations in the overall economy. Nutritional-supplement and skin-care company USANA Health Sciences Inc. (USNA) is one possibility, having appeared on the Reuters Select stock screen for Relative Value.”

Read more go to Reuters

Law of Clarity by Brian Tracy

Clarity accounts for probably 80% of success and happiness. Lack of clarity is probably more responsible for frustration and underachievement than any other single factor. That’s why we say that “Success is goals, and all else is commentary.” People with clear, written goals, accomplish far more in a shorter period of time than people without them could ever imagine. This is true everywhere and under all circumstances.

The Three Keys to High Achievement
You could even say that the three keys to high achievement are, “Clarity, Clarity, Clarity,” with regard to your goals. Your success in life will be largely determined by how clear you are about what it is you really, really want.

Write and Rewrite Your Goals
The more you write and rewrite your goals and the more you think about them, the clearer you will become about them. The clearer you are about what you want, the more likely you are to do more and more of the things that are consistent with achieving them. Meanwhile, you will do fewer and fewer of the things that don’t help to get the things you really want.

The Seven Step Process for Achieving Goals
Here, once more, is the simple, seven-step process that you can use to achieve your goals faster and easier than ever before.

First, decide exactly what you want in each area of your life. Be specific!

Second, write it down, clearly and in detail;

Third, set a specific deadline. If it is a large goal, break it down into sub-deadlines and write them down in order;

Fourth, make a list of everything you can think of that you are going to have to do to achieve your goal. As you think of new items, add them to your list;

Fifth, organize the items on your list into a plan by placing them in the proper sequence and priority;

Sixth, take action immediately on the most important thing you can do on your plan. This is very important!

Seventh, do something every day that moves you toward the attainment of one or more of your important goals. Maintain the momentum!

Join the Top 3
Fewer than three percent of adults have written goals and plans that they work on every single day. When you sit down and write out your goals, you move yourself into the top 3% of people in our society. And you will soon start to get the same results that they do.

Review Your Goals Daily
Study and review your goals every day to be sure they are still your most important goals. You will find yourself adding goals to your list as time passes. You will also find yourself deleting goals that are no longer as important as you once thought. Whatever your goals are, plan them out thoroughly, on paper, and work on them every single day. This is the key to peak performance and maximum achievement.

Action Exercises
Here is how you can apply this law immediately: First, make a list of ten goals that you would like to achieve in the coming year. Write them down in the present tense, as though a year has passed and you have already accomplished them. Second, from your list of ten goals, ask yourself, “What one goal, if I were to accomplish it, would have the greatest positive impact on my life?” Whatever it is, put a circle around this goal and move it to a separate sheet of paper. Third, practice the seven-step method described above on this goal. Set a deadline, make a plan, and put it into action and work on it every day. Make this goal your major definite purpose for the weeks and months ahead. Get ready for some amazing changes in your life.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

Here's the bottom line scoop on Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS).

This condition is so named because of the multiple cysts on women's ovaries, but the problem does NOT lie with the ovaries. The cysts are only a result of the real problem, being an abnormal release of brain hormones (FSH and LH).

With the abnormal pulsations and timing release of LH from the brain, FSH stimulates normal cysts (with eggs) to develop on the ovaries, but they don't ovulate on their regular monthly schedule because the LH is not released normally. As a result, many cysts develop, but they do not ovulate, and therefore the cysts collect on the ovary. This would not be that big of deal, except for the fact that ovarian cysts are hormonally active. They produce BOTH estrogen and testosterone. (No progesterone is being made yet by these cysts, because that only happens after ovulation, ...but, there is no ovulation, or at best minimum and infrequent ovulation).

Testosterone levels build up, and are higher than normal in these women (along with estrogen). The hormone imbalance leads to acne, weight gain, and irregular (or absent) periods. These are are results of the brain not releasing LH as it should.

Doctors treat the "downstream" symptoms of PCOS with birth control pills to suppress the ovaries from producing cysts, which will reduce the problem, but it does not address the real issue, ...abnormal release of LH from the brain.

