<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001311183-15-000001.txt : 20150116
<SEC-HEADER>0001311183-15-000001.hdr.sgml : 20150116
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20150116154644
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001311183-15-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20150115
FILED AS OF DATE:		20150116
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20150116

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NATURES SUNSHINE PRODUCTS INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000275053
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	PHARMACEUTICAL PREPARATIONS [2834]
		IRS NUMBER:				870327982
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			UT
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2500 WEST EXECUTIVE PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			LEHI
		STATE:			UT
		ZIP:			84043
		BUSINESS PHONE:		(801) 341-7900

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2500 WEST EXECUTIVE PARKWAY
		STREET 2:		SUITE 100
		CITY:			LEHI
		STATE:			UT
		ZIP:			84043

	FORMER COMPANY:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	AMTEC INDUSTRIES INC
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19821108

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			NOACK PAUL
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001311183

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-34483
		FILM NUMBER:		15532645

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O HERBALIFE INTERNATIONAL, INC.
		STREET 2:		1800 CENTURY PARK EAST
		CITY:			LOS ANGELES
		STATE:			CA
		ZIP:			90067
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0306</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2015-01-15</periodOfReport>

    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000275053</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>NATURES SUNSHINE PRODUCTS INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>natr</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001311183</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NOACK PAUL</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>2500 WEST EXECUTIVE PARKWAY, SUITE 100</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LEHI</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>UT</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>84043</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>President, China &amp; New Markets</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-01-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>37500</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>37500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-01-15</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>7000</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>44500</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Employee Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>14.89</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2015-01-14</value>
                <footnoteId id="F3"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F4"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2024-10-13</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>100000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares issued pursuant to a special incentive grant in the form of restricted stock units, each restricted stock unit represents the right to receive one share of NATR common stock. These shares will vest in three equal annual installments beginning on January 15, 2016.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Shares issued pursuant to a long-term incentive grant in the form of restricted stock units, each restricted stock unit represents the right to receive one share of NATR common stock. These shares will vest in three equal annual installments beginning on January 15, 2016.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">This option grant was approved by Nature's Sunshine Products' Board of Directors on December 4, 2014, subject to shareholder approval of an amendment to the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan under which the option was granted. The shareholders approved the amendment to the 2012 Stock Incentive Plan on January 14, 2015.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">This option vests in four equal annual installments upon the completion of each year of the reporting person's employment beginning on October 13, 2015.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Stephen M. Bunker as attorney-in-fact for Paul Noack</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2015-01-16</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
