Usana's New Product Advisor Guide

Let the Product Advisor be your Guide!
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Ever wonder which of the many USANA® products are best for you and your body? Do you flip through the product catalog knowing there’s probably something you’re missing? Look no further than the new Product Advisor!

USANA’s Product Advisor is the greatest new tool for you and your prospects to determine which Essentials, Optimizers, and other USANA products your body could most benefit from. Previously known as the Health Assessment, the Product Advisor is cleaner, fresher, and more user-friendly. It’s easy to understand and answers many of your basic health questions, such as “How many servings of fish should I be eating each week?”

Build your own basic profile by entering your age, diet, and other lifestyle information. Then select which health functions you are most interested in. It’s quick and it’s simple, and in a matter of seconds the Product Advisor will provide you with a personalized list of diet suggestions and recommended supplements that may be best for you. It explains each product in a simple way, and even links directly to the shopping cart for all your purchasing needs!

Try it for yourself by clicking in the image below. Also, encourage your friends and prospects to work through the guide and get them started on the path to true health today!

Low glycemic meals produce favorable leptin and insulin responses, resulting in lower food consumption

THIS INFORMATION SHOULD BE OF INTEREST TO ANYONE WHO IS DOING THE RESET PROGRAMME THIS NEW YEAR! KEEP IT LOW GI!

Low glycemic meals promote a post-meal environment that is favorable for reduced food consumption. This may be an advantage in the control of obesity and related disorders, including insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

In a recent study, metabolic effects of meals with varying glycemic index (GI) were evaluated. In a group of healthy volunteers, glucose, insulin and leptin responses to two contrasting breakfast cereals were measured. Leptin is a hormone produced by fat cells that indicates the degree of hunger to the hypothalamus of the brain. Lower leptin levels trigger a sense of satiety and decreased hunger.

Meals were provided on two separate occasions in random order after a 12-hour overnight fast, and consisted of 50 g of available carbohydrate from either Corn Flakes (Kellogg's), or Fiber One (General Mills). Blood samples were obtained at rest, and 30, 60, 90 and 120 min after eating. The GI was calculated from the glucose response to the test meal normalized against a 50 g oral glucose load.

The average GI for Corn Flakes was 125 and 49 for Fiber One. These meals were classified as high GI and low GI, respectively, and were significantly different from each other. The insulin response following the low glycemic meal was significantly reduced compared to the high glycemic meal. The high glycemic meal significantly suppressed circulating leptin levels compared to the low glycemic meal.

Lower insulin response and higher circulating leptin levels suggest that low glycemic meals promote a post-meal environment that is favorable for reduced food consumption; this may be advantageous in the control of obesity and related disorders, including insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.

Ann Nutr Metab 2007 Dec 10;51(6):512-518

Dietary fiber from whole grains protects against cancer of the small intestine

Many large studies have found that people with higher intakes of dietary fiber and whole grains have a lower risk of colorectal cancer. However, until now there has been very little information on dietary and other risk factors for cancer of the small intestine. New research shows that people with the highest intakes of dietary fiber have a lower risk for cancer of the small intestine.

In a new study published in the journal Gastroenterology, researchers conducted a large population study to determine the relationship between intake of dietary fiber and the incidence of small intestinal cancer. Dietary information was gathered from 293,703 men and 198,618 women who participated in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study.

After eight years of follow-up it was determined that dietary fiber intake was associated with a lower risk of small intestinal cancer. The group with the highest intake of fiber from grains had a 49% lower risk of small intestine cancer compared to the group with the lowest intake. Likewise, the group that consumed the most whole-grain foods had a 41% lower incidence of the disease compared to the group eating the least whole-grain foods.

Since similar dietary factors and results have been seen in studies involving cancer of the large intestine, it is likely that grain fiber and whole grain foods may protect against lower gastrointestinal cancers.

Gastroenterology. 2008 Oct;135(4):1163-7.

Vitamin E and Respiratory Tract Infections

With cold and flu season approaching, nutrition plays an important role in helping prevent or reduce the incidence and severity of seasonal illness. Research shows that a good multivitamin and extra vitamin E can reduce the incidence of upper respiratory tract infections, especially in the elderly.

