We brought some USANA favs to help the stars enjoy their celebrations even more by counteracting some of life’s indulgences with the Essentials of good health.

It’s been non-stop excitement for Academy Award-nominated writer of “Bridesmaids,” Annie Mumolo and one of the show’s stars, Wendy McLendon-Covey. The two can’t wait to try USANA’s Pure Rest™ for some much needed rest and relaxation.

Academy Award-nominated writer of "Bridesmaids," Annie Mumolo, and one of the show's stars, Wendy McLendon-Covey visit with USANA at the Roger Neal Oscar Suite.

One of Hollywood’s busiest actors, Eric Roberts, doesn’t want poor health to be his “Dark Knight.” He left with a USANA HealthPak™ to take action on great nutrition.

Dark Knight's Eric Roberts visits with USANA's Angie & Mallory at the Roger Neal Oscar Suite.

Actors, comedians, rappers and brothers, Chris and Kyle Massey can’t wait to try USANA’s Hepasil DTX™. After his season on ABC’s “Dancing With the Stars” Kyle especially knows how important exercise and proper nutrition play in good health. These Nickelodeon and Disney stars are happy liver lovers.

Actors, comedians, rappers and brothers, Chris and Kyle Massey run into USANA's Angie and Mallory at the Roger Neal Oscar Suite.

Quinton Aaron refuses to be “Blind Sided” by bad health. He takes good care of his famous football body. He told us how thrilled he is to try the USANA® Digestive Enzyme — especially since he’s celebrating his Oscar week by cooking up a big dinner for his friends and family.

Actor Joe Mantegna is always spot-on in his acting roles. The brilliant actor needs to make sure his health is, too. That’s why we sent him home with a supply of USANA Probiotic.

Actor Joe Mantegna visits with Angie to learn more about USANA products, including MyHealthPak.

It’s a star-studded, supplement-studded week at the Roger Neal Oscar Suite in Beverly Hills. Maybe USANA will be the next star on the walk of fame!

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

All right everyone. Last time, we examined the group that caters to USANA’s corporate employees, which means it’s only fitting to now spotlight the group that looks out for our Associates. Yes, USANA has a team of lawyers and compliance officers constantly working to support USANA’s elite force of direct-selling professionals.

Today, we are focusing on the group of intellectuals known as the Legal Department. When it comes to the size and the amount of intelligence packed into this specific department, I can assure you, it’s no laughing matter. Under the umbrella of this group lies a team of compliance and regulatory professionals, and without their hard work, our Associates might find themselves in some hot water — which is the last place we want anyone to end up.

I think if we break this thing into sections, the department will be much easier to understand. Here we go:

International Business Development

This particular group may be a small entity, but it’s certainly a vital aspect to USANA’s ongoing efforts for continued international expansion. You didn’t think France, Belgium, and Thailand — our newest markets — were chosen at random, did you?

Of course not!

It took countless hours of research and development from these dedicated employees before USANA decided to pursue expansion into these three countries. Now, the remainder of their year will be spent working hand in hand with cross-functional teams in these countries to ensure the openings run as smoothly as possible.

In addition to this, the international team will continue researching the potential addition of even more markets that could fit in with USANA’s seven-year business plan.

Compliance

The compliance group acts as a “watchdog” for every single one of our Associates.

Have you ever wondered what happens to those Associates who stray from what is legally allowed in their USANA business? You can bet they’ve had a conversation with one of our compliance officers.

Now, if you’re an Associate reading this, you might assume we’ve stumbled across the “bad guys.” Not true. Trust me — these guys are in your corner! If you’ve ever been contacted by the compliance department concerning something you may have done wrong — be thankful. They may have saved you from unintentionally breaking a serious rule of the company or even a federal law.

“We’re not a group of USANA policemen seeking to penalize Associates for unintended violations of the policies. Our goal is truly to educate and protect each and every Associate’s business,” says Executive Director of Compliance Dan Whitney. “Our Associates are a great group, and about 99 percent of all compliance violations are accidental. We want our Associates to focus on building their businesses, and Compliance simply wants to be there to act as a helping hand or friendly reminder.”

