Rev3 Seen at The Sugar Shack

Looking good and tasting even better Rev3 adds a real kick of sustained energy with a pomegranite taste!

Ekayani serving out Rev3 Fruity Punch samples to the passersby on the boardwalk

Memorable Memorial Day with Rev3

The weather was perfect for distributing samples of Rev3 Monday, May 28th on Fire Island. Feeling like a tropical maiden, I was shielded from the sun by the large umbrella set up for us harbor side by  The Sugar Shack Salon and Spa. Making up the Rev3 fruity punch from Usana's Test Kitchen was a breeze! Rave reviews all around that made me seem like a culinary genius as guests were pleased that it was so good and good for you! 

How I Did it

 I used frozen organic apple juice and frozen organic orange juice to make sure the drink was nice and cold.  As we were traveling by car and ferry this was a convenient way bring in  the juices ice cold in a small cooler without the burden of the extra weight from large juice containers. (The only thing I didn't find canned was the pineapple juice).  In a large pitcher I added all the ingredients, the appropriate amount of water and finished off with 2 cans of Rev3. It truly looked gorgeous as the juices made different colorful layers just like a sunrise!  I was happy to be able to rattle of all the benefits of the drink that was great tasting while remaining low glycemic and high on nutrition. 

 I used 3.5 oz. paper cups to distribute. Since I had pineapple juice to spare, I made a variation of the Aloha Pineapple Nutrimeal Shake by Usana. Since crushed pineapple wasn't available, I simply  cut the amount of water used in the original recipe by half from 10 oz. to 5 oz.  I added 5 oz. of pineapple juice and 1 tb. of coconut extract. Shaken for 60 seconds in our non BPA blender bottle and voila! A wonderful new take on the "virgin colada's" with taste and nutrients to boot! 

In the upcoming weeks we will be serving up samples of more scrumptious and healthy Usana foods so you can keep your energy up and body trim enjoying all that summer has to offer!

These products are available exclusively at The Sugar Shack in Fire Island, Pines.

How's that for culinary genius? Just add water, shake and your done!

Special thanks to Raymond, Pete, Chris and everyone who stopped by to taste!

Memorial Day Recipes @ the Sugar Shack! Rev3 Fruity Punch

Rev3 Fruity Punch Drinks at the Sugar Shack!

The official unofficial kick off to summer is only two days away and we are kicking it off with high energy! Be sure to stop by the Sugar Shack Day Spa & Salon , main harbor in The Pines, Fire Island, New York on Monday, May 29 to sample USANA's delicious Rev3 Fruity punch! Keep your energy up for hours with our cleaner, smarter and stronger energy drink whose unique components contain green tea, black tea, and  korean ginseng as the source of caffeine. Rev3 is notable for what it does not contain that being taurine a common ingredient in crash and burn energy drinks. The refreshing pomegranate taste adds a delicious dimension to what we will be serving up. L- Carnitine an important ingredient in energy production helps shuttle fatty acids into the mitochondria or energy centers of the cell into energy is another featured  along with  CoQ10, cacao, B1,  B2, magnesium, calcium with only 17 grams of sugar from naturally derived sources as compared to 28 to 31 grams found in comparative drinks.
We think you'll like it!
Stop in while supplies last and feel the Rev3 difference. (Supplies are limited.)

FRUITY REV PUNCH
2 cups orange juice
2 cups apple juice
2 cups pineapple juice
2-3 cans Rev3, depending on taste

Mix juices and Rev3 together and you’re done!  Serve it up icy cold. Thanks to Diana Yin of What's Up Usana?  and Usana's Test Kitchen  for supplying this recipe.

**TIP: Keep your beverages nice and cold by freezing Rev3 in ice cube trays to add to your drinks. Watered down beverages = bad. Revtastic flavor and energy = good. Learn more about Rev3 here!

See you at the Sugar Shack!

Let's Talk About Natural Moisturizing Factors guest post by Bea Kinnear

A Note from Ekayani;  I recently used the information here for a presentation I did for a professional business group. The information here is so thorough and explained so well it makes a strong case on the importance of taking care of the skin the largest organ in the human body. I found it particularly effective with the gentlemen present as it made the argument from a science based perspective. Beauty really is more than just skin deep.It was so good I just had to share!
"The following is a guest post written by Bea Kinnear, a USANA Associate and author of Your Skin & You. She is owner and moderator of the Yahoo! Sensé Help Site, where she works with Kathleen Rockney, Jacquie Malinowski, and Janet Bernstein to educate members about skin care.
The site is where a version of this and other articles in the “Let’s Talk” series originally appeared. Bea has agreed to share select articles with What’s Up, USANA? as a resource for readers to learn more about Sensé products. Read previous posts here. "
While we all experience the aging process, we may not fully see it as it’s happening. The rate at which we age is determined by many factors, some of which we may have an effect on, others are beyond our control.
Damaged protein has already accumulated in the skin. Surface roughness, flaking, fine lines, and a tight uncomfortable feeling start occurring as we age. This indicates that both the skin’s surface and healing process are impaired because the skin’s intercellular matrix is now less effective.¹
One of the primary elements in keeping your skin healthy is making sure the outer layer of skin is intact. The components that do this are usually called Natural Moisturizing Factors (NMFs), ingredients that mimic the structure and function of healthy skin.