So, to help (this is not a cure or treatment), ...but to help with the normal health of the brain hormone release and normal functioning of the brain, I give the following:

Essentials (as directed on the bottle)
BiOmega-3 (2 capsules, twice daily) ...this is a double dose. (for brain)
Active Calcium (1 tablet, twice daily)
Proflavanol-90 (2 tablests, two to three times daily) ... gets into the brain
CoQuinone-30 ( 2 capsules, two to three times daily) ....ditto
Gingko PS (2 tablets, twice daily) ...for brain communication
Palmetto Pluse (2 capsules twice daily) until the acne is gone

Also for normalization of the brain hormones:
L-glutamine 5000 mg a day
L-arginine 2000 mg a day
Acetyl-L-carnitine 500 mg per day

The above amino acids cannot be obtained from USANA, but in the U.S. one can obtain them mixed together in one powder mix from Belmar Pharmacy in Lakewood, Colorado. One teaspoon per day in a Nutrimeal would provide these quantities. It's called the amino acid blend, and one can order it at (800) 525-9473. (I've been using it in my OB/Gyn practice long before I even knew about USANA.)

All these nutrients and amino acids help the brain to normalize the pulsatile release of LH for ovulation ...which brings about normal periods, which normalizes testosterone levels, and improves the condition. This may take up to 6 months to see an improvement.

The Proflavanol-90, BiOmega-3, and Palmetto Plus all help control acne. Even after acne is gone, the woman should continue with the other nutrients and amino acids because the problem will return. These are safe, even during pregnancy. (Stop the Palmetto Plus when the acne is gone, or if pregnancy ensues.)

If none of this works for a woman, even after 6 to 9 months, then she might have to be on a birth control pill, ...but, I have seen good results using this regimen.

(You can see why I try to avoid this question, ...in which many people think it is just a "quick question." It is much more involved than what I have written, but hopefully this can be kept by people in USANA, and they can help other people out with this when the question comes up.

Ladd McNamara, M.D.
Medical Advisory Board
USANA Health Sciences, Inc.

Recommendation for Heart Arrhythmias

Heart arrhythmias are quite common, and they usually arise from damage done to the electrical conductivity of the heart (especially in the area of the "pacemaker" cells in the heart). The nervous system triggers the "pacemaker" in everyone's heart, which then sets off a chain reaction around the heart, from cell to cell to create a rhythmic beating of the heart to pump the blood through the heart. When a mini-heart attack, or a nutritional deficiency (usually in magnesium) disrupts this process heart arrhythmias can be produced, which is an irregular heart beat.

What I have recommended below is not a treatment or cure for arrhythmias, but it is merely meant to nutrient the heart for optimal functioning. Results may vary, but it is the best thing someone can be on. A deficiency in magnesium, a lack of coQ10, and other nutrients and minerals may result in heart arrhythmias. Likewise, optimal nutrition MAY be of benefit, how much benefit can only be known by using the products.

But, no matter how much help it provides, or if the supplements do not change the course of the arrhythmia, one must remember there is the whole rest of the body, including a heart, in which we want to provide optimal nutrition. So, the following is that regimen for optimal nutrition in such a case:

Essentials (as directed on the bottle)
BiOmega-3 (2 capsules, twice daily) ...this is a double dose. (for heart)
Active Calcium (1 tablet, four times daily ...critical)
Proflavanol-90 (2 tablets, two to three times daily) ... gets into the heart
CoQuinone-30 ( 2 capsules, three times daily) ....CRITICAL
Gingko PS (2 tablets, twice daily) ...for nerve conduction in the heart

Good luck with this, I hope everyone, whether they have an arrhythmia or not will benefit from this optimal nutritional supplement recommendation.

Save these recommendations, and be ready to share them with others when needed.

Ladd McNamara, M.D.
Medical Advisory Board
USANA Health Sciences, Inc.

Sharing USANA with new people

Great email from Helen Yoshihara, Ruby Director on how to talk to new prospects about USANA, focussing on how USANA can benefit them....

