Four More Ways to Ward off Burglars

We struck a nerve again...

After Tuesday's essay – "Seven Tips to Protect Your Home From Burglars" – our inbox was flooded with people sharing their own experiences and tips.

A retired Phoenix, Arizona police officer wrote us with four more tips to protect your home...

  1. For your common everyday person, save your money on burglar alarms. By the time police arrive the burglar has obtained what he wants from your home and business and is GONE!
  2. High quality glass does deter entry but not as much as protector screens and/or roll down security shutters.
  3. Utilize security doors or iron entry doors where it applies, top-notch locks, or a steel door if you can afford it along with steel frames (especially if you have a double front door).
  4. Visible quality cameras with infrared capability (I use them inside and out of my business). Cameras must be out of reach to burglars, recording devices are preferable, and use wireless if possible or keep wires where burglars can't find or see them.

    Do not depend on the police to be on time to stop burglars. Police are only deterrents if they are at the right place at the right time. Most cities are undermanned and requests for service far exceed the number of police available.

    Thanks Doc for all the info you put together for us. – G.E., Ph.D.

Thanks for your e-mail, G.E. We hope these ideas, along with our seven tips, help readers keep their homes and families safer.

Q: Doc, love your writings, but missed your white potato bashing. Can you help me find it? I'm seriously interested. Regular reader and loyal follower. – J.L.

A: I've warned people against eating white potatoes several times over the years. Retirement Millionaire subscribers can find two such warnings here and here.

Not everyone knows that white potatoes (like russet potatoes) are a high glycemic index food. That means eating white potatoes will spike your blood sugar.

Colored potatoes, like sweet potatoes and purple/blue potatoes, have a low glycemic index. So while they'll still raise your blood sugar, it won't be as much or as fast as white potatoes.

According to the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, sweet potatoes help keep your blood sugar in a safe range. That makes them a good choice for diabetics.

White potatoes are also high on the Environmental Working Group's (EWG) ranking of pesticides in food. In the most recent list, potatoes ranked the 15th highest in terms of pesticides, while sweet potatoes ranked 34th.

Q: You wrote:

"We've only seen Republicans own the White House and both houses of Congress for four years, from 2003 through 2007 under President George W. Bush. During those sessions, the market returned 12.8%."

Why wasn't 2008 part of that period of Bush + House + Senate, all Republican? – Thanks. J.W.

A: We looked at the data by Congressional sessions. The 108th and 109th Congressional sessions were Republican-dominated. During the 110th Congressional session (the last one of George W. Bush's presidency), the Democrats controlled both the Senate and the House of Representatives.

Q: Do you have any opinions on iodine (supplements) or a good way to get the amount needed. Seems there might be some evidence that many people are low. Value your opinion. Thank you. – A.R.

A: Iodine is essential for keeping your thyroid healthy. There are lots of healthy ways to get iodine without resorting to supplements.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), people need about 150 micrograms of iodine per day. One serving of foods like seaweed and kelp noodles have about a full day's worth of iodine. A quarter teaspoon of iodized salt (table salt or sea salt) contains 45% of you daily iodine needs.

You can also get iodine from foods like seafood, cheese, and yogurt.

What We're Reading...

Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,

Dr. David Eifrig and the Retirement Millionaire Daily Research Team
November 11, 2016