The Importance of Water

The most important substance for the suppleness of the skin is water. When we were young our skin was smooth and soft to the touch. That changes when we get older. We will start to see visible changes like smile lines between the age of 25 and 30.
Aging enzymes affect our skin, as does the loss of compounds that help maintain skin firmness. While oil and fat components of skin prevent evaporation and provide lubrication to the surface of skin, Natural Moisturizing Factors are between skin cells and in the lipid content on the surface of skin.
Should water content be lost, the skin will lose its tone, become less elastic and flexible. Less volume will also make the skin dry, rough, and not able to function properly.
Water is the carrier medium for nutrition as well as for detoxing. Your skin cells need proper moisture and hydration; without this, nutrients cannot be delivered to the living cells. A cosmetic formulation can directly moisturize the skin by feeding it with NMF ingredients.
Lack of moisture in your skin contributes more to aging than the following:

• Sun exposure (promotes wrinkles and skin cancer)
• Smoking (suffocates skin and destroys collagen, skin tissue that cannot be replaced)
• Caffeine (dehydrates the skin)
• Polluted air (DNA damage)
• Weight variation (weakens the muscle tone)
• Estrogen changes
• Alcohol
• Fragrant volatile essential oils (found in some skin care products)

NMFs and Sensé

Just as you would expect in any state-of-the-art skin care line, Sensé offers NMFs throughout the product line.
NMFs make up an expansive group of ingredients. Listed below are the NMFs found in Sensé products:

• Amino acids
• Olive oil
• Glycerin
• Sodium PCA
• Lactic acid
• Urea
• Jojoba oil
• Shea butter
• Squaline (from olives)

When any of these ingredients are included in skin-care products, they help stabilize and maintain the complex intercellular-skin matrix. This support helps prevent surface irritation from penetrating into the skin, which helps keep bacteria out and aids the skin’s immune/healing system.
Moisturizers should not be just about moisturizing your skin; they should also prevent moisture loss through ingredients like NMFs. Using moisturizers of any kind that contain NMFs (whether the products are labeled as anti-aging, antiwrinkle, serums, lotions, or sunscreens) will allow your skin to do its job of repairing and regenerating itself.
Keep in mind that moisturizers should not be applied to dry skin because it can seal germs into the pores. The correct way to apply a moisturizer is to dampen your face first. When you do this you minimize the chance of sealing germs in the pores.
When you start your Sensé routine with the Gentle Daily Cleanser on pre-dampened skin you are also on track for your moisturizer application.

Hydrated, Healthy Skin

While a person cannot alter the genetic component of skin aging, an individual can certainly change one’s behavior to reduce the risk of incurring the signs of extrinsic aging.
Maintain your skin’s hydration and tone by using Sensé’s anti-aging products. This allows your skin to do its job of regenerating itself without the impediments brought on when skin is suffering from dryness and irritation.
NMFs are the skin’s own self-moisturizing tool. The NMF ingredients found in Sensé mimics the structure and function of healthy skin and is one of the most important things you can do for your face.
Learn more about Sensé. For an application to join the Sensé Help Site, please contact Bea.
¹ Sources: Skin Research and Technology, August 2000, pages 128-134; and Dermatologic Therapy, 2004, volume 17, Supplement 1, pages 43-48

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Celiac Safe Gluten Free Recipes from Usana Test Kitchen

Celiac-Safe, Gluten-Free Recipes from the Usana Test Kitchen

Diana Yin May 11, 2012 at 7:42 AM Celiac Disease, gluten, gluten-free, recipes

USANA Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake made with pureed garbanzo beans

If there’s one confession I can make during National Celiac Awareness Month, it’s that I honestly haven’t taken other people’s gluten sensitivities very seriously.
In fact, I’ve sometimes regarded it as an inconvenience, having once gone to three different grocery stores to hunt for gluten-free hamburger buns for what I originally thought would be a simple cook-out. Gluten intolerance sounds kinda made up, I remember thinking to myself.
After speaking with Dr. Nancy Steely, USANA’s in-house naturopathic physician, I felt a little tinge of shame. I realized that my dismissive attitude about Celiac Disease and gluten intolerances was largely the result of being poorly informed.
According to the doctor, those with Celiac Disease experience an immune reaction to gluten (a protein found in wheat, rye, and barley) that causes damage to their small intestine and poor absorption of nutrients. This is in addition to a wide range of seemingly random symptoms, such as muscle cramping, diarrhea or constipation, fatigue, skin rashes, joint pain and so on that can also occur.
Some research has even shown connections between Celiac Disease and autism, depression, ADHD and other concerns. In Dr. Steely’s case, she suffered neurological symptoms associated with CD that went away a month after she was diagnosed and stopped eating gluten.

A Complex Condition

But why are the symptoms so varied? Dr. Steely explained it’s because Celiac Disease is an auto-immune condition in which your body attacks your own cells, so how it manifests in each person is different. That’s also why it’s often misdiagnosed.
In fact, according to the National Foundation for Celiac Awareness, people usually go 6-10 years before they’re correctly diagnosed and about 95% of celiacs today are undiagnosed or misdiagnosed with other conditions.
It also explains why it seems like suddenly everyone is gluten intolerant — because in the past, doctors didn’t know to test for Celiac Disease and the technology for testing wasn’t as advanced.
While it may seem like gluten-free lifestyles are an American fad, you might be surprised to hear that European countries have been addressing gluten intolerance for decades.
For example, in Italy, a country famous for its gluten-laden pastas, children are screened for Celiac Disease by age 6 and Italians of any age are tested for the disease as soon as they show symptoms. WebMD quotes a CD sufferer as saying: “It may be a fad diet, but it’s not a fad disease.”
That said, a patient diagnosed with Celiac Disease is different from someone who simply has gluten sensitivities, where negative reactions to gluten exist without visible damage to the small intestines. The numbers suggest that about 3 million Americans have CD while another 40 million Americans have gluten sensitivities.
“Many people find it difficult to digest gluten, and they simply feel better by eating a gluten-free diet,” explains Dr. Steely.
However, because of the lack of understanding about gluten intolerance, celiacs and people with gluten sensitivities will simply tell people they are allergic to gluten, since allergies are an easier concept to understand. But Celiac Disease isn’t by definition an allergy. It’s a chronic illness.
When asked if there was one thing she wanted readers to take away from this blog post, Dr. Steely said: “If you have a chronic health condition that doctors cannot seem to diagnose, get tested for Celiac Disease. It’s better to rule it out than suffer longer than you need to.”