HI, just to share my thoughts on this: For me, creating value with my prospects is to bond with them first if it's a cold market.(I try to turn cold market to warm market)...then when there's a connection, I can share the value of the Usana opportunity. I share how it has blessed you and your family....how it may also bring potential benefits for them as well....I usually foucs more on how the propect will benefit from Usana....I try to bring Usana to them instead of bringing them to Usana...when you can show and point out what Usana can bring them...(these are the values) like tax advantage, the powerful residual income, solid retirement.,good health, weekly income, ....work less for more money later....passive to massive income...and so forth...all these values from a company with incredible credibility and product superiority...I would mention real breifly about the Nasdaq, and business Accolades....I avoid sharing too much....keep them a little curious, too for them to want to learn more about this venture that you are so passionate about; then I invite them to a presentation.

Helen Yoshihara, Ruby Director Usana Indedpendent Associate

Leadership Bonus Program

A comprehensive explanation of USANA’s Leadership Bonus Program from Diamond Director Pete Zdanis

Here’s how it works:

1) You must be a Gold Director or Above.

2) Your business must generate at least 100 points in Personal Sales Volume (200 points for multiple Business Centers) during the current four-week period. (Basically you must be active.)

3) At least one of your personally sponsored Associates must qualify to earn their first check at a Sharer level or above every four weeks.

However, since we know that sometimes two of your personally sponsored Associates may qualify for their first check one week, and then you may go several weeks before the next personally sponsored Associate qualifies for a check, we allow you to accumulate up to 13 individuals meeting this requirement (or one year's worth) at a time.* The date of enrollment doesn’t matter; their first check date is what qualifies you. This moves your Leadership Bonus Qualification Date (found on Online Business Manager) forward four weeks each time you help a personal sponsor earn his or her first check. So be sure to watch your “L.B. Qual. Date” to avoid missing out on your shares.

Note: After five consecutive years of qualifying for Leadership Bonus (beginning January 1, 2003), Associates are considered vested, and rather than 13 Associates qualifying as a Sharer or above per year, vested Associates must have just one Associate qualify at the Believer level at least once every quarter, or accumulate up to 4 four individuals meeting this requirement (one year’s worth) at any point in time. All other rules apply.

4) You must be available by phone to your organization.5) You must actively train and supervise your downline sales organization.6) You cannot participate in any other network marketing company.

5) Leadership Bonus is calculated on maxed Business Centers.
The weekly 3 percent of commissionable sales is divided into shares. Each share has a cash value, which will fluctuate each week (with the exception of the first share, which is set at $175), and is based on the following factors:

For each Business Center (BC) you max, you receive a number of shares for the week along with all the other active leaders who qualified. Let’s suppose when we divide the pool by all the shares for a certain week it comes to exactly $200 per share (this makes for an easy math example in the scale below). Again, keep in mind that because the pool varies, as do the number of shares each week, the share value can and will vary each week.

Share Calculation Scale

Maxed BCs
1>>> 1= 1 share (1st share is guaranteed at $175 US each week)
2>>> 2+1= 3 shares (1st at $175 + 2 at $200 = $575)
3 >>>3+2+1= 6 shares (1st at $175 + 2 at $200 + 3 at $200 = $1,175)
4>>> 4+3+2+1= 10 shares
5 >>>5+4+3+2+1= 15 shares
6 >>>6+5+4+3+2+1= 21 shares
7>>> 7+6+5+4+3+2+1= 28 shares
8 >>>8+7+6+5+4+3+2+1= 36 shares
Etc.

You can see how maxing additional Business Centers is the key element of this program.

The more your business grows, the more your Leadership Bonus will grow as you progress in the plan. This is why I always tell new Ruby Directors, “This is where USANA’s Compensation Plan really starts to get fun. And if you think it’s fun at Ruby, being a Star-Diamond is a blast!”