Although the focus should be on building the business, it’s important for Associates to familiarize themselves with the rules and regulations attached to running a USANA business. After all, it was the celebrated scholar Albert Einstein who stated, “You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.” Compliance helps you do just that.

Regulatory Affairs

Somewhere in between the third and sixth explanation, I finally understood the difference between the compliance group and the regulatory group. While compliance handles all the laws, rules, and regulations concerning Associates, the regulatory group deals with all the restrictions attached to the actual products USANA produces.

After all, someone has to tackle the task of keeping our products up to government regulations. These regulations can differ in each market, and they deal with product formulas, labels, and health claims.

USANA’s regulatory affairs specialists are busiest when they meet with the research and development team to discuss the development of new products. Once the R&D team presents a product in the creation stage, the regulatory group gets right to work by researching everything about the product and its potential for market integration.

The regulatory specialists will be hard at work this year as we near International Convention, where new products could be announced.

The Eyes and Ears

No department would be complete without a leader, and in this case, that’s USANA’s Chief Legal Counsel Jim Bramble. Under Jim’s watch, the legal team has grown from four to now over 40 people.

We can all thank Jim for his dedication to USANA. It’s because of his commitment to ethics and attention to detail that we have one of best track records in the industry.

“It is definitely a privilege as an attorney to work for a company with leadership that asks me to always do the right thing,” Jim says. “Too many of my friends have clients who ask for help getting away with unethical behavior. My direction from Dave and Dr. Wentz has always been to do what is right in order to keep this company safe for employees, Associates, and shareholders.”

As you can most likely tell by now, the legal department is a critical part of the USANA team. They see everything created by our writers and designers (including this blog post). They listen to Associate concerns and stay on top of the latest government regulations. These guys keep all of us on track.

We can thank them for saving us from making mistakes we might have never even been aware of. Without their guidance, we would all find ourselves…well, let’s not even go there, right?

Inside USANA is a monthly series in which we check in with various departments to help you get to know them a little better.

One thing is for sure — the French know how to enjoy life, complete with a leisurely meal and glass of wine. And as we all know now, it turns out that the wine-loving French were on to something…

Healthy Hearts

You know that eating lots of saturated fat is not so wonderful for your cardiovascular system. And this idea has proven true over and over, except in the case of the French. The French have a long, delicious tradition of eating rich foods made with cream and butter and cheese. So, you’d expect them to be keeling over left and right from clogged arteries.

But not so. In 1992, health data provided by the World Health Organization showed that, of the countries examined, the people of France had the healthiest hearts. Their excellent heart health despite consuming a lot of saturated fat has come to be known as the “French Paradox.”

One of the reasons researchers suspect that the French have defied expectation is because they have one of the highest consumptions of wine (averaging around 9 ounces per day). It turns out that the antioxidant polyphenols in red wine are vastly superior when it comes to promoting heart health. This is because they work to help protect LDL from oxidation even more than the more commonly known antioxidants, such as vitamins C or E, and they help support healthy blood flow through even the tiniest blood vessels. C’est magnifique, n’est-ce pas?

Essentially all of the flavonoids (a class of polyphenol) in the red grapes used to make wine come from the seeds. These flavonoids are called as proanthocyanidins. Scientists have been able to figure out how to extract the proanthocyanidins of grape seeds, so we can get the health benefits of red wine without all the alcohol.

Let’s Hear it for Proflavanol

In fact, Dr. John Cuomo, USANA’s executive director of research and development, helped develop the process our suppliers now use to deliver grape seed extract that is readily absorbable by the body. It’s the grape seed extract you will get with each and every tablet of Proflavanol C100 or Proflavanol C200.

Proflavanol C is one of USANA’s most popular, signature supplements. It may not help you look good in a beret, but it is awesome for your cardiovascular health, and it supports immune health and healthy-looking skin too.