Gluten-Free Recipes

Below the doctor shares her favorite Frozen Tropical Chocolate Smoothie, while I’ve prepared a USANA Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake made with pureed garbanzo beans (everyone here loved it!). It was inspired by USANA’s in-house nutritionist and senior scientist, John Bosse, who is a big fan of bean cakes and brownies because of the extra protein they provide.
Taste these dishes and let us know what you think!

Frozen Tropical Chocolate Smoothie

Courtesy Dr. Nancy Steely
Ingredients

• 2 scoops Chocolate Whey Nutrimeal
• 1 banana
• 1 cup coconut milk
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 cup ice

Preparation
Blend all ingredients at high speed until creamy.

USANA Gluten-Free Chocolate Cake

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups semisweet chocolate or carob chips
• 2 cups cooked garbanzo beans (rinse and drain, if using canned)
• 4 eggs or equivalent egg white substitute
• 2/3 cup ultra-fine cane sugar or low-glycemic equivalent, such as Stevia for Baking
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 2 Tbs Chocolate Whey Nutrimeal
• 1/2 Tbs Fibergy Plus
• 1 cup sliced fresh strawberries or preferred fruit
• (optional) 1 Tbs confectioners’ sugar for dusting

Preparation

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9-inch cake pan.
2. Melt the chocolate chips in a double boiler or in the microwave on medium, stirring frequently.
3. Combine the beans and eggs in a blender or food processor; process until smooth.
4. In a large bowl, combine bean mash, sugar, baking powder, Nutrimeal and Fibergy Plus; whisk until thoroughly combined.
5. Stir in the melted chocolate and blend until smooth, scraping down the corners to make sure chocolate is completely mixed. Transfer the batter to the prepared cake pan.
6. Bake for 35 minutes in the preheated oven or until toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean.
7. Cool for 10 minutes before inverting onto a serving plate; cover with desired fruit and dust with confectioners’ sugar, if desired, just before serving.

Your Turn

Are you living with gluten intolerance or have a loved one who eats gluten-free? What are some recipes that you love to prepare?
Eating well is an important part of being healthy. From the USANA Test Kitchen is a monthly column offering useful nutrition tips, as well as delicious, healthy recipes that use USANA products in creative ways.

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Women Formulating True Health at Usana Health Sciences

 

As Womens Health Week has came to a close I thought you all would enjoy this behind the scenes blog post from What's Up Usana?  about the women scientists that work in our labs at Usana Health Sciences and the wonderful contributions they make to product development. - Ekayani Chamberlin

Women Formulating True Health

 Women are key contributors to developing true health and true wealth in all aspects of USANA Health Sciences. In fact, some of the greatest contributors to fulfilling the dream of a world free of disease at USANA are the female scientists and professionals in the research and development department.

Toni McKinnon wears many hats at USANA. She is the senior manager of science information and clinical research nurse coordinator. She is involved with advancing USANA inside the lab and on the web. Some of Toni’s handiwork includes the weekly Essentials of Health e-mail message, the Health Assessment and Advisor on USANA.com, and the “Ask the Scientists” database. “The ‘Ask the Scientists’ database is a very useful tool for our Associates,” said Toni. “The database is regularly maintained and averages more than 1,000 users a day.” 

In addition to her work on the web, she manages a small team of scientists that research and support product development, quality control, and regulatory compliance. She also manages all aspects of USANA’s human clinical research studies (both in-house and contract research studies).

One of the women that works with Toni and is involved with the inception of new products is Jenna Templeton. Prior to joining USANA, Jenna earned her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Virginia Tech. As a lab associate, she is intricately involved with the various phases of the studies conducted at USANA. “It’s rewarding to be a part of a big, concerted effort to make these study days, and ultimately the study, go smoothly,” said Jenna.

At the onset of a study, Jenna is a large contributor in writing a document, called a protocol, which outlines the background and the specific procedures to be taken. After months of preparation, the protocol she wrote for a study is now in the testing phase. Currently, she helps put the procedures she wrote into practice by assisting the scientists to acquire, store, and analyze the blood samples of study participants.

Nancy Steely is a recent addition to the research and development team as a senior scientist. She joins USANA with a naturopathic degree from Bastyr University, in Seattle, Washington, in addition to her undergraduate degrees in anthropology and psychology from the University of British Columbia. Nancy said she is pleased to join USANA because of their high standards of excellence. “USANA doesn’t just put anything out there,” she said. “We won’t put out a ‘me too’ product. We wait until the research is there to support the use of an ingredient. This ensures that our formulas will be reliable and effective—not gimmicks.” 

Nancy is settling into USANA with an appreciation for the balance of males and females in the department. According to Nancy, “This balance allows for a broader range of insights into product development, the industry in general, and potential customer needs.”

Learn more about the research that Toni, Jenna, Nancy, and others do to create USANA products during the 2012 International Convention. Register before June 1 to save big.

Keijun Koh	Nancy Steely	Toni McKinnon	Jenna Templeton

Delicious Summer Recipes with Nutrimeal at Sugar Shack Day Spa Fire Island

REV3 was spotted on the boardwalk at the Sugar Shack Day Spa

Yours Truly harbor side with the tools of the trade at the Sugar Shack Day Spa in Fire Island

 Summer Recipes at The Sugar Shack Spa!

