Precautions when Starting USANA Nutritionals
By
Ray D. Strand, M.D.
It is best to take USANA Nutritional with food and to spread them out during the day. I recommend taking a morning dose with breakfast and an evening dose with a meal. Some people prefer taking the evening dose with a bedtime snack, since there is often an improvement in sleep pattern with the minerals.
The Nutritionals are designed to neutralize excess free radicals and to clear toxins from the body. Initially, some people experience a generalized aching, dull headache, and maybe, some fatigue. This is a temporary effect and will soon go away. If the symptoms are mild, I encourage the patient to continue through this time because this type of patient often seems to have the best response to the Nutritionals. If symptoms become moderate to severe, I recommend that the patient stop taking the Nutritionals for a few days and then resume taking them again at about half the dose, slowly building up the recommended doses. A small percentage of people will notice an upset stomach and possible stomach cramps. I have found this is often related to the Poly C which is found in the Mega Antioxidant.
If stomach upsets do occur, I recommend that the patient not take the morning dose of Mega antioxidant, and just take it with the evening dose. After about ten days to two weeks, assuming that the discomfort has settled down, I then recommend resuming the morning dose of the Mega Antioxidant.
I have found that people who do not eat much food for breakfast, or like a lot of coffee in the morning, seem to have more trouble with this. I advise them to try to eat more or cut out coffee. If this does not help, I advise them to try to eat more ar cut out coffee. If this does not help, I advise them to take the Nutritionals with lunch, since it is usually a bigger meal.
Another side effect, which is rare, is a natural relaxation response from the Chelated Mineral and Mega Antioxidant in the morning. People who notice more fatigue than an increase in energy become quite concerned. I simply advise them to cut out the minerals in the morning for a couple of weeks, and then resume with the normal dose.
Some people have diarrhea with the Nutritionals. This is usually related to the Proflavanol, but can be related to CalMag and/or Poly C, either by themselves or in the Essentials. If the patient is on Proflavanol for a couple of days and then beginning again with a lower dose, slowly increasing to the recommended dose.
I have had a few patients who also have complained of becoming constipated on the Nutritionals. I usually recommend they start the Fibergy Drink, since this can be a sign of low dietary fiber intake. It also is important to drink 8 glasses of water a day. The constipation also will resolve with time.
In my experience, about eighty percent of people are able to take USANA Nutritionals with absolutely no problems. However, it is important to understand that this is a dietary change for the body and an adjustment time is necessary. It also is important that everyone realize that there may be some minor symptoms when starting the Nutritionals program. However, if I am able to get patients to stay with the USANA Nutritionals program, I have found that almost everyone gets excellent results, especially after they have been on the program for three to four months.