In this video, USANA Director of Product Innovation Brian Dixon, Ph.D., explains a little more about this amazingly power-packed supplement. Do your friends a favor, help them discover how they can protect their heart health too by sharing this video with them (and please comment to let us know if you like the video).

Au revoir, mes amis!

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

If you’re unable to view the video, please click here.

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

What exactly is Pinterest? Think of your bulletin board, fridge or any other place you tack up information you want to save or put on display. Pinterest is the same idea, only it’s virtual, and you can share with people all over the world.

With Pinterest, you create boards and pin images to them to share with your followers. Say you find a recipe you like online. Instead of printing it out and sticking it on the fridge, you “pin” it, saving an image and a link to the recipe on the website where you found it.

Pinterest is more about sharing interests than the self-promotion you’ll find on other social media sites. But that doesn’t mean you can’t promote products you sell or like. The key is to mix it up. Focus on the things you care about and be genuine. People will notice if you’re just trying to generate hits.

USANA, as a company, has boards of specific product lines. But as an individual, you could create a Healthy Living board and include not only your favorite USANA products, but other things that lead to a healthful lifestyle.

A good example of this is USANA’s Fitness board, which features pictures and video from What’s Up, USANA? and a number of other sites. Everyone likes to eat, so we have a USANA Recipes board and a separate Food board that features great recipes from all over the Internet.

Before you rush to sign up, there is one caveat — Pinterest is an invitation-only site. You can request an invite on Pinterest or a friend who is already a member can invite you.

Once you’re all set up, remember, the point of Pinterest is to share the things you like or want to incorporate into your life. With that in mind, explore and have fun, but be warned: Pinterest is very addictive and can become a huge time suck if you’re not careful.

Below are some basic Pinterest terms and a guide to get you started.

Key Terms

Pin — A pin is an image added to Pinterest. A pin can be added from a website using a Pin It button or you can upload images from your computer. Each pin added using the Pin It button links back to the site it came from.

Board — A board is a set of pins. A board can be created on any topic, and you can add as many pins to a board as you want.

Follow — You can choose to follow all of a person’s boards or only specific ones. By following all, you’ll see all of a user’s pins on all their boards in real-time on Pinterest. If the user makes new boards, you will automatically follow them. You can unfollow boards and users at any time: they will not be notified.

Like — Liking a pin adds the image to your profile’s Likes section; the image does not get added to one of your boards.

Repin — Repinning an image allows you to categorize the image onto one of your boards. You can edit the description and  source-link of an image is saved automatically.

How to find your way around

The following image corresponds with the numbers below.

1. Search — This is a search for all of Pinterest. Type in a key word and it will bring up related pins. You can also click on links to find related boards or people.
2. Add — This is how you add/upload pins and create boards. A dialog box will pop up and take you through the process.
3. About — This drop down menu will take you to Help, Pinterest Blog and a few other places you may want to check out.
4. Username Drop Down — This is where you can Invite Friends and Find Friends. From here you can also navigate to your boards, pins and likes. This is where you can change your settings and log out, as well.
5. Public Profile — This is where you share information about yourself. Your bio should be short and simple (think Twitter). Consider using the image you usually use across social media, so people who already know you can recognize you easily.
6. Social Media Links — You can link to your site, Facebook and Twitter. Keep in mind the Facebook option links to your profile. Right now there is no option to link to any pages you might manage. There’s also an RSS feed automated by Pinterest and it’s the RSS feed of your Pinterest activity.
7. Timeline — Shows your recent pinning activity.
8. Display — This shows the number of your boards, pins and likes.
9. Pinterest Board — Each of your boards can be edited from here. You can change the title, description, who can pin on the board and the board’s category. You can also delete the board from the edit page. To see the full board, click on any of the pictures. There, you can see how many followers the board has and you can like the board on Facebook.

How About You?