Who says staying fit and losing weight has to be dull? Yesterday with borrowed recipes from Usana Health Sciences Test Kitchen I wowed the crowd at The Sugar Shack Day Spa & Salon  on Fire Island with three easy breezy recipes using no more than a blender bottle, a blender, water and ice. These recipes are low in calories, low glycemic and best of all delicious.  Nutrimeal is a complete meal replacement that supplies all the necessary nutrients, 15 grams of protein,16 grams of fiber and only 240 calories. Stay fit and lean this summer while indulging in great tasting treats that are good for you. Gluten free you can choose from our soy based non - gmo's made  or chocolate whey nutrimeal.

Mound of Joy with Dutch Chocolate Nutrimeal

BPA free Usana Blender Bottle a convenient way to get your shakes on the go!

A spin off of the popular candy bar get all the deliciousness and the valuable nutrients you need in this easy to make shake. In a blender bottle add 10 oz. of cold water, 3 scoops of Dutch or Whey Chocolate Nutrimeal, 1/4 tsp of almond extract, 1/2 tsp of coconut extract and a little ice. Shake well for 60 seconds and serve. Delicious!!!

Banana Chai Cooler

As we were situated right on the harbor I decided to add an exotic twist to French Vanilla Nutrimeal. In a blender I put in 12 oz. of cold water, 3 scoops of French Vanilla Nutrimeal, t tsp. of cinnamon, 1 banana, and 1 Rev3 Surge Pack Stick. This particular shake is meant for those looking to give their early morning day or dragging afternoon the energy boost it needs without the calories or the jitters. Ditch that cup of coffee and have something that delivers all the nutrients of a meal with a delicious taste! This was a HUGE hit!

Berry Banana Licious

3 scoops Strawberry Nutrimeal, 10 oz. of water, four handfuls of blueberries, 1/2 a banana and 1/2 cup of ice added to a blender makes a delicious smoothie with the extra kick of anti oxidant deliciousness. This one got repeated requests for encores. Be sure to stop by the Sugar Shack Spa next weekend of May 26 to 27 when I'll be serving up Fruity Rev3 Punch. Many thanks to Diana Yin of Usana's Test Kitchen for supplying these fantastic recipes!

The Sugar Shack Day Spa is located right on the main boardwalk in the harbor in The Pines, Fire Island, New York. Like them on facebook here

Summer Fun at the Sugar Shack Spa with Nutrimeal Shakes

It's going to be a great summer!! I am excited about working with the Sugar Shack Day Spa in Fire Island presenting delicious way to keep off the pounds and staying fit! Usana's Nutrimeal protein shakes are a delicious way to keep off the pounds while getting everything you need to stay on your feet!  Summer is a time of celebration and trying new tasty treats. I have got some delicious low glycemic recipes for you to try at an  exclusive tasting event this Saturday May 19 from 1:30 to 2:30 with Q & A from 2:30 to 3:30 at the Sugar Shack Day Spa on Fire Island in the Pines!

I will be serving up delicious twists on Strawberry, French Vanilla and Dutch Chocolate Nutrimeal protein shakes. Quantities are limited so please get there early!  The Sugar Shack is situated right next to CANTEEN the sandwich and salad shop on the main boardwalk off the Harbor.

 

The Usana Difference

What sets Usana Health Sciences shakes apart is that they have been formulated with the right amount of sodium and healthy sugars with plenty of vitamins to boot such as A, C, D,  B6, B12 and required trace minerals such as calcium, magnesium, copper,zinc, manganese,iodine,iron, and more. (For a complete list of ingredients and the nutritional value look here under Diet and Energy) . A certain amount of sodium is necessary in the body to function properly otherwise you rub the risk  passing out.  However, be careful to avoid eating canned foods as they are laced with sodium and can lead to hyper tension. Eating fresh foods with the minimal amount of processing is always best.

 Consider this;  

"Although too much sodium can be of concern, please note that sodium is an essential mineral and electrolyte. The recommended sodium intake for healthy adults sits near 2,400 mg per day, and even doctor-prescribed low sodium diets rarely drop below 1,000 mg per day. Intakes below 500 mg per day can result in serious health conditions, including death. Because the Nutrimeals are classified as meal replacements, adequate sodium is absolutely necessary to prevent serious health consequences. This is especially true during hot summer months, during times of exercise, or in circumstances where individuals choose to use the products as a primary source of nutrition.
In modern times, many individuals have begun to take sodium for granted since it can be easily consumed in excessive amounts. However, this does not mean that sodium is inherently "bad." We have included a level in the Nutrimeals that is the lowest we would consider safe for adults subsisting entirely on our products for any period of time.
Many products claiming to be "meal replacements" run the risk of being much too low in sodium. In our opinion, the unscrupulous manufacturers of such products risk the health of their customers in an attempt to "look good" on a label.
If someone has additional concerns about the sodium content of a USANA Foods product, we recommending consulting a physician. He/she will be best able to know whether or not the amount of sodium in a given product is above an individual's current requirements." - from Ask The Scientist


See you at the Sugar Shack! 
Phone: (631) 766 - 1359
Visit the Sugar Shack online

Saving Water Never Looked So Beautiful - USANA Green

Anyone who knows me is aware that water is very dear to my heart. I would do anything I can to protect her as she is the very source and sustainer of life. Even those who are interested in going to other planets the discussion soon turns to the need for water. We cannot live without it and this precious resource needs to be conserved, cherished and skillfully used even more  now and forever. Usana Health Sciences has done much to conserve and preserve water in the state of Utah, one of the driest states in the nation. In this article that serves as a guest post, Usana goes into detail as to why and how they are doing this. This responsible approach towards resources used is just one of the many reasons I am so very proud to be a part of this company sharing Dr. Wentz and his son Dave Wentz's vision for True Health for all mankind and our dear Mother Earth. Let us take nothing for granted and be blessed.  - Ekayani

USANA Green: Saving Water Never Looked so Beautiful

---

Spring comes in stages, replacing the yellow of winter with an optimistic new green one piece at a time. It starts with the grass, blade by blade accepting the new season. Then there’s the trumpet of leaves budding on trees, which, in their fullness, sound the coming arrival of flowers.