In order for maxed Business Centers (BCs) to be eligible for Leadership Bonus, they must meet certain requirements:

A) The BC(s) must have maxed the previous week with the exception of one BC per leader. (I’ll call this your developmental center).
B) The number of maxed BCs you get credit for is limited to your current rank plus one. For instance, a Gold would be a 1; a Ruby would be a 2, an Emerald a 3, and so on. So, if I’m a Ruby Director (each week maxing 2 BCs) and happen to have a great week where I am able to max a third center one week, I would be paid like an Emerald! (3+2+1= 6 shares) Why? Because I get my Ruby shares (2 centers) plus 1 (my developmental center). We do this to encourage you to continue building toward the next level.

Note: Your developmental Business Center can vary each week (i.e., .005 this week, then .007 the next week), provided the others remain constant.

C) Consistency is key! Fluctuations in maxing centers (maxing 3 BCs one week, then 0 the next, then 1 the next, then 3, etc.) will keep you from earning your total potential in this bonus. The plan only pays on consistent maxing. So if I’m an Emerald and I max 1 center this week, I will make $175 (paid as a Gold that week). Then next week I max the same center, plus 2 additional, for a total of 3 centers. I will only get paid Leadership Bonus on 2 instead of 3 centers (2 + 1 = 3 shares) for that week. However, if the next week I max the same 3 again, I would then be paid as an Emerald for the week (3 + 2 + 1 = 6 shares) because I’m consistent. Why? We don’t want you becoming an Emerald before you’ve built 3 solid centers. Just keep in mind when it comes to Leadership Bonus—“Build It Solid”—then move on to the next center(s).

Examples
1. Chuck, an Emerald Director, maxes the same 3 centers each week (001, 003, & 006), and then maxes an additional center one week. Let’s say the share price that week was $203. Chuck would receive 10 (4+3+2+1=10) shares totaling $2,002 (9x$203+$175=$2,002) for the week in addition to his 4 maxed centers of $4,000! That’s over $6,000 for the week!

2. Now let’s say Chuck, still an Emerald, maxes 3 centers each week, but only 2 are the same and the other one is a different center each week. He receives 6 (3+2+1=6) shares totaling $1,190 (5x$203+$175=$1,190) in Leadership Bonus for the week! Add that to at least $3,000 for his maxed centers and he earns $4,190 that week. Notice how maxing 3 versus 4 BCs makes a big difference in Chuck’s check!Now, one week he maxes an additional center for a total of 4 maxed BCs, similar to example number one. But this time he doesn’t get paid 10 shares. Instead he only receives 6 shares for the week. The reason is that even though 4 centers were maxed, he had 2 centers that did not max the previous week. Remember, the goal is to build solid business centers that max each week, rather than inconsistently. And you only get one developmental BC each week.

3. Gold Directors maxing 1 center would earn $175 per week in Leadership Bonus. Once they begin to max an additional center they would receive 3 shares (2+1=3) totaling $581 (2x$203+$175=$581) in Leadership Bonus for that week, provided at least one of the centers maxes each week. Also, it’s worth noting that if you don’t max a center for a few weeks, then max, you always get paid for that first center, even if it’s the first week. So as a Gold Director, build it solid and move on to the next center(s).

I hope this helps you understand how Leadership Bonus works. It seems a bit complex at first, but after you go through this a few times you’ll begin to see how fair our Leadership Bonus is and how incredibly motivating it can be to reach new levels as a leader in USANA.

Antioxidants - Part 3

PART III - Health Benefits of antioxidants Plentiful intakes of antioxidants have been associated with reduced risk of some chronic diseases, in the same way that generous intakes of fruits, vegetables and grains have been associated with similar health benefits.

Some examples of scientific evidence are the following:

Cancer

• People with high beta-carotene intakes have about one-third the cancer risk as people with low beta-carotene intakes. Peto R. Cancer Surveys 1983;2:327-340.

• People with higher intakes of vitamin C have about half the risk for many types of cancer, compared to people with low vitamin C intakes. Block G. Am J Clin Nutr 1991;53:270S-282S.

• People with low intakes of several antioxidants have more DNA damage than people with generous intakes. Ames BN. Metat Res 2001;475:7-20.