Are you on Pinterest? If so, how do you use it personally and professionally? Please let us know in the comments.

How are you using social media? If there are topics you’d like discussed in these Social Media Tip posts, feel free to send them our way and we’ll do our best to incorporate them into future posts. Please visit our archive of social media tips.

Another world-class USANA event — the 2012 USANA Canada Cross-Regional Conference (XRC) — came to a close less than 24 hours ago, and it’s definitely left many of us re-energized and ready to achieve even greater things.

If you were with us in person at the Toronto Congress Centre or merely following along through various social media updates (#usanaXRC on Twitter), I’m sure each of you heard or saw a thing or two — or 20 — that resonated strongly and that will help you moving forward.

For me, I thoroughly enjoyed the health-focused segments from such experts as Dr. John Cuomo, Dr. Brian Dixon, Dr. Christine Wood, and Dr. Libby Weaver. It’s obvious these health professionals truly are passionate about changing lives.

And that’s what we do, right? It’s something Kevin Guest, USANA’s President of North America, has spoken about before.

So when he stepped on stage as the final speaker of the XRC on Saturday, it made sense that he would speak about what we like to call the USANA Difference.

He opened by asking: “Why do we do what we do when we know what we know?”

Empowering a worldwide network of individuals and teams dedicated to changing lives is what we do, because we know what we know about the importance of proper nutrition, the value of financial freedom, and more.

For nearly 20 years it’s been a constant theme — a vision — throughout USANA. As we continue to celebrate everyone who’s made this company what it is today, Kevin stated that the vision of the company is unstoppable.

And why is it unstoppable? Because of you — the individuals who understand the benefit of attending live events; the folks who work hard to ensure others are successful; and the people who take responsibility for their futures and their children’s futures.

USANA's so-called 'Golden Girls' on stage at the 2012 USANA Canada Cross-Regional Conference in Toronto, Feb. 16-18, 2012.

Several USANA Associates walked away with thousands of dollars in cold, hard cash (and an oversize check) in the 'Crazy Cash Contest' the 2012 USANA Canada Cross-Regional Conference in Toronto, Feb. 16-18, 2012.

Thank you to everyone who made the event such an incredible success. We hope to see you in Mexico and San Antonio for upcoming XRCs, and of course in Salt Lake City, Aug. 15-18 for the 2012 USANA International Convention.

Here’s Diamond Director, and good friend of social media, Jordan Kemper…

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

If you’re unable to view the video, please click here.

And here’s holistic nutrition specialist Dr. Libby Weaver, definitely one of the more popular presenters last weekend. Excellent information!

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

If you’re unable to view the video, please click here.

Even More!

Read all about Day 1 of the XRC. For additional photos from the 2012 USANA Canada XRC, please visit USANA on SmugMug.

And whether it’s an International Convention, a special training, or a Cross-Regional Conference (XRC), I always walk away feeling inspired and educated.

Today was no different, as the 2012 Canada XRC kicked off in Toronto.

From the heartfelt words about the importance of family spoken by USANA CEO Dave Wentz to the passionate presentation about love courtesy of Line Dubois to the motivating speech on leadership from Ani Black to the on-point message delivered by Jordan Kemper to the many others who took the stage on Friday, you couldn’t help but feel inspired by the speakers.

I hope you’re all following @USANAinc on Twitter! Be sure to use the #usanaXRC hash tag with your tweets so we can join in the conversation.

USANA VP of Marketing Doug Braun and Chief Communications Officer Dan Macuga enjoying a Rev3 at the Canada XRC on Friday.

I spent much of the day wandering back and forth between the main stage and the outer foyer area, home to the marketing team’s extremely popular booth.

All-new flashy flyers were a hit, as were samples of Rev3® Energy and Chocolate Fusion Nutrition Bars. Attendees couldn’t get enough!

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

If you’re unable to view the video, please click here.