Such is springtime outside USANA’s Home Office. The award-winning landscape that surrounds the building comes to life with the longer days and occasional spring showers.

But spring also signals the approaching end of the wet season. Utah is the second driest state in the United States, and in a few months the green promise of spring will be washed away by the waves of the unrelenting summer sun. To preserve the bloom of April and May, many turn the sprinklers on, opening the floodgates to a season of high water usage.

At USANA, there’s no need to choose between beauty and water conservation.

“If you want to save water, there’s a lot of different options,” said USANA Green Coordinator Jeff Robertson. “We went with xeriscaping because we wanted to provide a space that was not only water-efficient, but was beautiful and functional as well.”

Xeriscaping is a technique designed to maximize water savings by using native plants that thrive in dry climates. USANA’s xeriscaping—done by the facilities team—uses Utah’s indigenous wildflowers, native grasses, shrubs, and swaths of rock to save a million gallons of water a year and provide added aesthetic benefits. The one million gallons saved accounts for about 10 percent of USANA’s total usage.

Even with the growth the company has experienced, the xeriscaping—one of the first projects to come to life through the green efforts—is still allowing USANA to stay water-wise. More employees mean more toilets flushing, more hands being washed, and more water bottles being filled up. The addition of a new manufacturing line has also added demand for water. But USANA has been able to keep usage to 800,000 gallons a year—still under the baseline level established in 2007.

  Water-saving improvements inside the building haven’t made the same visual splash as the xeriscaping, but USANA has rolled out various projects to keep interior usage down. Sinks operated by motion sensors have been installed in the restrooms. And a small, but impactful, step was taken when USANA changed out old 2.2-gallon-per-minute aerators in favor of more efficient 1.6-gallon-per-minute versions. Aerators attach to the bottom of a faucet and add air so there isn’t a steady stream of water, which saves in the long run. Robertson said USANA has also looked at other measures, including water-free urinals, but hasn’t pulled the trigger yet.

Not only is USANA saving water, it’s minimizing the impact its manufacturing has on ground water. The wastewater created by the production of USANA’s products has no significant contamination in it. Robertson said the local organization that tests wastewater had to come back and test again because they couldn’t believe USANA didn’t have anything significant going into wastewater.

In the arid Western U.S., water is a precious commodity—one to be cherished, not wasted. That’s why USANA is making the most of its water usage, and, in the process, showing that conservation and beauty aren’t mutually exclusive.

Dr. Oz Health Corps Teens Spotted at Brooklyn Food Conference

In the middle of two Health Corps Teen Battle Chefs at the Brooklyn Food Conference Saturday May 12 in Ft. Greene Brooklyn

It was with great delight that I attended the Brooklyn Food Conference this past Saturday. There were  eight floors of activities, talks, demonstrations, education, vendors on all food related topics. In fact it was so large that  I was only able to attend just a couple of talks as I wanted to be sure to stop by as many booths as possible including the Kid's Corner downstairs where a "food fight" was being held that encouraged kids to play with food as a teaching tool! (Check out PlayHarvest.org).
The Future of New York City Food Policy was a panel discussion and with solid suggestions from Ana Garcia, MPA and co- director of NY Academy of Medicine, Joel Berg, Executive Director of New York City Coalition Against Hunger, and moderated by Dr. Freudenberg, Distinguished Professor and Director of the Public Health Program at CUNY. There were two other panelists along with Joy T. Wang, producer at WNYC who covers food and culture. A lively and impassioned talk with solid suggestions and revelatory facts on how New York is failing and succeeding at making real food accessible to all. A heartfelt and informative speech from Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer who has been a tireless advocate for local and sustainable followed. To give you just a small  idea of all the talks and demos I didn't make it to see a list of the agendas covered below.

School Food - How to make it delicious and sustainable
Economics & Business Development - How food is an engine for local economic development
Food & Culture - How the multicultural landscape of New York/USA has on our food  through the lens of race, country of origin, gender, region and even sexuality
Food & Policy - Learning the political landscape of food policy; It's positive and negative effects of people and the planet.
Farming & Agriculture- How Brooklyn urban farms and gardens and rural farms can sustain the population.
Faith- Varied roles that faith communities can play in the food movement by addressing hunger, poverty, land, community & policy. One church that is stepping up to the plate is The Congregational Church of South Hempstead.  There is a Conference for 21st Century Pastors and Church Leaders being held Wednesday,  May 23 from 8:30am to 2:30pm on the topics of Jobs and Investments through Church based social enterprise; The Energy Efficient Church- Stewardship to the Max; Sustainable Agriculture- Next Level Food Ministry. The conference is $40 and in, 416 Woodland Dr., 11550. Includes breakfast and lunch. Call (516) 489 - 3610 to register  learn more or visit CCSH.
Environment - Explore how factory farrming,GMO's and extreme energy exploration create toxins in our food supply
Hunger & Emergency Food - Hunger is a persistent problem right here in the USA & New York. I learned that 1.5 million New Yorkers are missing meals daily with half of them children.
Labor & Social Justice - Inadequate wages are paid to over 2 billion food workers today. Ironically much of the fresh fruit and vegetables they grow are out of reach due to low wages with the incidence of diabetes,heart disease,obesity and more affecting these people. How do we support sustainable jobs in this sector?
Health Nutrition &  Education - A new wave of interactive and educational activities are on the rise teaching children, parents, families how to eat better and why it's important.
To Learn More About the Conference & Support Their Work go here!

