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Total Balance Comparison
Total Balance Unisex Comparison with LifePak (December 2006)
Quick Facts
Monthly Cost
The monthly cost of Total Balance Unisex and LifePak is similar based on published retail prices, not taking into account loyalty program discounts or any discounts that LifePak may offer, and ignoring the extra cost to ‘upgrade’ LifePak as referred to in ‘Value for Money’ below.
Ingredient Content
1. Total Balance has more than double the quantity of nutrients than LifePak.
2. If the Vit C, Calcium and Magnesium are excluded Total Balance has almost seven times the quantity of nutrients.
3. LifePak has a total of 36 ingredients compared with 76 ingredients in Total Balance Unisex.
Delivery System
Total Balance Unisex is enteric coated which enables the release of all the active ingredients in the upper intestine instead of the stomach. All ingredients are therefore protected against degradation by stomach acids. LifePak does not have this sophisticated delivery system.
Value for Money and Effectiveness
LifePak is missing many of the highly active and beneficial ingredients present in Total Balance. It would be expensive for LifePak users to add these missing ingredients to their supplement regime! For example, to purchase just 7 of the missing 40 ingredients…Reservatrol, L-Glutathione, L-Carnosine, Beta-Glucan, Tumeric, Zeaxanthin and Policosanol it would add approximately another $94.67 to the monthly cost of LifePak.
This table
This table shows the ingredients and amounts in a full daily dose of Total Balance and its closest LifePak equivalent.
| TB Unisex | LifePak | | Recommended daily intake per product: | 6 tablets/day | 2 packets/day | | Total capacity and cost per product: | 180 tablets - US$71.50 | 60 packets - US$71.60 |
| Minerals | Minerals | Minerals | | Boron (from 12.3mgs of Boron Citrate) | 759mcgs | 3mgs | | Calcium (from 100mgs of Calcium Citrate, & 70mgs of DiCalcium Phosphate) | 37.2mgs | 500mgs | | Chromium (from 323mcgs if Chromium Nicotinate) | 40mcgs | 200mcgs | | Copper (from 2mgs of Copper Gluconate) | 280mcgs | 1000mcgs | | Iodine (from 500mcgs of Potassium Iodide) | 382mcgs | 100mcgs | | Magnesium (from 70mgs of Magnesium Citrate) | 10.5mgs | 250mgs | | Manganese (from 6mgs of Manganese Citrate) | 1.68mgs | 2mgs | | Potassium (from 20mgs of Potassium Citrate) | 7.23mgs | NIL | | Selenium (from 224mcgs of L-Selenomethionine) | 90mcgs | 140mcgs | | Silicon | NIL | 3mgs | | Vanadium | NIL | 20mcgs | | Zinc (from 10mgs of Zinc Citrate) | 3.21mgs | 15mgs | | 61.37mgs | 774.59mgs |
Notes:
1. LifePak allocates 24mgs to minerals other than Calcium and Magnesium. Total Balance Unisex 13.67mgs.
2. All minerals for Total Balance Unisex are listed as elementals. An assumption has been made that all minerals listed for LifePak are also elemental, but this may not be the case.
3. Total Balance Unisex does not include Vanadium as there is evidence which suggests that this substance can be toxic in the presence of Chromium or Iodine.
4. Total Balance Unisex does not include Silicon as it could possibly cause metabolism problems with other nutrients present in these formulas. Adequate amounts are normally present in the diet.
| Trace Elements | Trace Elements | Trace Elements | | Indium (from 2mg Indium Sulfate) | 676mcgs | NIL | | Lithium (from 319mcg Lithium Carbonate) | 60mcgs | NIL | | Rubidium (from 200mcg Rubidium Chloride) | 141mcgs | NIL | | Molybdenum (from 150mcg Sodium Molybdate) | 59.5mcgs | 75mcgs | | Tungsten (from 2mg Sodium Tungstate) | 1.11mgs | NIL | | Strontium (from 4mg Strontium Chloride) | 1.32mgs | NIL | | 3.36mgs | 0.075mgs |
Notes:
The additional 5 trace minerals included in the Total Balance Unisex formula are important co-factors for the health of the nervous system and bones and to assist in improving the efficacy of other nutrients.
| Active Enzymes | Active Enzymes | Active Enzymes | | Enzidase(R) FP Concentrate (400,000HUT) | 30mgs | NIL | | IsolaseTM PRO | 30mgs | NIL | | Lipase (8,000LU/g) | 10mgs | NIL | | 70mgs | NIL |
Notes:
These enzymes are important co-factors in helping reduce the molecular size of some nutrients to help them to pass through the intestinal wall for better absorption.