• People with the highest intakes of vitamin C, E, and beta-carotene have a significantly lower risk of lung cancer. Yong LC et al. Am J Epidemiol 1997;146:231-43.

• Men who took vitamin E supplements for 10 years or more had a 30% lower risk of bladder cancer. Michaud DS et al. Am J Epidemiol 2000;152:1145-53.

• There are over 66 studies showing cancer-prevention activity of green tea, black tea, and their constituents. These include cancer reduction in the skin, lung, oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, liver, pancreas, bladder, small intestine, colon and prostate. Lambert JD et al. Am J Clin Nutr 05;81:284S- 291S.

Heart Disease

• Elderly people who took dietary supplements of both vitamin C and vitamin E had a decreased risk of death from heart disease as well as overall mortality. Losonczy KG, Harris TB, Havlik RJ. Am J Clin Nutr 1996;64:190- 196.

• Men who took vitamin supplements had a 70% lower risk of dying from heart disease and a 50% lower risk of a heart attack. Meyer F, Bairati I, Dagenasis GR. Can J Cardiol 1996;12:930-934.

• In the Nurses' Health Study involving over 87,000 women, there was a 41% reduction in risk of heart disease for those who took vitamin E for more than two years. Stampfer MJ, Hennekens CH, Manson JE, et al. New Engl J Med 1993;328:1444-1449.

• In the Nurses' Health Study vitamin C supplements were also related to a lower risk of heart disease. Osganian SK et al. J Am Coll Cardiol 2003;42:246-52.

• In the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study involving almost 40,000 men, there was a 37% reduction in risk of heart disease in men who took vitamin E for more than two years. The average intake in the lowest risk group was 400 IU per day. Rimm EB, Stampfer MJ. Ascherio A, et al. New Engl J Med 1993;328:1450-1456.

• To date, 17 human group studies have been published on flavonoid intake and the risk of coronary artery disease and stroke. Positive studies have shown reduction in mortality risk of up to 65%. Arts ICW and Hollman PCH. Am J Clin Nutr 2005;81:317S-325S.

• The largest and longest study to date, done as part of the Harvard- based Nurses' Health Study and Health Professionals Follow-up Study, included almost 110,000 men and women whose health and dietary habits were followed for 14 years. The higher the average daily intake of fruits and vegetables, the lower the chances of developing cardiovascular disease. Compared with those in the lowest category of fruit and vegetable intake (less than 1.5 servings a day), those who averaged 8 or more servings a day were 30% less likely to have had a heart attack or stroke. Joshipura KJ, et al. Ann Intern Med 2001 Jun 19;134(12):1106-14.

Other Chronic diseases

• Several long-term studies have shown a reduced risk of cataracts in those who have taken vitamin C and/or Vitamin E for more than 10 years. Jacques PF et al. Arch Ophthalmol 2001;119:1009-19.

• The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) at NIH found that daily supplementation with antioxidants, zinc, and copper delayed progression of age- related macular degeneration. AREDS report no. 8. Arch Ophthalmol 2001;119:1417-36.

• Research has shown a significant relationship between flavonoid intakes and the occurrence of asthma. Knekt P et al. Am J Clin Nutr 2002;76:560-8.

• Other research suggests antioxidants may help support lung function and protect the lungs from oxidative damage. Schunemann HJ et al. Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2001;163:1246-55.

• In a study on Alzheimer's disease, high levels of vitamin E delayed progression of the disease. Sano M et al. N Engl J Med 1997;336:1216- 22.

Antioxidants - Part 2

PART II - Sources and Dietary Intakes Antioxidants can be vitamins, minerals, enzymes or plant derived nutrients called phytonutrients. The major vitamin antioxidants are vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, while selenium is the major mineral antioxidant. Many researchers and nutritionists discuss and report on "antioxidants" as if these were the only sources of importance. A thorough examination of antioxidants and their importance to human health must include a much larger list of compounds that are present in healthy, varied diet.