Teen Battle B Chefs at BFC

HEALTH CORPS  with Dr. Oz and Usana Health Sciences Represent!

Really for me the most exciting moment for me at the conference was finding myself on the elevator with the Teen Battle B Chefs on the way to the Youth Summit area. I got a jumping up and down in approval and big smiles in a way that only teens can do when I told them I was with Usana Health Sciences. Usana has partnered with Dr. Oz to make learning about where food comes from, how to prepare food in a peer to peer relationship with teens inside schools fun and inspiring. Chef battles, fashion shows -   all food related activities -  catch teens at the critical time when they start laying the foundation for the rest of their lives. Teens learn how food,  nutrition and physical activities (or lack thereof) affects everything from their mood, energy level and weight. The idea is to get them on a path to a healthy and happy life instead of taking shelter of drugs,alcohol and cigarettes to feel better. As we know these habits  are ultimately empty as they rob the human organism of life.  Learn more about Health Corps here
Watch a video of the verdicts on a recent Teen Battle with Dr. Oz, Dr. Wentz and Dave Wentz

Mother's Day Celebrations Galore Loving Mother Earth

We are completely dependent on Mother Earth for the air we breathe, the food we eat, the water we bathe, drink, and water our crops with. The assaults on our Mother Earth or Gaia or Bhumi have been ruthless and brutal. Ask the average citizen and they can name several top of mind - The Fukushima Nuclear Power plant meltdown in Japan, the BP Oil disaster and the reckless use of corexit in the Gulf of Mexico or the burning of the Tripa forest in Indonesia one of the last homes of Orangutans on the planet and what little remains of the precious lungs that helps keep us cool and balanced and the weather in check.
8 Ways to Love Mother on Mother's Day
In the face of all this madness, I have compiled a proactive list of the many positive and healing activities you can partake of this Mother's Day whether you want to get your hands in some dirt or donate to those who are! Let's celebrate the Greatest Mother of all who is even Mom to our Mom's. To Life!
1. Make a Solar Charger - Using Solar Energy to charge that cell phone or those batteries @ The Commons located at 388 Atlantic Avenue in the Boerum Hill section of Brooklyn. Near A C @ 3 4 5 trains. Learn how in this  hands on workshop! This half day workshop taught by Traci Fitz. Registration limited to 12.  Call City Solar at (347) 254 - 0019 or register online here

2. Save an Acre of Land on Mother's Day

The facts are simple; No Farms No Food!

Every minute, America has been losing more than an acre of farmland to urban sprawl and development. You can help. Save an acre in your state for $10 and American Farmland Trust will  send you or your gift recipient an ecard and certificate of adoption. Learn more and Donate here so we can keep eating!

Save an Acre

3. Become an Urban Farmer! Join a Farm meetup! Learn how to compost, grow flowers, keep bees and much more! This list is for New York City but don't let that stop you! There are food movements all over the country and MeetUp is a great way to find them! Find a Farm Meetup Group Near You!

4. Save a Honey Bee, Songbird or Polar Bear! 
The NRDC has got some great Mother's Days gifts here! Check em out!

5. Get to the Brooklyn Food Conference in Fort Greene! It's Free! Food Exhibits Family Friendly!

Register here to avoid lines  Saturday, May 12, 2012 from 8:30 AM to 6:00 PM (ET) Food served from 11am to 3pm Brooklyn Technical High School on S. Elliot

6. Help the Mom's of Erie County keep fracking away from their kids school! 
 We Love Water....don't you? SOS

Thanks for taking action with Food and Water watch

In California? 

7. Head to Shakti Fest in Joshua Tree California for a weekend of Ommersion & good food with Sahadeva!

My friend Kristin Olson is leading a 9am Mother's & Daughters/Mother's & Son's yoga class at gorgeous Joshua Tree.

Live Music and Yoga to Celebrate your Grace with Masood Ali Khan, Prajna Viera and Daniel Paul. Come with your Mother, Partner or your Self Honor the magnificence. All Levels!  Beginners~Intermediate~Young~Old

No experience necessary.

Bring your Mother...Bring your Self!

$25 off Tickets use Code: 2012olson

8.  Attend Wildflower Week in the 5 Boros! 
Meet Native New Yorkers of the plant variety and learn what you can do to preserve them! Check http://nycwildflowerweek.org/index.html

Love Your Mother!  Happy Mother's Day!

Miss Bike's A Lot - My Encounter With Red Bull Cyclist

Yesterday I was biking up Sixth Avenue on Manhattan's West Side. I was doing a fairly good job navigating the rush hour traffic when I came to a stop light. Ahead of me at a jaunty angle was a fellow biker sporting a protective helmet with a Red Bull insignia on it. He nodded at me approvingly as only people sharing similar interests do - in this case biking. I found myself ogling at his flashy looking Red Bull helmet and wondered if he drank the stuff. I also noticed he had a can of Coca Cola dangling in his left hand. Being a health nut and perhaps a tad too maternal, my heart sank. This is where he was getting his energy from? While he was certainly lean and on the surface appeared healthy I was trying to find a smooth way to tell him that the taurine in Red Bull - originally taken from the bile of bulls (!),  was a  now a synthetic product whose long term effects on the cardiovascular system and the brain were dangerous. I tried shouting this to him from behind. He couldn't hear me so I peddled faster and shouted it again. Then he asked me what medical study I was referring to. I was taken aback as I thought this fact was common knowledge. I said I was sorry I didn't have a study to refer to off the top of my head but asked him to please look into it. And with that, the approving look turned into disapproval and off he peddled with an eat - my-  dust acceleration. I had clearly failed in the smooth department offending someone I wanted to help. Lesson learned: Have your scientific references in place when going at high speeds. Try complimenting the persons awesomeness first before offering information. Don't be shocked when you encounter sponsored athletes who may not be making the best choices for their long term health.
Dear  Cool Biker Dude on Sixth Avenue Here are some facts and a link to said research.
 Dangers-of-taurine