I’d like to give a special shout-out to Kellie Thompson, USANA’s Vice President of Information Technology, for showing some social media love. Incredible presentation about the value of utilizing social media, the importance of customer service, and the effectiveness of video!

Tonight many of the XRC-ers will be attending the much-anticipated Awards Gala Banquet. Congratulations in advance to all who will be recognized.

Until tomorrow… I leave you with this, a little something from USANA’s Chief Communications Officer Dan Macuga. I tweeted earlier that I didn’t have video, but fortunately he danced again!

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

If you’re unable to view the video, please click here.

1. Schooling: You probably know Dr. Oz earned his undergraduate degree at Harvard in 1982 and received his MD from the University of Pennsylvania. But did you know that he also earned an MBA from Wharton Business School at the same time he received his medical degree? Not only did he double up on degrees, but, during his undergraduate work at Harvard, he played football and water polo.
2. Career: You know Dr. Oz is a world-renowned cardio-thoracic surgeon. He still performs over 100 surgeries a year in addition to being a two-time Daytime Emmy Award-winning host of the Emmy Award-winning “The Dr. Oz Show.” He has written seven New York Times best sellers and over 400 other articles for medical journals. He is Vice Chair and Professor of Surgery at Columbia University, Director of the Cardiovascular Institute and Founder and Director for the Complementary Medicine Program at New York Presbyterian Hospital. But did you know that he also served as the medical consultant for the 2002 film “John Q,” starring Denzel Washington? The film revolved around a man whose child needed a heart transplant.
3. Marriage:  Are you aware that Dr. Oz’s 26-year marriage to his beautiful and brilliant wife Lisa was made possible by being introduced by their fathers? It’s true. Dr. Oz explained he and Lisa dated in secret because he didn’t want his dad to have the satisfaction of knowing that he introduced them to each other.
4. Legacy: Speaking of family, did you know Dr. Mehmet Oz is not the first Dr. Oz? That honor goes to his father, Mustafa Oz, who is also a surgeon. The first Dr. Oz earned scholarships that allowed him to emigrate from Turkey to the United States as a medical resident.
5. Indulgence: You know Dr. Oz eats heart-healthy foods rich in fiber. He loves nuts, bananas, baby carrots, fish, Greek yogurt and blueberries. But on the rare occasion when Dr. Oz gives into a craving, it’s southern barbeque.
6. Phobia: Most of you probably assume a man, as accomplished and courageous as Dr. Oz would not be scared of anything. But this Superman’s kryptonite is heights. Guess there will be no leaping over a tall building in a single bound for Dr. Oz.
7. Music: Can you picture Dr. Oz jamming to Bruce Springsteen? That’s right. The Boss is his favorite performer. He says, “Rock ‘n roll is among life’s joys.”
8. Sleep: With Dr. Oz’s rigorous schedule, you’re probably wondering when he ever gets the chance to sleep. Well, don’t ask him to stay out late. He’s in bed at 10 p.m. every night and up at 5:30 a.m. He makes sure to get 7 1/2 hours of shuteye every night.
9. Exercise: You know Dr. Oz is active. He loves to play basketball, tennis and ride bicycles. He also runs about 4 miles every day. But did you know Dr. Oz has practiced yoga for over 15 years? That’s Dr. Downward Dog to you.
10. Schedule:  You see The Dr. Oz Show 5 days a week. But did you know Dr. Oz tapes two shows a day, three days a week? And here’s a tip: if you ever visit his studio audience, spit out your gum in advance. Otherwise, you’ll have to discard it in a plastic bag as crew members walk the aisles.

Think Dr. Oz was amazing before? Now you know so, even more!

Note: The following article originally appeared on USANAToday.com.

USANA scientists recently conducted a study in conjunction with a research team at the Boston University School of Medicine. The study showed that grape-seed extract and vitamin C may be beneficial for people who already have a form of cardiovascular disease called coronary artery disease (CAD).

Here’s a little bit of background: Oxidative stress may impact the heart’s ability to effectively pump blood. Over time, this impaired function has been shown to be an important factor in the progression of CAD.