The following list is an example of the wide variety of phytonutrient antioxidants present in a healthy diet:

Phytochemical - Food Source

Allyl Sulfides - Onions, garlic, leeks, chives
Carotenoids (e.g. lycopene, lutein, zeaxanthin) - Tomatoes, carrots, watermelon, kale, spinach
Curcumin - Turmeric
Flavonoids (e.g. anthocyanadins, resveratrol, quercitin, catechins) - Grapes, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, apples, grapefruit, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries
Glutathione - Green leafy vegetables
Indoles - Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, bok choy
Isoflavones - Legumes (peas, soybeans)
Isothiocyanates (e.g. sulforaphane) - Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussels sprouts, bok choy
Lignans - ds (flax seeds, sunflower seeds)
Monoterpenes - rus fruit peels, cherries, nuts
Phytic Acid - le grains, legumes
Phenols, polyphenols, phenolic compounds (e.g. ellagic acid, ferrulic acid, tannins) - Grapes, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, grapefruit, cranberries, raspberries, blackberries, tea
Saponins - Beans, legumes

Recommendations by the National Cancer Institute, the U.S.D.A., other government agencies and nutrition experts are to eat a minimum of 5-13 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, depending on calorie needs. Based on these recommendations, a typical varied diet would provide approximately 200-600 mg of vitamin C and 10-20 mg (16,000-32,000 IU) of carotenoids. Overall, polyphenols are the most abundant antioxidants in the diet. Their total dietary intake could be as high as 1 gram/day in a mixed, varied diet of fruits, vegetables, grains, and beverages. Possible intakes of other phytonutrient antioxidants would be anthocyandins " 2 oz black grapes 1,500 mg; proanthocyanidins " 100-300 mg/d red wine; catechins " 50 mg day " tea (one cup brewed green tea " 240-320 mg catechins), chocolate, apples, pears, grapes, red wine; isoflavones " 50 mg/day from soy foods; chlorogenic acid " as high as 800 mg/day coffee drinkers.

Although it may seem reasonable that a consistently healthy and varied diet could provide high doses of antioxidants, the average American gets a total of just three servings of fruits and vegetables a day. The latest dietary guidelines call for five to thirteen servings of fruits and vegetables a day, depending on one's caloric intake. For a person who needs 2,000 calories a day to maintain weight and health, this translates into nine servings, or 4½ cups per day. The 2001-2002 NHANES survey of dietary intakes shows that 93% of Americans fail to get even the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) for vitamin E, let alone the RDA. More than half of adults fail to get even the average requirement for vitamin A. About one-third of non-smokers and two-thirds of smokers fall short on minimum vitamin C requirements.

If the governmental dietary recommendations are meant to be taken seriously, then it follows that it would be better for people to achieve recommended amounts of nutrients than to fall short.

Obviously, since the average intake of 3 servings or less of fruits and vegetables fails to provide minimum levels of even basic vitamins, intakes of the numerous other antioxidants are sure to be well under optimal and beneficial levels.

It has been established that a good multivitamin can fill in gaps in missing vitamins, but availability of broad spectrum antioxidant supplements has lagged behind. Although there is much to be learned about the characteristics of the literally hundreds of dietary antioxidants, it seems reasonable that providing supplements of various antioxidant classes may fill in nutritional gaps and provide many of the benefits missing from the typical American diet.

Antioxidants - Part 1

PART I Antioxidants - What are they?

Oxidation is a natural process that happens to all cells in nature, including the cells in your body. Antioxidants provide an important defense against the daily assault of free radicals on healthy cells. This Essentials of Health four-part series will review the function, benefits, sources, and safety of dietary antioxidants.

Free radicals are atoms or groups of atoms with an odd (unpaired) number of electrons and can be formed when oxygen interacts with certain molecules. Once formed these highly reactive radicals can start a chain reaction, like dominoes. Their chief danger comes from the damage they can do when they react with important cellular components such as DNA, or the cell membrane. Cells may function poorly or die if this occurs. To prevent free radical damage the body has a defense system of antioxidants.