Rev3 The Clean Energy Drink Alternative by from Ask The Scientist by  Usana Health Sciences
Why doesn't Rev3 contain taurine?
Answer:
"Taurine has traditionally been classified as a non-essential amino acid, but by strict chemical definition it is actually an amino sulfonic acid. As a derivative of another amino acid (cysteine), taurine is synthesized by humans in both the brain and the liver. However, its most important role in humans is its role in digestion, since taurine is a major component of bile acid.
In recent years taurine has become a common ingredient in energy drinks, partly due to findings in mice that it alleviates muscle fatigue during strenuous workouts. However, these findings have not been duplicated conclusively in humans. Taurine levels in the body also remain relatively constant so typical oral dosages have little effect on overall body levels. Presently, despite being included in many energy drinks, taurine has not been proven to be energy-giving or beneficial in generally healthy non-deficient adults. For that reason it is not currently provided as part of the Rev3 products. As always, USANA scientists will continue to monitor the best available research on this subject."

My Testimony and More Facts About Rev3
I used to work in a retail store where I had to be on my feet from 9 to 12 hours at a time. It was brutal. In order to try and stay awake and have some energy I would bring Starbucks Double Espresso, Red Bull and Arizona Iced Tea. It was an all day cocktail of these different drinks. When I started feeling myself crashing from one, I'd switch it up and take another. To say I was exhausted by the end of it all would be an understatement. I'd go home and crash out for ten hours and felt just as tired when I got up.  By contrast when I got to try Rev3 in both versions - the pomegranate Rev3 in the can and the more honey lemon tea tasting surge pack I experienced none of the jitters, crash and extreme fatigue. I had mental clarity for hours which really came in handy during writing marathons that could go on all day long.

What Makes Rev3 Different
Cleaner—crisp, light pomegranate taste
No artificial flavors
No artificial sweeteners
No artificial preservatives
No artificial colors
Smarter—smart source of nutrients
Natural caffeine from blends of teas for mental alertness and stamina* derived from green tea, black tea and Korean ginseng
Supplies beneficial ingredients, with powerful antioxidants*
Uses low-glycemic sugars for sustained energy*
Provides vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants to support energy metabolism at the cellular level*
Stronger—powerful, energy-producing ingredients
Uses more than just sugar and caffeine
Contains a complete and proprietary Energy Complex with L-carnitine, tea, ginseng, rhodiola, cacao, ribose, citrate, malate, and coenzyme Q10  
Why not energize with something that is good for you? Cleaner. Smarter. Stronger. Rev 3 Energy® is all the power of an energy drink—refined. Rev3 is a great alternative to crash-and-burn energy drinks. What makes Rev3 Energy unique is that it contains a significant amount of L-carnitine. This ingredient offers two important functions in energy production: first it shuttles fatty acids into the mitochondria where they can be turned into energy, and secondly L-carnitine helps transport the toxic byproduct of energy combustion out of the mitochondria to prevent accumulation. Rev3 is also distinguished by its low-glycemic formula. The total glycemic load from Rev3 is three to four times lower than traditional energy drinks. Typical energy drinks spike your blood sugar levels for a quick burst of energy, but lead to a crash soon after, leaving you feeling drained. Rev3’s proprietary formula creates more of a sustained feeling of energy. Rev3 Energy—join the healthy energy revolution.*

Scientic Method: Advanced Applied Nutritional Science In House

Scientific Method: Advanced Applied Nutritional Science
By David Baker
this is a "guest post' taken from What's Up Usana?  a series addressing the solid science behind the manufacture of nutritional supplementation at USANA Health Sciences.
Science carries a certain amount of mystique. The lab coat seems the cloak of a secret society operating just out of reach of the layman’s understanding—not quite magic, but certainly not mundane.

Pull back the curtain and you’ll find science is much less clandestine than you might imagine. In fact, USANA’s in-house team of scientists is just working hard trying to produce the best science-based products available.

That’s not to say there aren’t things USANA’s research and development (R&D) team wants to keep under wraps. Some of the information—tucked away in the unremarkable piles of paper around Brian Dixon’s office—might be the next big thing in nutritional science. As USANA’s director of product innovation, it’s Dixon’s job to turn those piles of scientific literature and USANA’s 27 studies into the next game-changing product or upgrade.

Transforming information into effective products isn’t easy, so you’ll have to forgive Dixon and his colleagues for keeping some secrets. Especially when those secrets turn into patented technologies and products.

From Page to Test Tube

What starts in stapled stacks on the desks of USANA’s third floor transforms into something that rattles inside bottles that end up on so many kitchen counters through a process more work than wonder and more moxie than magic.  

It starts in the pages of the scientific literature that make up a roadmap of sorts. They don’t predict the future, but the literature does indicate the direction science is heading, knowledge that’s essential to staying on the cutting edge.

With scientists from so many different backgrounds constantly studying diverse areas of the literature, USANA covers a lot of ground. The R&D staff contains a doctor of naturopathy, an expert in sports science, molecular and cellular biologists, nutritional biochemists, pharmacists, nurses, biologists, and chemists. Since all of the members of the R&D team focus on different areas and approach problems from different points of view, they create a huge, robust way of looking at things, which is important.

