What are Essentials?

To sustain optimal health, we need a variety of vitamins, minerals, bioflavonoids, and other micronutrients. The "essential" vitamins and minerals, as defined by government agencies and nutrition experts, are those that are needed for metabolic function but are not manufactured by our bodies. Thus, they must be obtained from outside sources. The same experts have defined recommended Dietary Reference Values (DRV) for those ingredients.

Because of today’s hectic lifestyles and diets that are far from balanced, it may be very difficult to obtain the essential nutrients from food alone. In addition, daily stress, environmental pollutants, and diets high in processed food and fewer whole, unrefined foods generate free radicals, which have further increased the need for supplementation.

Nutrition for Optimal Health
USANA has expanded the meaning of "essential" micronutrition to include more ingredients than just those with an established DRV. Formulated to support the body's normal, healthy function, the USANA® Essentials provide the necessary micronutrients to retain optimal health and energy levels for children and adults. The Essentials also contain trace minerals, mixed carotenoids, bioflavonoids, and other phytochemicals and antioxidants to provide a full spectrum of compounds that, along with a healthy diet, are necessary for optimal health to help protect against the daily exposure to free radicals.*

Balanced Formulas
USANA continually reviews the available scientific literature to ensure the micronutrients present in our Essentials formulas are balanced to work together. While much is still not known about all the interactions that occur with nutrients in our bodies, USANA continues to keep abreast of the latest research to ensure up-to-date formulations. USANA takes extra steps to guarantee that only the highest quality ingredients with dependable levels of potency pass rigorous quality controls at every step of the manufacturing process.

The Optimal Form
To be useful, all nutrients must be of high quality and bioavailable. In other words, they must be in a form the body can absorb and use. Poor disintegration means poor bioavailability of the nutrients, and many supplements on the market today do not readily disintegrate. A recent study conducted in Canada tested the disintegration properties of many different dietary supplements. Over half the tablet products tested failed to disintegrate fully within 20 minutes, a stringent standard, and about a quarter of the products failed to meet the less-stringent USP disintegration tests for supplements. One of USANA's Essentials™ food supplements for adults was included in the study and passed the most stringent test, meaning maximum bioavailability.

USANA offers an Essentials product specifically designed to provide the foundation of nutritional support for any age group. Choose the nutritional supplements that are right for you and your family.

The Essentials™ food supplements for adults are a combination of two products packaged as one:

• Mega Antioxidant - is a comprehensive formula of high-potency vitamins, antioxidants, and other important nutrients to retain efficient cellular metabolism and counteract the damaging effects of free radicals.
• Chelated Mineral - is a full-spectrum blend of essential minerals and trace elements in a balanced, highly bioavailable formulation.

The philosophy behind the Essentials for adults is carried through in a product for younger age groups:

• Usanimals™ - food supplement is a great-tasting chewable vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant supplement designed to complement a healthy diet, it helps support the nutritional needs required for the normal growth and development of active children, ages 13 months to 12 years old.

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