Antioxidants are molecules that can safely interact with free radicals and terminate the chain reaction before vital tissues and cells are damaged. Although there are several enzyme systems within the body that scavenge free radicals, the principle micronutrient (vitamin/mineral) antioxidants are vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamin C and selenium. The body cannot manufacture these micronutrients so they must be supplied in the diet. In addition, there are literally hundreds of plant derived nutrients (phytonutrients) that act as important antioxidants in the diet.

It is impossible to avoid damage by free radicals. Free radicals arise from sources both inside (endogenous) and outside (exogenous) our bodies. Oxidants that develop from processes within our bodies form as a result of normal breathing, metabolism, and inflammation. Exogenous free radicals form from environmental factors such as pollution, sunlight, strenuous exercise, X-rays, smoking and alcohol. Our antioxidant systems are not perfect, so as we age, cell parts damaged by oxidation accumulate.

Digestive Enzymes

If you ever have an inquiry from a prospect about their need for additional digestive enzymes, you may be interested to read this from USANA Information Services:

While there are some people who can benefit from extra digestive enzymes, this is not the case in general. Enzymes are proteins and so to put them in a stable, utilizable form is not cheap or easy. Most digestive enzyme supplements on the market are very inconsistent in quality (that is being nice), stability andeffectiveness. If we find a source, product and delivery system that will provide high-quality, cost-effective and beneficial ingredients, we may do so. We will not, however, provide enzyme supplements that we cannot guarantee.

So, for now, we are still monitoring the situation.VERY IMPORTANT POINT: even though there may be some people who have trouble digesting large amounts of macronutrients like fat and protein,an enzyme supplement is NOT necessary to derive the benefits from the nutritional tablets. If your digestive system is compromised because you are not producing digestive enzymes anymore as a result of an illness or medical condition, taking nutritional supplements with plant enzymes will not likely cure the problem. In this situation, pancreatic enzymes must be taken as a prescription. Most plant enzyme supplements are not acid-stabilized and are simply broken down during digestion, providing no active benefit - aside from calories and nutrient content.

Best regards, USANA Science Information Services

Meal replacement drinks good for weight maintenance

The most difficult part of any weight loss program is not losing the weight, but keeping it off. As a result, many people opt for a medication like Orlistat. Results from a new study now show that meal replacement drinks can be as effective at helping dieters maintain weight than medications. Researchers compared the benefit of using meal replacement drinks to Orlistat in two groups of people that had lost significant amounts of weight. A year after their weight loss, the group using meal replacement drinks had maintained weight even better than the group using the medication. For many people, meal replacements drinks may be an effective, simple and safe method to maintaining a healthy weight.

Meal replacement drinks have been shown to be as effective as medications for maintaining weight loss according to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition.

Participants followed a liquid very low calorie diet (VLCD) for 12 weeks followed by 4 weeks of re-introduction to solid food. At week 16, the subjects were randomly selected to receive either meal replacements or Orlistat (medication), both combined with a structured meal plan calculated to maintain weight loss. For one year, all subjects followed a weight management program that included topics such as lifestyle, physical activity, and nutrition.

During the VLCD, the meal replacement group lost an average of 50.2 lbs and the Orlistat group lost an average of 49 lbs. During weight maintenance, there were no significant differences in physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake and pedometer steps between the groups. After one year, the meal replacement group had regained only 5.9 lbs and the Orlistat group had regained 6.2 lbs.

Meal replacements and Orlistat were both effective in maintaining weight significantly below baseline levels over a year period of time.

Journal of the American College of Nutrition, Vol. 24, No. 5, 347-353 (2005).

Active Calcium - not just for bone health

Calcium and Vitamin D are nutrients both known to help prevent osteoporosis, amongst other benefits.

A study in the January 7th edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition indicates that adding 1200 milligrams of elemental calcium plus 400 IUs of Vitamin D as part of a weight reduction program contributes to the reduction of LDL and improves the LDL-to-HDL ratio.
An earlier report in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association stated that “Increasing total calcium intake, in the form of calcium supplementation, may be beneficial to weight maintenance, especially in women during midlife”. The study showed that over a 10 year period, women in midlife who took more than 500 mgs of calcium supplements per day gained almost 2 kilos less than women who did not supplement.