Grape-seed extract and vitamin C have been shown to significantly protect against oxidative stress, as well as to have positive effects on blood flow. The USANA/BU team suspected that the powerful antioxidants could support healthy blood flow through supplementation of these two key nutrients together.

Researchers gave study participants, who were already diagnosed with CAD, either a placebo or 450 mg of grape-seed extract and 1500 mg of vitamin C. Blood samples were taken four hours after receiving the first dose, then again four weeks after taking the same dosage every day.

Those in the treatment group showed improved antioxidant levels. Blood flow response also showed significant improvement following the 28-day treatment relative to the placebo group.

These results suggest (PDF) that grape-seed extract and vitamin C, working together, may help improve vascular function in people with CAD, even in tiny peripheral blood vessels. The results of this study were so impressive they were shared at an event sponsored by the American Heart Association.

But did you know that not all healthy habits are created equal, either? It’s true. Some are better for your heart than others.

An Apple a Day

I’m sure you’ve heard the old adage, “an apple a day keeps the doctor away.” But you might be surprised that this phrase actually has some bite. Last year, a year-long study demonstrated that an apple a day can help reduce LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol. Good cholesterol reduces your risk for stroke or heart attack.

Already on top of this trend? You might be interested to know that Fuji apples, one of the United States’ top sellers, is not only one of the more expensive varieties you can buy, but also weighs in at a respectable but overall hefty-for-a-fruit 130 calories (they’re usually on the bigger side). Save a few bucks and about 50 calories per apple by switching to the tart and crisp Granny Smith apples.

Go Nuts

Eating nuts may reduce your risk of heart disease. High in omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and fiber (among other things), many kinds of nuts can be a great addition to your healthy diet. But there are a few downsides. Nuts have a lot of fat, and even though the fat is the good kind (unsaturated), it’s not a great idea to gorge on a huge mixed bowl. You also may have noticed that nuts come in lots of different varieties. The extra flavors and salting quickly turn these healthy snacks into dangerous diet destroyers.

That being said, you have some healthy choices to make. Raw almonds are one of your best bets — each nut is only about 7 calories. But how do you make sure not to overindulge? One word: measure. A quarter cup holds about 25 to 30 almonds, adding up to around 200 calories. Personally, I keep a measuring cup with my almonds so I never forget to measure out a respectable amount.

Like to make eating an event? Try pistachios. Shelling the nuts while you eat takes time, making it seem like you’re eating more than you actually are.

Eating Veggies

Everyone knows vegetables are a crucial part of a healthy diet. And this Mayo Clinic article says the vitamins and minerals in vegetables may help prevent cardiovascular disease, which is an obvious benefit to that heart of yours.

But did you know that cooking some vegetables reduces the amount of nutrients you get from eating them?

It’s true. This U.S. Department of Agriculture PDF describes how water leaches water-soluble vitamins, such as vitamin C and B vitamins, out of food, and how contact with air saps away vitamins A, C, E, K, and B vitamins as well. Avoid soaking your vegetables, and instead, try steaming them with as little water as possible. To keep the air from getting to your vegetables, cut them right before you plan on eating them, and serve them raw or just slightly cooked (read: tender) as often as possible.

There is an exception to this rule, though: tomatoes. Okay, so technically tomatoes are fruits, but hear me out anyway. A study conducted in 2002 found that cooking tomatoes actually boosted the amount of lycopene in the fruit. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant that helps protect cells against the damage free radicals cause when we burn oxygen for energy.

So, remember your heart this Valentine’s Day, and eat something good for it.

P.S. Flowers are much healthier (and prettier) than chocolates. Just sayin’.

But there’s excitement off the hill as well for the USANA-sponsored squad, highlighted by tonight’s world premiere of the documentary film “Ready to Fly.”

Here’s a description from the film’s website.