When the team finds something of interest in the journals, they are able to run with it. Depending on the type of finding, they will either design an in-house study, or consult the experts at research partners like the Linus Pauling Institute (LPI) or The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital (TOSH). Research partners are currently working on 22 of USANA’s studies.

“We yield to the experts whenever we need to, which I think is smart,” Dixon said. “It’s working smarter, not harder.”

A good example of the role USANA’s scientists play in external research is a recent study about bioflavonoids. The R&D team found a paper that suggested bioflavonoids could blunt a spike in blood glucose. They asked a postdoctoral researcher at LPI if the findings had any validity. She looked into it and said the bioflavonoids in USANA’s line theoretically should have the same effects found in the paper.

Knowing LPI had more expertise in the area, USANA had them take the lead on the study. The project found itself in a time crunch, so Dixon and another USANA scientist went to LPI to work side by side at the lab bench with the postdoctoral researcher. Their findings were recently submitted for publication.
 
Although USANA will defer to the experts they partner with, the company’s R&D team contributes its own expertise to external research. “USANA brings speed, efficiency, and passion to any project we’re involved in,” Dixon said. The in-house team also has an experienced, hard-working, well-qualified human clinical research and analytics team, and top-notch facilities available on-site.

“We’re working with a group of physicists and chemists at the University of Utah,” Dixon said. “They don’t have much human clinical experience, so they can develop technologies, and we can test them in human beings. We’re combining efforts for the greater good.”

The Basics of Applied Science

Expertise isn’t the only consideration when deciding if a study should be handled in-house. USANA prefers to do applied research—applying basic research done by institutions to humans, and using it to develop or improve products.

“We’ll do basic research when we think it could pretty quickly dovetail into applied,” Dixon said. “But we like working as closely with the human, with our customers, as possible.”

Basic research isn’t always so basic. It explores the mechanisms of a phenomenon, and establishes the scientific understanding needed to apply groundbreaking research to the human condition. So USANA’s research partners are out looking for next greatest thing in nutritional science, and in-house experts leverage that basic research and apply those cutting-edge techniques and technologies directly to human health.

Translational research is the term Dixon uses. And there’s plenty of it going on in-house at USANA. There are currently five human clinical studies in different stages that Dixon said should be finished this year—an impressive number, to be sure.

The first study is an effort to find a medical device that can quickly show USANA’s products are yielding real health benefits. From research they’ve done, the R&D team knows antioxidant status is increased after taking the USANA^® Essentials™, but that increased status doesn’t feel or look like anything. The study, which is in the process of data analysis, looked at five different medical devices to assess their ability to measure biomarkers that can show the health benefit of taking USANA products.

Another study examines whether the phytosome technology used to raise the bioavailability of the turmeric extract in USANA’s upgraded Procosa^® can be used with other core ingredients. Phytosome technology uses healthy fats to encase nutrients to protect them through digestion and deliver them more effectively to the cells. They are currently investigating if this can help different nutrients and antioxidants get into the blood and the cell, increasing their effectiveness.*

USANA was one of the first supplement companies to put advanced doses of vitamin D in its core products. “We didn’t stop there,” Dixon said. “USANA being USANA, we wanted to actually prove that our customers were experiencing a real benefit. So what we did is conduct a study.”

Actually, two studies. Both are about vitamin D status in USANA product users, and are currently being written up. The R&D team, with the help of Associates, found almost 1,000 people, half who used USANA products, and half who didn’t. One study measured the vitamin D status of participants at the end of winter, when levels should be at their lowest. The other measured levels at the end of summer, when participants should have the most vitamin D.

The winter study found that those taking USANA products, on average, had a 47-percent higher vitamin D level than those who were not taking USANA products. The summer study yielded almost the exact same results, which is odd because a person’s body can typically make tens of thousands of International Units (IU) of vitamin D in about 20 minutes of moderate sun exposure. But contribution from the sun only equated to study participants taking a supplement with 300 IUs, which results in a negligible amount of vitamin D in the blood.

Dixon and the team attributed the results to a modern lifestyle that doesn’t allow for enough sun exposure during peak times between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. This is especially true for people who live above 37 degrees north latitude or below 37 degrees south latitude—where the tilt of the earth causes much of the essential UVB radiation from the sun to be filtered out by the planet’s atmosphere.

The data suggests people shouldn’t just be worried about vitamin D status in the winter, Dixon said. To achieve optimal levels, they should be supplementing with vitamin D all year.

The final in-house study is shrouded in some mystery. It involves a possible discovery that could impact USANA’s products and their effectiveness. All Dixon would say was that it’s a technology that could keep antioxidant levels in the blood higher for a longer period of time, providing more protection against oxidative stress. After further study, USANA is hoping to file patents.

Publications and Products

The conclusion of a study doesn’t mean the end of the work. Researchers write papers for presentation at scientific conferences or to submit for publication in scientific journals—just like their peers at major research institutions. The peer-review process the research goes through means studies are evaluated by experts, who check the papers’ scientific validity.

“We’re still held to the same standards of scientific excellence that any university or research institution is,” Dixon said.

Including papers that come out of research collaborations, Dixon said USANA scientists have about 10 papers published a year. Publications are a good metric for evaluating researchers, and almost one a month is an output even larger labs would love to have.

Getting journal articles published raise the credibility of USANA’s research, but the ultimate goal for any study is to make better, more effective products. It’s long, less-than-magical work taking science and turning it into something to keep the USANA family—and the world—as healthy as possible. But it’s totally worth it.

“Simply put, Associates get the best science-based health products in the world,” Dixon said.

Go back and read all the Scientific Method articles, and learn about all the research going on at USANA and its partner institutions.

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

“We’re still held to the same standards of scientific excellence that any university or research institution is.” — Brian Dixon, Ph.D., USANA director of product innovation