The steps you take are the steps you make...

The carbon footprint we leave has a lasting effect on the Earth, from the smallest light bulb to the biggest landfill. Everything we do today from driving to work to leaving our TV on while we sleep is emitting carbon pollution into our world.

Do you sometimes think "I’m just one person, what impact am I really making on the environment and what could I do about it?” The truth is that every little thing counts. Every little thing that you do to try and conserve energy makes a big difference in the world that you live in tomorrow.

Sure, we’ve heard the “green talk” before. But lets think about it from a different perspective. How does your body feel when you’ve eaten junk food or when you’re tired, overworked and stressed? You most likely feel drained mentally and physically. You feel sluggish and you’re definitely not performing at your optimal level. The longer you put your body through this strain, the more detrimental it is to your health and to your well-being. That is exactly what the Earth is going through.

The more we fill the Earth with rubbish the more tired and sluggish it becomes and the more likely it is of not performing at it’s optimal level.

This in turn affects us. All the rubbish we dump onto the Earth affects the food we eat, the water we drink and the air we breathe. You try every day to put good nutrients into your body to optimize your health and well-being

but where are you getting those nutrients from? Straight from the Earth - the water, fruit, vegetables and even the meat.

The more you put back into the Earth, the more you’re putting back into your body. Human health and environmental health should go hand-in-hand because the benefits for you and your family are endless. How?

Take a look at these 10 tips to help you feel better and your health last longer:

1) Switch off unused lights
2) Change to energy efficient light globes
3) Switch off appliances on standby
4) Make it a habit to turn off your computer
5) Bring your shopping bags for groceries

6) Print on both sides of paper
7) Use recycled paper
8) Switch to Greenpower
9) Use Public Transport, Walk, or Ride a Bike

10) Recycle, recycle, recycle

Don’t forget to take part in Earth Hour this Saturday March 27, 2010 from 8:30pm – 9.30pm. Switch off your lights and have a party by candlelight. Go to www.earthhour.org for more information. Your body and the Earth will thank you for it.

USANA supports a healthy mind, body and healthy earth.

Goal Setting 101

Have you ever wondered why you fall short of achieving the goals you have set for yourself whether in your personal life, career, on the sports field or academically? Perhaps you're not working on your goals or maybe it's more that your goal setting process is steering you in the wrong direction before you even begin.

Setting goals provides focus, motivation and a great sense of achievement when you get to tick them off at the end of the day, month or year. Once you have identified what it is you want to achieve get smart about it.

Set yourself up for success by setting goals using the S.M.A.R.T system. S.M.A.R.T goals are:

Specific - Start by identifying a clear, concise and specific goal. So instead of setting a goal such as 'I want to be healthier' set a goal that specifically outlines what you want to achieve e.g. 'I will lose 5 kgs in 2 months'.

Measurable - You should be able to clearly measure your progress in achieving the goal and have a finite result at the end. So when you identify the goal identify the measurement of success, such as weigh-ins with specific targets or a weigh-in at the end of 2 months.

Attainable - Setting a goal that is unattainable is setting yourself up for failure. You should have short and long term goals so that you have small successes on your way to the ultimate goal. So if exercising everyday is out of your reach right now start with something more attainable like exercising 2-3 times a week.

Realistic - Setting goals you can realistically achieve will help with motivation and focus. Even if your goal is big you can start by setting realistic short term goals to get you across the finish line. No goal is too big or small so long as you plan for success smartly.

Timely - Finally set yourself a reasonable time frame for achieving your goal.

Avoid using general statements for your goals that do not include a time by which you hope to achieve the goal. e.g. instead of saying you want to create a business empire in 2 months, say you will create a growing and profitable business within 1 year. Then break down your goal into attainable short term steps.

Start yourself down the smart track with your USANA business opportunity and highest quality nuntritional products.

Low GI Symbol: what does it mean?

Low GI foods help you manage blood glucose levels, reduce risk of diabetes and heart disease, and maintain a healthy weight. The Low GI Symbol helps everybody make healthier food choices for long term health, well being and sustained energy.

The Gylcemic Index (GI) is a measurement for the effect that a carbohydrate food has on blood sugar levels. For example a food with a high GI level could be something like a cake, lollies or even white bread. These type of high GI foods give your insulin levels a quick spike. Energy is absorbed quickly into your body and used quickly and dissipates rapidly.

Foods with low GI levels like pasta and oats are absorbed slowly into the body and the energy is distributed evenly and for a prolonged period of time. Energy last longer because insulin levels are slowly increase rather than spiking.

A low GI diet is highly recommended and with an array of benefits. Low GI diets help maintain a healthy weight, lower cholesterol, manage insulin within the body effectively, increasing endurance, and replace carbohydrates after exercise.

Foods with a low GI rating provide greater satisfaction and fill you up more, preventing the onset of hunger for longer. Because low GI foods are absorbed slowly into the body they are more effective in giving you sustained sustenance which is useful for people trying to manage weight.

Looking at foods to incorporate into your diet? Look for foods with a low GI symbol. This is comparable to the Heart Foundations tick and will help you to achieve balance with your energy levels as well as providing many other health benefits.

Check out the great range of USANA Foods which are all formulated as low GI.

Here are some foods with a low GI rating:

· Oat Bran
· Rolled Oats
· Wholegrain Bread
· Sourdough Rye
· Carrots
· Eggplant
· Broccoli
· Mushrooms
· Tomatoes
· Wheat Pasta
· Sweet Potatoes
· Peanuts
· Walnuts

Staying Younger Longer

You are not alone if you feel the pull towards trying to halt or turn back the clock on your body. The good news is whilst you can’t stop the clock you can do lots of things to ensure you stay younger longer and keep your body and mind in great shape as you age.

There are many factors that influence how a person ages. Our bodies respond significantly to the way they are treated. Lifestyle, diet, stress levels, work and family can all affect the way a person ages.

If you abuse your body with bad lifestyle choices and excessive behaviours or if you have a highly stressful job and get little exercise you are on the fast track to aging before your time.

The most effective way to slow down the clock is to look after yourself. Get enough sleep, eat, drink and party in moderation. Gain a work life balance that allows you time for relaxation, exercise, family and holidays. Maintain a healthy balanced diet and ensure you are getting the right kind of nutritional intake for your body.

Regular exercise as you age is very important. People who have been physically active in their lives are more likely to age better and suffer less from problems related to inactivity like high blood pressure and obesity. If you struggle to stay active find something that you can enjoy with family or friends, take up a new sport or activity, try getting into a routine with your exercise.

Supplement your diet where necessary as you age to ensure you are not lacking essential components you need to stay fit and healthy.

Try USANA’s OptOmega and Active Calcium Plus to support a youthful, new you!