“Since childhood, as a wide-eyed 7-year-old ski jumper with a dream of Olympic flight, Lindsey Van was thrust into a fight that’s far bigger than her dreams, larger than ski jumping or even sport. An outsider in a man’s world, she battles entrenched attitudes and seemingly omnipotent gatekeepers, as she and her ad hoc women’s ski jumping family set out to prove that women deserve to compete at the highest level: in the Winter Olympics.

“This powerful true story tells a tale of sacrifice and determination, of pluck and tragedy, as a very special group of unlikely heroes triumph over massive obstacles to achieve their dreams and change the world for other women in the process.”

Visit www.readytoflyfilm for additional information about the film and a schedule of screenings. A DVD of the film is also available for pre-order on the site.

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

If you’re unable to view the video, please click here.

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Get ‘Up to Speed’ with US Speedskating

If like us you are a fan of US Speedskating, we encourage you to visit the organization’s website and stay “Up to Speed” with all the happenings. The site is filled with exciting accomplishments and updates you can share with your friends.

We wish the team the best this weekend.

On a related note, USANA is excited to extend its partnership agreement with US Speedskating. You might have seen the blog post from the Jan. 18 festivities.

Several of the speed skaters took time to visit with What’s Up, USANA? Here is a series of short videos we recorded with the athletes (and Olympic gold medalist Derek Parra):

Click here to view the video on YouTube.

If you’re unable to view the video, please click here.

Additional videos…

• Matt Plummer
• Patrick Meek
• Rebekah Bradford
• Travis Jayner

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Hannah Kearney (USA) wins the Ladies Moguls event at the 2012 USANA Lake Placid Freestyle Cup. Photo: Harald Marbler and Garth Hager

USANA Freestyle Cup

It’s been fun watching world-class skiers and snowboarders compete this year and knowing these elite athlete now trust their health to USANA.

Congratulations to the competitors at the recent USANA Freestyle Cup in Lake Placid. Did you catch the excitement on NBC late last month?

The athletes arrive in Utah — right in our backyard — this weekend for the Sprint U.S Snowboarding Grand Prix at Canyons in Park City.

One athlete who won’t be competing this weekend, however, is pro snowboarder and USANA Brand Ambassador Lindsey Jacobellis.

Our thoughts are with Lindsey, whose incredible start to the season — including three straight wins — has been interrupted by a knee injury suffered late last month. We are wishing her a full and speedy recovery and can’t wait to see her back in action!

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Additionally…

• Did you catch Kathy Kaehler’s feature on Self.com? Here’s the slideshow with excellent tips, and here’s a video showing you how it’s done.
• Nolan Kasper, a member of the US Ski Team and USANA Brand Ambassador, wrote this blog during a recent trip to Europe. Be sure to follow his updates on Twitter @NolanKasper.
• A few USANA folks will be touring the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Center of Excellence in Park City next week. Stay tuned for information, photos, etc. from the tour.
• Welcome to the newest members of Team USANA: Mexico’s six national soccer teams. Look for more information on this soon.
• A must-see fight: Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley vs. Manny Pacquiao scheduled for June 9 in Las Vegas. Wow! Here’s the USANA connection for Timothy and Manny.
• University of San Francisco women’s head basketball coach Jennifer Azzi is featured in the latest “Dishin & Swishin” podcast on hoopfeed.com.

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And Finally…

Congratulations to the Roush Performance #61 Ford Mustang team of Billy Johnson and Jack Roush, Jr., two newer members of Team USANA who drove to victory at the season-opening Grand-Am road racing event in Daytona!

Here’s a photo you might have seen floating around Facebook… Can you spot the USANA logo?

Photo: Sput Dodge/Billy Johnson

For additional information about all USANA-sponsored athletes, please visit www.usana.com and don’t forget to like USANA Athletes on Facebook and follow @TeamUSANA on Twitter. For previous athletes updates, please visit here.

Many of the mentioned athletes are either distributors or dedicated users who have received compensation for their partnership and/or complimentary USANA products.