Saturday, January 24, 2009

Safe and Still Delicious


The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced concerns regarding salmonella contamination of peanut butter and peanut butter products. Be assured that these warnings do not apply to USANA’s Peanut Butter Crunch Nutrition Bar. USANA does not source its peanut butter ingredients from the supplier that the FDA has identified as a potential source of salmonella contamination. In addition, both USANA and its bar manufacturer conduct microbiological tests on each finished batch of Peanut Butter Crunch bars as well as on the raw ingredients that go into the product. The tests we conduct include specific assays for salmonella, as well as for other common microbiological contaminants. We will continue to keep abreast of this situation. But importantly, USANA Associates can be confident that their USANA products have been thoroughly tested and are salmonella-free.

USANA opens in The Philippines!!!

-Sharing the Vision Across the Globe -USANA currently operates in 14 countries:



It's official! USANA Health Sciences is proud to announce that our newest market, The Philippines, is now open for associate enrollment. Yesterday, in Manila, Executive Vice President of Asia Pacific, Bill Duncan, proudly opened the doors on our newest facility marking the opening day of this market and the interest in USANA has been amazing. Thousands of people enrolling to take charge of their health and take advantage of a home based business opportunity. We are all very excited over this expansion opportunity and looking forward to meeting new leaders as they grow in this beautiful country.

Did you see the press release? If not, here is a copy of it.....



SALT LAKE CITY--(BUSINESS WIRE)--USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: USNA - News) today began operations in the Philippines, the 14th market where independent Associates sell USANA’s high quality nutritional supplements.


According to the Direct Selling Association of the Philippines, annual direct selling revenues in the country total about $500 million. As one of the 25 largest markets globally for direct sales, the Philippines offers USANA a significant direct selling opportunity.



"During these tough economic times, USANA is fortunate to be able to continue its international growth," said USANA CEO Dave Wentz. “We believe the Philippines will be another strong market for our company. For many USANA Associates, entering the Philippines provides them with a great opportunity to build their business in a market where they already have strong ties.”





We are excited to annouce our 14th Market, the Philippines!
Here are the other countries where we currently share the vision.


Tuesday, January 20, 2009

USANA's Leon Patillo to Sing at Inaugural Prayer Event

Monday, January 19, 2009

USANA's Leon Patillo to Sing at Inaugural Prayer Event Gospel music legend Leon Patillo, a former frontman for Santana, is scheduled to be the featured artist at tonight's Inaugural Prayer Event in Washington, D.C. It's an amazing honor for the Long Beach, Calif.-based pastor and USANA Director. Congratulations!Check out Leon's MySpace page for samples of his music, and visit his official Web site for more information about Leon's admirable work and extraordinary career.





a Posting by Tim Haran on What's Up, USANA?

Monday, January 19, 2009

USANAS Environmental Stewardship

~USANA GOES GREEN~
Auguest 2007

USANA Health Sciences recognizes that human health and environmental health go hand-in-hand. Thus, our mission to develop and manufacture the highest quality, science-based health products possible carries with it a responsibility to do so in ways that protect, preserve, and promote the integrity of our environment. In keeping with this responsibility, we have launched a program of environmental stewardship—USANA Green. Our accomplishments to date include the following:

• Established recycling programs for all solid waste, and specifically for certain high impact or high value
wastes such as office paper, cardboard, cardboard drums, plastic, metals, and glass.
• Conducted employee trainings in energy conservation, solid waste recycling, and office paper reduction.
• Became a Visionary Partner in the Rocky Mountain Power Blue Sky Program (wind power).
• Became a member of the EPA’s Green Power Partnership Program through support of the Blue Sky
Program.
• Implemented a program rewarding USANA employees for carpooling to work as well as purchasing and
driving fuel-efficient vehicles.
• Xeriscaped large portions of USANA’s corporate grounds to significantly reduce water use.
• Converted all office paper to 35 percent recycled material.
• Implementing electronic forms initiatives and paperless office programs to reduce office paper use and
waste. As of August 2, 2007, USANA has reduced total office paper use by 10 percent despite significant
growth in personnel and overall business activity.
• Working towards EPA WasteWise certification.
• Working towards LEEDS certification (Silver Level) for new office tower.
• Working with the Utah Department of Environmental Quality towards status as a Clean Utah Partner.
Please visit www.usana.com to read USANA’s Environmental Policy Statement.

Please visit www.usana.com to read USANA’s Environmental Policy Statement.

Sunday, January 18, 2009

Parabens + Sun Exposure = DANGER?

Another advantage of our Sense product line: chemical preservative-free AND paraben-free ~ truly is better for the health of your skin.

On facebook.com I'm a members of the USANA ~ Sense Beautiful Science Information Group. This group has been created by Marie Bertrand, a microbiologist and skin scientist who sends us updates on skin and skin care. Today she sent us a message about parabens, sun exposure and their danger to our skin. Below is the message-hope it inlightens you as it did me.

Good evening,
I just came across a VERY interesting article about a type of paraben (methylparaben, or MP) frequently used in cosmetic formulations.
This article, recently published in a highly respected scientific journal, Chemical Research in Toxicology, says that "Light irradiation sometimes produces unexpected activity from chemicals such as MP" producing "2 major photo-products" including one that might "cause skin damage involving carcinogenesis through the combined activation of sunlight irradiation and skin [enzymes]".

