Why I Recommend USANA products: 1) What is written on the label? When I used to go to the health food store or natural pharmacy, I was as bewildered as everyone else. There are so many bottles to look through, they all contain slight variations of nutrients—how was I to know which was the best balance for me. The prices varied wildly, some said natural, did more really mean better, how was I to decide? The color of the label seems sometimes to be as valid a deciding point as what was written on the label! I was spending a lot of time, quick I have to decide…pick one. And I was done. It was not a satisfying experience. I went through a time where I would ask the counter clerks and get advice, I would ask some trusted nutritional advisers and choose that way. Then someone showed me “The Comparative Guide” by Lyle McWilliams. (An independently written book, which examined the labels of hundreds of nutriceuticals and compared their contents to our requirements.) This was a step in the right direction—I could see what each company said was in the products and compare them in an easy table format. I could make an informed decision. USANA has ranked at the top of McWilliams’ list for many years. In his latest edition he uses a 5 star rating system instead of the percentages of his former editions. USANA got 5 stars. 2) What is in actually in the bottle—is the ingredient list any more than a suggestion? Over the years, I heard of grad students with lab access, who would analyze the contents of a vitamin pill bottle and find almost none of the ingredients listed on the label were in the pills. I chose to ignore this information. It was too confusing. I felt committed based on the scientific research that the extra nutrients in my bottles were important for my health. I bought more expensive bottles in the hope that they had a better chance of containing what was on the label. There are a few companies who submit their products to third party laboratories for independent analysis. USANA does this. They also guarantee their contents. This is especially important for Olympic athletes who need to know exactly what they are taking so that they do not risk testing positive for banned substances. Many Olympians use USANA products. USANA’s Omega 3 oils are guaranteed not to be rancid right up to the expiry date. This has been a problem with other companies. 3) Is my body absorbing the ingredients so I can make use of them? I had always wondered about this and hoped that, again, by buying expensive products I would be assured of this. If the pills and capsules you are taking do not dissolve in your system quickly, they may pass the part of your bowel where those nutrients can be absorbed. This would be a waste. The standard that is currently accepted is a pill that dissolves in 20 minutes. USANA products do this. You can even dissolve their multivitamin and mineral pills before you take them, if you don’t like to swallow pills.