Besides taking care of our bone health, we have two additional benefits to add calcium and vitamin D to our daily supplement regimen!

USANA Health Sciences shares rise on Q4 results

10:45:29 AM ET 2/7/2007

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- USANA Health Sciences Inc. (USNA) shares rose 11% to $60.40 in Wednesday morning trade after the Salt Lake City, Calif.-based maker of nutrition and personal care products late Tuesday reported a fourth-quarter net profit of $11.1 million, or 61 cents a share, up from $10.5 million, or 54 cents a share, last year. Revenue rose 16.5% to $99.8 million from $85.6 million. The company forecast first-quarter net earnings of 61 cents to 63 cents a share on revenue of $103 million to $105 million. For 2007, the company now expects earnings per share to grow 17% to 20% and revenue to grow 15% to 17%.

USANA Shake Recipes

Here are some recipes for variety in your daily shakes and smoothies. YUM! Try them and experiment on your own, too. You’ll please your taste buds as you nourish your body.

Tip: Add 1-2 tsp of OptOmega oil because it’s an easy way to ensure that you’re getting the two essential fatty acids that are especially important to cardiovascular health: alpha-linolenic acid (an omega-3 fatty acid) and linoleic acid (an omega-6 fatty acid). See below.

Chocolate Banana Blast
3 scoops (or one packet) Dutch Chocolate Nutrimeal™
½ banana
½ C water or soy milk
1 C ice
Place all ingredients in a blender and mix until the mixture is smooth. Pour the smoothie into a glass and enjoy!

Vanilla Berry-licious
3 scoops (or one packet) French Vanilla Nutrimeal
½ C frozen mixed berries
½ C water or soy milk
1 C ice
(ditto on the blending)

Razzamatazz
3 scoops (or one packet) Wild Strawberry Nutrimeal
½ C frozen raspberries
½ C water or soy milk
1 C ice
(blend as above)

Orange Chocolate Shake
3 scoops (or one packet) Dutch Chocolate Nutrimeal
1 scoop of Soyamax™
12 oz orange juice
1 med banana (optional, if you like a thick shake)
(Add a little grated orange peel, if you like)
Ice

Peach Vanilla Shake
3 scoops (or one packet) French Vanilla Nutrimeal
1 scoop Peach Mango Fibergy™
1 peach (skin included)
1 c. pineapple juice (add more juice or water to make 12 oz.)
Ice

Banana Smoothie
3 scoops (or one packet) French Vanilla Nutrimeal
1-2 scoops Almond Fibergy
8 oz orange juice
4 oz water
1 med banana

Strawberry Shake
3 scoops (or one packet) Wild Strawberry Nutrimeal
8 oz. milk/water/soy milk
1/2 c. frozen strawberries
1 tsp. vanilla extract (optional)

Mixed Berry Shake
Substitute frozen mixed berries for the strawberries in the recipe above

Cranberry or Pomegranate Shake
3 scoops (or one packet) Wild Strawberry Nutrimeal
1 scoop Peach Mango or Almond Fibergy
1 scoop Soyamax
1 C unsweetened cranberry juice (Trader Joe’s has it) or pomegranate juice
½ banana
1 tsp cinnamon
Fresh berries if you like
Ice


If you’d like to add more protein to your shake/smoothie, and soy agrees with you, try adding a scoop of USANA SoyaMax.

If you’d like to add more fiber, add a scoop or two of USANA’s Peach Mango Fibergy or Almond Fibergy. The current recommendation for good health is to eat a minimum of 25 grams of fiber/day. I like to up it to 40-50 grams/day.

Note about OptOmega: USANA’s OptOmega is a certified organic oil blend of flax seed, sunflower seed, pumpkin seed, and extra-virgin olive oils, mixed tocopherols, tocotrienols, rosemary extract, and turmeric extract.