It is well known in dermatology that methylparaben (MP) easily penetrates the dead skin cell layer (stratum corneum) to reach the living cells of the epidermis. Since the majority of us are somehow exposed to the sun on a daily basis (and yes, that car ride to work counts, as UVAs go through glass even if it's cloudy outside), this finding could be quite alarming.
For those of you who are interested in further details, I have included below the abstract related to this article, as published online by PubMed.
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Chem Res Toxicol. 2008 Aug;21(8):1594-9.
COMBINED ACTIVATION OF METHYL PARABEN BY LIGHT IRRADIATION AND ESTERASE METABOLISM TOWARD OXIDATIVE DNA DAMAGE.
Okamoto Y, Hayashi T, Matsunami S, Ueda K, Kojima N.Faculty of Pharmacy, Meijo University, 150 Yagotoyama, Tempaku-ku, Nagoya 468-8503, Japan.

Methyl paraben (MP) is often used as a preservative in foods, drugs, and cosmetics because of its high reliability in safety based on the rapid excretion and nonaccumulation following administration. Light irradiation sometimes produces unexpected activity from chemicals such as MP; furthermore, there is ample opportunity for MP to be exposed to sunlight. Here, we investigated whether MP shows DNA damage after sunlight irradiation. Two major photoproducts, p-hydroxybenzoic acid (PHBA) and 3-hydroxy methyl paraben (MP-3OH), were detected after sunlight irradiation to an aqueous MP solution. Both photoproducts were inactive in the in vitro DNA damage assay that measures oxidized guanine formed in calf thymus DNA in the presence of divalent copper ion, a known mediator of oxidative DNA damage. Simulated MP metabolism using dermal tissues after light irradiation produced these two photoproducts, which reacted with a microsomal fraction (S9) of the skin. A metabolite from MP-3OH, not PHBA, caused distinct DNA damage in the in vitro assay. This active metabolite was identified as protocatechuic acid, a hydrolyzed MP-3OH product. In addition, NADH, a cellular reductant, enhanced DNA damage by approximately five times. These results suggest that reactive oxygen species generated by the redox cycle via metal ion and catechol autoxidation are participating in oxidative DNA damage. This study reveals that MP might cause skin damage involving carcinogenesis through the combined activation of sunlight irradiation and skin esterases.

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I will be on the lookout for new findings and research related to this topic and shall keep you posted.
Another advantage for the Sense product line: chemical preservative-free AND paraben-free ~ truly is better for the health of the skin.

I sincerely hope you enjoy this weekly newsletter as much as I enjoy writing it for you. And thank you for your positive comments and skin-related questions!
Warmest regards,
Marie Bertrand
SkinScience Clinic www.skinscience.md


American Idol...and USANA?

USANA Convention Singer JB Ahfua makes it to Hollywood with American Idol.

Newcomer JB Ahfua (from Taylorsville UT), at the incredable age of 16, is taking the music scene by storm!

With his incredible vocals and energetic youth (did I mention he is only 16), JB not only astounded USANA Associates at the 2008 USANA International Convention, he recently impressed the judges with American Idol and has made it to Hollywood!!


Below is a video clip of JB's adution for American Idol that got him to Hollywood!!

JB performing “Flying Without Wings” by Ruben Studdard -http://s79.photobucket.com/albums/j141/mjsbigblog/Arid/?action=view&current=JBa.flv


JB Ahfua performing at the 2008 USANA International Convention




JB Ahfua singing while playing the guitar

Season 3's America's Best Dance Crew

'Beat Freaks' make the cut

Orrigional post by Tim Haran
The Beat Freaks, an all-female crew, got off to a great start during the premiere of Season 3's America's Best Dance Crew! We hope you watched and voted for Rino (a USANA Ruby Director) and the rest of the crew who wowed the judges and received a standing ovation.


***"I definitely feel it took a group of women to come out here and set the tone tonight," Lil Mama said after the performance. "You guys were a-ma-zing.


***"Said judge Shane Sparks: "I definitely think America's Best Dance Crew's going to be a female group this time.


"Remember: America's Best Dance Crew airs on MTV Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET/PT. If you missed the premiere, check out the full episode on MTV's Web site.Check out Beat Freaks Crew on Facebook or at Freak the Vote. Here's a link to the crew's casting video.




Meet the Crew from Los Angeles, California : BEAT FREAKS
Photo by Ewan Burns


Lindsey Blaufarb, aka. "Out There"

Keely "Lockn'Key" Kaukimoce

Maryss From Paris Teresa Espinosa

Julie Urich, aka: Lady Jules Alex Welch, aka: B-Girl Shorty

...and Rino Nakasone-Razalan (Rino is a USANA Ruby Director!!!)
(Rino and husband LeeJ Razalan, USANA Ruby Director's, after dancing at the USANA 2008 International Convention.)


A hip-hop dance dream team, the ladies of Beat Freaks have won too many awards to count and have been featured on numerous television shows, as well as in music videos and tours with the likes of Pink, Avril Lavigne, Miley Cyrus and Madonna, as well as in movies like You Got Served and Step Up 2.


"We are an all styles crew, so we teach each other" says Out There. Adds Lockn'Key, "This is a well-rounded group of women. We have B- girling, freestyle, hip-hop, popping, locking, house salsa, jazz, ballet, you name it." Plus, says Rina, "We love to laugh and to have fun.


"With wide ranging credits and styles, it's not surprising to see a range of music fueling their favorites. The Beat Freaks go for everything from Hot Chip, M.I.A., Santogold and CSS to OutKast, T.I., Aaliyah and Missy Elliottt to Prince, Zapp and James Brown.


Why do the Beat Freaks think they'll take the prize on this season of America's Best Dance Crew? "I think America is ready to see a strong, powerful group of young women who are passionate about what they do," says Lockn'Key. Adds Teresa, "Because we are well-rounded, professional, funky, fun and the best!"

(p.s. I've seen the video links and they are WONDERFUL!!!!!! - SeymourDreams wishes Beat Freaks great success!!!)