Looking At the Ingredients First
Founded on the philosophy of offering products in harmony with nature and good health, Shaklee adheres to the principles that were established by our founder, Dr. Forrest C. Shaklee in 1956. When ingredients are selected for products, Shaklee holds to two important principles. These principles set them apart as a company and they are the basis for our advanced approach to product development and production. First of all, Shaklee ingredients must be as natural as possible. Secondly, those ingredients must reflect the most recent scientific and technological advances. The superior quality of Shaklee products is a result of this respect for nature's wisdom and their use of state-of-the-art research and production methods. Information is the key to understanding. In our Nutritional Products Ingredient Glossary, you will find a description of every ingredient found in Shaklee nutritional products. Included is information about ingredient sourcing and processing, as well as the roles the ingredients perform in our products and in our bodies.
Natural Ingredients
Our number one priority is to use natural ingredients in our products whenever possible. In fact, when you look through the glossary, you will notice that the vast majority of our ingredients are naturally sourced and are categorized as natural. For example, beta carotene is harvested from specially grown algae, and vitamin E is obtained from soybean oil. We also include many plant-derived ingredients in our products as potential sources of what Dr. Shaklee referred to as unknown nutritional factors, or, those dietary factors that may be important to health but have yet to be identified by scientists. The mineral ingredients that we use are also categorized as natural ingredients. Minerals are natural elements of the earth, and some are dietary essentials for good health. Sometimes, essential minerals can be sourced directly as they are found within the earth-for example, calcium from limestone. But more commonly, minerals must be purified and bound to specific carriers to enhance their bioavailability and digestibility. When a mineral source has a carrier, it is noted in the Nutritional Products Ingredient Glossary. Those mineral carriers include natural compounds like mineral salts, organic acids, and protein/amino acids.
Naturally Derived Ingredients
Although an ingredient may be found in nature, it may not occur in a concentration that is high enough for our high-potency formulations. Fortunately, such ingredients can often be derived from natural sources through processes such as fermentation. Vitamin C is a good example. Rose hips and acerola are two of nature's most concentrated sources of vitamin C, but they are not concentrated enough for high-potency vitamin C-containing formulations. Fortunately, vitamin C can be derived from the carbohydrate that is present naturally in corn through a multi-step process that includes fermentation. Ingredients like these are categorized as naturally derived. There are certain ingredients that are derived from natural sources that may be modified to perform a certain function. For example, soy lecithin can be modified to make hydroxylated soy lecithin. This modification of soy lecithin increases its solubility in water and enhances its ability to coat and protect tablets. So, modified natural ingredients like these are also categorized as naturally derived.
Scientifically Formulated Ingredients
Sometimes, a sufficiently concentrated source of an ingredient cannot be found in nature, nor can it be derived from natural sources. In these instances, advances in nutritional technology allow us to use highly bioavailable ingredients formulated from biochemical building blocks. Whenever we use these types of ingredients, they are tested thoroughly to ensure bioavailability, purity, and potency. The B vitamin, thiamin, is an example of a nutrient that is formulated from biochemical building blocks. Another category of scientifically formulated ingredients are those that originate from a natural source, but are modified so that their final form is structurally and functionally different. An example is the ingredient hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. Cellulose is a natural plant fiber. The cellulose is modified so that it takes on different properties that make it functionally advantageous to a product. Ingredients like these are categorized in the glossary as scientifically formulated.
Ingredients with Special Functions
Not only do Shaklee products contain a host of essential nutrients or important herbs, they often contain specific ingredients that have a functional role in improving the bioavailability or acceptability of a product. Scientifically Advanced Vita-Lea Multivitamin and Multimineral Dietary Supplement tablets, for example, are coated with a mixture of spirulina and cellulose gum. Spirulina gives Vita-Lea its natural green color and the cellulose gum coating makes the tablet smooth and easier to swallow. The core of each Vita-Lea tablet features another ingredient, croscarmellose sodium. Also called modified cellulose gum, croscarmellose sodium's function is to absorb water rapidly and promote the breaking apart of the tablet and subsequent release of nutrients for absorption. Another example of a product whose ingredients have specific functions; Sustained Release Vita-C 500 mg vitamin C supplement sustained-release tablet technology is based entirely on natural gums and waxes from plants.
The Shaklee Difference is our product ingredient philosophy which continues to set the highest standards. Our Nutritional and Herbal Products Ingredient Glossary is a reflection of the Shaklee philosophy and principles at work. Each ingredient is as natural as can be, and illustrates the leading advances in science and technology. That's the approach to making products that Dr. Shaklee pioneered: exacting the highest ingredient standard possible. The ingredients, though, are only one part of the Shaklee Difference. Our unique blend of ingredients coupled with the cumulative power of the ongoing science behind our products make Shaklee unique. The Shaklee Difference is reflected in our research, in our product development, in the care we take to adhere to strict clinical testing, and in our meeting the highest manufacturing standards in the industry. That's the combination that sets Shaklee products apart from all others. That's the Shaklee Difference - demanding and providing the best and the purest - by setting the highest of standards.
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