Ask Doc Cryptocurrencies are the Wild West of the investment world.
Crypto bulls say this is the future of finance... But owning and lending cryptocurrencies is complex. There are the well-established names like bitcoin, but others just seem crazy...
Take Dogecoin, for example. It started out as a joke but swelled with the high-profile support of Tesla founder Elon Musk – and now has a market cap of around $35 billion. Even Gene Simmons and Snoop Dogg joined in on the Dogecoin fad. Who would have guessed you could make money from a currency based on a meme?
Some cryptocurrencies are downright dangerous...
Last week, a cryptocurrency based on the massively popular Netflix series Squid Game – SQUID – plummeted to $0 after the creators of the currency took more than $2 million from investors.
But I'm constantly hearing from readers who want to know how they should invest in cryptos.
Longtime readers might be familiar with my colleague Eric Wade.
Eric knows all the biggest players in the cryptocurrency industry, and he understands the scientific technicalities in a way that only angel investors, computer programmers, and software engineers can match...
If you tried to do this kind of research on your own, you'd have to travel thousands of miles a year and spend thousands of dollars on tickets to crypto conferences where the best coins and tokens are unveiled.
Instead, every month in his research service called Crypto Capital, Eric does all that work for you. He simply hands you the names of his best crypto recommendations, along with his in-depth analysis each month, based on intense due diligence nobody else is doing at this level.
According to Eric...
An unprecedented event that's guaranteed to happen on January 11 is about to unleash $10 million worth of bitcoin in new wealth, giving you a chance to make decades worth of gains in as little as three months.
On Wednesday, November 17 at 8 p.m. Eastern time, Eric will explain why you don't want to miss what will happen in January, and also discuss his brand-new model portfolio with five coins he has never revealed before. He'll even share one of these coins during this free event.
Sign up here to make sure you don't miss it.
Now, let's get into this week's Q&A... As always, please keep sending your questions and comments to [email protected].
Q: Hi Doc, I was hoping you would discuss your opinion of the Cologuard test for people over 70. I have had two with negative results. I have no history of such cancer in my family and my doctor felt it was OK. Thanks for all the great information you provide. – J.Y.
A: We get a lot of questions about colonoscopies, including some about the newer "take home" options out there.
Stool-based tests require you to provide a stool sample, which you can do at home. These tests include the fecal immunochemical test ("FIT"), the guaiac-based fecal occult blood test (gFOBT), and the one most folks have likely heard of – sDNA-FIT, like Cologuard. These tests look for blood in your stool that could come from a polyp growth or other cancer cells.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force – an independent panel of national experts – lists Cologuard as an approved screening strategy for colorectal cancer. Folks can do this test at home just once every three years. However, there's some concern over a higher false-positive rate than you would see with a traditional colonoscopy.
Blood and DNA take-home tests hold a lot of promise for folks who don't have high-risk factors for colon cancer. That's because they're so much less invasive. Traditional colonoscopies or sigmoidoscopies require unpleasant preparation drinks and an actual surgical procedure to insert a camera into your body. While it can be rare, that could bring risks for perforation and problems with anesthesia. So it might be worth it to try the at-home test first if it's a good option for you.
However, people with higher risk – like those with inflammatory bowel disease or a family history of colon cancer – still need the higher degree of certainty that a traditional screening provides.
Talk to your doctor to see if you're eligible for a take-home version and call your insurance company, too. Most should cover the cost, including Medicare, but not all of them do.
Q: Is there a difference between sea salt and regular salt? – P.H.
A: Sea salt involves little processing. It comes directly from evaporated seawater. Depending on its origin, it may include different minerals. These can change the color and taste of the salt. Table salt comes from salt mines underground and gets heavily processed. So the taste is consistent, but bland.
But differences in taste and appearance aside, sea salt doesn't offer any significant health benefits. The main difference is that table salt is almost always "iodized," meaning iodine is added to it. Iodine is essential for keeping your thyroid healthy. So if you're using mostly sea salt in your diet, make sure you get enough iodine from foods like seafood, cheese, and yogurt.
Because of the varied origins, the nutrients in different sea salts can vary. But some people claim certain types have more than 80 minerals and nutrient elements in small quantities and in similar proportions to the human body. The non-sodium salts and minerals may have some benefits, but the micro amounts mean the effects are less significant.
And remember, despite what many out-of-touch medical doctors may tell you, eating sodium at reasonable levels does not cause high blood pressure. And regardless, sea and table salt have roughly the same amount of sodium.
So do what I do... Don't worry about which one is "healthier." Enjoy them both.
What We're Reading...
- Don't spend yourself into ruin this holiday season.
- Something different: Be prepared for airline delays and cancellations.
Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,
Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
November 12, 2021