Respiratory illnesses, including the common cold, can be debilitating and lead to complications and death in the elderly. A study published in the August 18, 2004, issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association found vitamin E to be protective against upper respiratory infections.

Four hundred fifty-one individuals aged 65 and older at 33 long-term care facilities completed a course of 200 IU of vitamin E per day or a placebo from April 1998 to August 2001. In addition, all of the subjects received a multivitamin that provided 50 percent of the recommended daily allowance for essential vitamins and minerals. The incidence of lower respiratory infections, such as acute bronchitis and pneumonia, and upper respiratory tract infections, including cold, influenza, sore throat, middle ear infection and sinusitis, was documented over the course of the trial.

The subjects who received vitamin E acquired fewer respiratory tract infections than those who did not receive the vitamin. Participants who received the vitamin experienced a 20 percent decreased risk of acquiring the common cold, which accounted for 84 percent of the upper respiratory infections reported. In addition, participants taking vitamin E had fewer colds per person. Although vitamin E showed no significant effect on lower respiratory tract infections, the protective effect of vitamin E supplementation on upper respiratory tract infections observed in this group merits further investigation and suggests important implications for the well-being of the elderly.

JAMA. 2004;292:828-836

USANA UK Leaders and Associates Stories

Associates all over the world are having success with Usana. Listen to the stories from dynamic United Kingdom Associates and learn how they persevered to create a successful Usana business.

Cells in lung tissue activate vitamin D and increase immune function

New research shows that vitamin D present in the lungs stimulates the killing of bacteria and improves the body's ability to reduce inflammation.

A recent issue of the Journal of Immunology reports that vitamin D, which is primarily activated by the kidneys, is also converted to its active form in lung tissue. This conversion is essential for the beneficial activity of the vitamin in the body.

Researchers studying human lung tissue samples found that an enzyme called 1 alpha-hydroxylase helps convert vitamin D stored in the cells of the lungs into the active form of the vitamin.

The team also found that activated vitamin D increased the activity of a compound that destroys bacteria, as well as producing a protein that assists cells in their ability to fight infections.

The researchers noted that controlling inflammation through vitamin D is important because too much inflammation can cause problems related to sepsis (blood poisoning) and contribute to certain autoimmune diseases.

The Journal of Immunology, 2008, 181: 7090-7099.

Multivitamins and Healthy Immune Function

Adequate nutrient intakes are required for the immune system to function efficiently. A good multivitamin can enhance the immune system by supporting the body's natural defenses on both a structural and cellular level.

A recent article published in the British Journal of Nutrition summarizes the roles of select vitamins and trace elements in immune function.

Adequate intakes of micronutrients are required for the immune system to function efficiently. Micronutrient deficiency suppresses immunity by affecting antibody responses, leading to imbalances in the immune system. This situation increases susceptibility to infections, which increases disease and death risk. In addition, infections aggravate micronutrient deficiencies by reducing nutrient intake, increasing losses, and interfering with utilization by altering metabolic pathways. Inadequate intakes of micronutrients are common in people with eating disorders, smokers (active and passive), individuals with chronic alcohol abuse, certain diseases, during pregnancy and lactation, and in the elderly.

Micronutrients contribute to the body's natural defenses on three levels by supporting physical barriers (skin/mucosa), cellular immunity, and antibody production. Vitamins A, C, E, and the mineral zinc assist in enhancing the skin barrier function. Vitamins A, B6, B12, C, D, E, and folic acid, and the minerals iron, zinc, copper and selenium work synergistically to support the protective activities of the immune cells. Finally, all these micronutrients, with the exception of vitamin C and iron, are essential for the production of antibodies.

Overall, inadequate intake and status of these vitamins and minerals may lead to a suppressed immune system, which increases the risk of infections and aggravates malnutrition. Therefore, supplementation with a multivitamin that includes these micronutrients can support the body's natural defense system by enhancing all three levels of immunity.

Br J Nutr. 2007 Oct;98 Suppl 1:S29-35.