This is not hard to figure out people. This book is self serving and was created to sell more USANA products. Every one of the "experts" has major ties to either USANA or one of this books top ranked "winners". Instead of basing their recommendations on solid research data, they use old data and opinion to come up with the formula. Opinion that often favors the USANA or similar product. I don't know a single life extension discussion board moderator that even mentions USANA as a valid choice. It's simply an OK product at best, but that's what sells since garbage like Centrum is #1 and other crazy sale patterns. With that said, if you happen to get a copy and know nothing about the serious field of life extension, you might learn something from reading this book. But here's some advice, look at a product that serious research types use (like AOR's "Ortho Core" or LEF's "Life Extensionin Mix"). Ortho Core and LE Mix are the top multivitamins on the market (maybe one or two others that I can't recall but you will NOT find them at your local GNC). They are somewhat costly, but there are others that cost twice as much and are not as good. Do yourself a favor and use the web to read up on those products and then you'll have enough REAL science to know exactly what each ingredient is and what FORMS of the ingredients you should be taking. "Vitmnain A" or "Selenium" mean nothing...you need to know the best types and most of these formulas don't include the types or at the dosages used in medical studies. Don't listen to the novices saying this is a great book and great product-- spend an hour a day and do your own research on discussion boards and several websites. You'll get lots of FREE advice from serious science and health types and you won't need a biased book like this.

My friend who is a member of USANA showed this book to me and told me this book is written from a third party (who has nothing to do with USANA) with a non-bias opinion. After I read it, the first thing I think is this book is too specific on the comparison method. The ranking criteria only bases on one factor on which products has the ingredient best match the author's "Blended Standard". The result is USANA is the one that best match the "Blended Standard" and has the highest score.

While I am still doubt of the "Blended Standard", I read the review and some of the reviews make me do more research. I read "The author is on the MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD of USANA. Could this be fair review?" from one of the review, so I curious and I find out more fact.

What I find out will definitely catch your interest. The result makes me disappointed since this does not seem to be a third party book or a book with fair opinion any more. I am sure my friend told me sincerely based on his knowledge, but who told him and makes him believe this is a non-bias 3rd party and not related to USANA is another question.

From my research the author, and both of the editorial reviews are related to USANA. So, I really think about the question "Could this be fair review?"
1. The author himself is on the MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD of USANA
Source: http://www.usana.com/en/company/ag/mab.shtml
2. One of the Editorial Reviews (Dr. Christine Wood) is the chair of USANA's Medical Advisory Board
Source: http://www.usana.com/en/company/ag/mab.shtml
3. The other one of the Editorial Reviews (Dr. Denis Waitley) is USANA Insider
http://finance.yahoo.com/q/it?s=USNA

So, read the fact and use your judgment if you will get what you really need to know from this book or not.
If you are interested in Nutrition, I may suggest some books or 3rd party websites that might interest you

Over all, I thought the book was excellent. I took the time to read several of the previous reviews and have to comment on one in particular. The one by Mr. Marcel Raffoul "Honest Citizen". First and foremost the review section is supposed to be a reviews of books and not of the company that is rated #1 in the book.

I did some research on some of his accusations against USANA by Mr. Raffoul. Here's is what I found.

1. Dr. Lyle is NOT on the board of directors. You can look at the board of directors on the USANA web site.

2. The "Independent Assessment" of USANA says nothing more than USANA is an MLM company. He acts like this is a bad thing. They say on their web site they are a direct/MLM company and talk about the benefits of cutting out middle men to help keep costs down on their pharmaceutical grade products. Their products are pricey but I guess you get what you pay for and would be outrageous if you had to pay for distribution, waehousing and transportion, etc.... but I digress.

3. I also looked at Mr. Marcel Raffoul's other reviews and noticed that some of the books he reviewed were on Direct Selling and MLM stategies which indicates that he is probably in networm marketing, probably in a competitive company.

4. I also read that Maleuca accusations as well as the rebuttal. The rebuttal stated that the original accusations were derived from a previous edition (Edition 2) and since then they went to other independent labratories to ask what other criteria the vitamins could be tested on. These reponses were incorporated into the testing procedures and from what I could determine in the comparison would take the possibility of Dr. McWilliams to skew the results out of the equation and therefore indicates that Maleuca is simply irritated that McWilliams revealed that their products are lacking in quality.

Another note on Centrum. Centrum is the biggest selling vitamin in the U.S. and apparently in Australia as well. It is well documented that as far as absorbability, it is severely lacking. I have talked to several nurses that call Centrum "bed pan bullets" because in patients that use them and use a bed pan, you can still read "Centrum" on the pill when it comes out. Yes, Centrum is much cheaper but again...you get what you pay for. If you want cheap vitamins, that don't work DON'T READ THIS BOOK, go down to WalGreens and buy the cheapest vitamin on the shelf.....you'll save a lot of money that way.

After doing a lot or research on the accuracy and claims by other reviewers, I believe the book and it's rating system are excellent. In addition, the book will teach you a lot on how vitamins work, oxidative stress in the body and how it promotes degenerative diseases. It will also teach you alot about anti-oxidants in supplements and how they prevent degenerative disease as well as how supplements are absobed in the body. I would consider this is a MUST READ book for anyone that is interested in their health.

As a personal trainer my clients constantly come to me for advice on nutritional supplements. This book has been a valuable resource for me. I was suprised to find that the vitamin/mineral supplement (USANA) I currently use is rated #1. As a distributor for USANA, I use to book to show my clients that all nutritional supplements are not the same.

no_payne_training@yahoo.com

The first I had heard of Dr. MacWilliam's guide was when I was researching nutritional supplements to try to become healthier. Like many folks in today's modern society, my body has "taken a pounding" over time. I was pleasantly surprised that it was not only a guide, but also had other valuable information to help us better understand our bodies and why we need supplements in today's modern society.

I chose to further research his recommendations, and was excited to see that I could not find anything negative written in any of my research about his #1 pick, USANA. I did find a lot of positives out there, and having done my research, I decided to try the products. Being a teacher, it is difficult to find the time to eat right and exercise as I should.

After more research on USANA, I ended up not only trying the products, but became an Independent Distributor to help fund my new "habit". I haven't turned back since! It is so wonderful to feel more energy based on natural products and to see the light at the end of the tunnel on becoming healthier. I've always been opposed to added supplements, because for years doctors contended that all nutritional necessities can be found in food. Fortunately, I got past that, because today's foods aren't anywhere near as healthy as they were even a couple of decades ago!

You owe it to yourself to thoroughly research whatever it is that you plan on putting into your body, and Dr. MacWilliams gives us a great place to start!

Lisa Black, HealthyParadise@USANA.com