| Vitamins & Co-Factors | Vitamins & Co-Factors | Vitamins & Co-Factors | | Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) | 6mgs | NIL | | Betaine HCL (Trimethyl Glycine) | 70mgs | NIL | | Beta Carotene - providing 5000IU's (from Algae) | 32mgs | | | Note: LifePak use a combination of Vitamin A and Beta Carotene | | 15,000IU | | Biotin | 500mcgs | 300mcgs | | Folic Acid | 300mcgs | 600mcgs | | PABA (Para-Amino Benzoic Acid) | 50mgs | NIL | | Piperine (95% from Black Pepper) | 10mgs | NIL | | Tocotrienols (TOCOMIN(R)) | 10mgs | NIL | | Vitamin B1 (Thiamine HCL) | 10mgs | 7.5mgs | | Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin) | 10mgs | 8.5mgs | | Vitamin B3 (Niacinamide) | 24mgs | 40mgs | | Vitamin B5 (Calcium D-Pantothenate) | 40mgs | 30mgs | | Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine HCL) | 6mgs | 10mgs | | Vitamin B12 (Diencozide) | 10mcgs | 30mcgs | | Vitamin C (as Calcium Ascorbate) | 60mgs | 500mgs | | Vitamin D3 (as Cholecalciferol) | 300IU | 400IU | | Vitamin E (as D-Alpha-Tocopherol Succinate) | 100IU | 300IU | | Vitamin K | NIL | 40mcgs | | 328.88mgs | 596.97mgs |
Notes:
1. For LifePak - 96.97mgs of actives are allocated to all other nutrients after Vitamin C.
2. For Total Balance Unisex - 236.81mgs are allocated to all other nutrients after Vitamin C.
3. Xtend-Life considers 15000IU's to be too high a dose of Vitamin A/Beta Carotene.
4. Total Balance Unisex incorporates 10mgs of a broad spectrum Tocotrienol to complement the Vitamin E and to increase its potency.
| Amino Acids | Amino Acids | Amino Acids | | Acetyl L-Carnitine | 100mgs | NIL | | L-Carnosine | 100mgs | NIL | | L-Glutathione (reduced) | 110mgs | NIL | | L-Methionine | 20mgs | NIL | | L-Proline | 100mgs | NIL | | L-Tyrosine | 200mgs | NIL | | N-Acetyl L-Cysteine | 35mgs | NIL | | 665mgs | NIL |
Notes:
1. Amino acids are crucial to good health and few people obtain sufficient from diet alone. Modest supplementation of these important nutrients is essential.
2. L-Glutathione is one of the most important nutrients in the body. It is rarely used in supplements because it is very expensive (80 times more expensive than Vitamin C) and also because it needs to be released in the upper intestine, which can only be achieved by enteric coating the tablet.
3. L-Tyrosine is an important precursor for the manufacture within the body of CoQ10 when combined with other co-factors in Total Balance.
| Flavanoids | Flavanoids | Flavanoids | | Citrus Bioflavonoids | NIL | 25mgs | | Hesperidin 94% (from Bitter Orange) (Glycoflavonoids) | 80mgs | NIL | | Myricetin (70% dihydromyricetin) from Wax Myrtle | 70mgs | NIL | | Polyphenol and Flavonoid Blend | NIL | 190mgs | | Quercetin (98%) from Buckwheat | 150mgs | 50mgs | | Rutin (from Blue-Green Algae) | 10mgs | NIL | | Soy Isoflavones | NIL | 5mgs | | 310mgs | 270mgs |
Notes:
1. Soy Isoflavones are not uncluded in Total Balance Unisex as this nutrient is not suitable for children of age 12.
2. Polyphenols are present in the Green Tea extract in Total Balance.
| Natural Supplements | Natural Supplements | Natural Supplements | | Alpha Lipoic Acid | 50mgs | 30mgs | | Alpha Carotene | NIL | 2mgs | | Beta-1,3 Glucan (94%) | 40mgs | NIL | | Carotenoid Blend | NIL | 9mgs | | DIM (3,3' Diindoloylmethane) | 50mgs | NIL | | DMAE (Dimethylaminoethanol) | 200mgs | NIL | | DMG (Dimethylglycine) | 25mgs | NIL | | Inositol (98% Myo-Inositol) | 35mgs | 10mgs | | Lutein (Carotenoid) | 5mgs | 2mgs | | Lycopene (Carotenoid) | NIL | 5mgs | | MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) | 215mgs | NIL | | Natural Soluble Fibre (from Seaweed) | 27mgs | NIL | | N-Acetyl D-Glucosamine (from marine sources) | 90mgs | NIL | | Phosphatidyl Choline (as Lecithin) | 75mgs | NIL | | Policosanol (60% Octacosanol) from sugar cane | 10mgs | NIL | | Polysaccharides (from Camellia Tea species) | 40mgs | NIL | | Ribonucleic Acid (RNA) | 50mgs | NIL | | Trans-Resveratrol (50%) | 32mgs | NIL | | Zeaxanthin (Carotenoid) | 2mgs | NIL | | 946mgs | 58mgs |
Notes:
1. Total Balance Unisex contains a significant number of very potent immune enhancing nutrients such as Beta Glucan, Polysaccarides, Resveratrol and others which are not found in LifePak.
2. It should be noted that not all carotenoids are 'equal'. Some are much more potent than others which reflects in their cost. For example, Zeaxanthin costs more than 20 times as much as Lutein.
| Herbal Extracts | Herbal Extracts | Herbal Extracts | | Aloe Vera Polysaccharides 200:1 (spray-dried) | 50mgs | NIL | | Bilberry (25% Anthocyanins) | 50mgs | NIL | | Black Cumin (from Nigella Sativa) | 100mgs | NIL | | Ginger (5% gingerols) | 100mgs | NIL | | Gotu Kola (10% Asiaticosides) | 100mgs | NIL | | Green Tea (98% Polyphenols & 80% Catechins) | 100mgs | 67.5mgs | | Grape Seed extract (95% Polyphenols) | NIL | 50mgs | | Hawthorne Berry (2% Vitexin Rhamnoside) | 100mgs | NIL | | Mahonia Grape (from Mahonia Aquifolium) | 100mgs | NIL | | Myrrh (5% Guggulsterones) | 50mgs | NIL | | Olive-Leaf (20% Oleuropein) | 100mgs | NIL | | Turmeric (98% Curcumin) | 180mgs | NIL | | 1,513mgs | 92.5mgs |
Notes:
The herbal extracts included in Total Balance Unisex are specifically designed to complement each other to maximize their individual potencies.
| SUMMARY | SUMMARY | | TB Unisex | LifePak | | | | | Active Ingredients | Active Ingredients | | | | | Daily (mgs) | Daily (mgs) | | With Vit C, Cal and Mag | 3,897 | 1,798 | | Without Vit C, Cal and Mag | 3,787 | 548 | | | | | Monthly | Monthly | | With Vit C, Cal and Mag | 116,910 | 53,940 | | Without Vit C, Cal, and Mag | 113,628 | 16,440 | | | | | Enteric Coating (This increases the efficacy of some ingredients manifold) | Yes | No | | | | | Cost per day | US$2.38 | US$2.38 |
FAQs
| | | | Q. Why separate out the Vitamin C, Calcium and Magnesium?
| | | | A. Most calcium deficiencies are not due so much to lack of calcium intake but rather through loss of calcium being leached from the bones. Total Balance Unisex has been designed to help prevent that loss. Calcium and Magnesium are very cheap (in some cases 1/80th - 1/100th the cost of some ingredients in Total Balance).
Sufficient dose amounts of these minerals have been included to meet the needs of most people. Separate supplementation for these minerals is recommended only if a need has been demonstrated. The cost for additional 'top up' supplementation for these three nutrients would range between $1.80 for Vitamin C and around $2.50 per month for Calcium/Magnesium combination.
| Q. What are the 'elementals' referred to in the mineral section?
| | | | A. This is an area of confusion with many people. You cannot have the actual mineral on its own in the supplement. It must be in another form to ensure it can be absorbed by the body. For example, Calcium Citrate only has around 24% Calcium present. The elementals are the actual amounts of the minerals provided in the supplement. Most companies however only list the gross amount of the material used.
| Q. What is enteric coating?
| | | | A. Learn about enteric coating by following this link.. In brief it protects the ingredients as they pass through the stomach and releases them in the upper intestine, where most nutrients in the body are then transported into the bloodstream.
| Q. What ingredients are protected by enteric coating the tablets?
| | | | A. There are a number, but the most important ones are L-Glutathione, Resveratrol and L-Carnosine.
| | | Q. What roles do the ingredients that are not in LifePak play?
| | | | A. If you go to the Ingredients tab on any of the Total Balance product pages on the xtend-life website you will find detailed explanations on each ingredient, together with relevant clinical data.
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