Featured "Just when you thought it was safe to own Facebook again..."
That was the opening of an e-mail my friend and colleague Dan Ferris sent me just after social media behemoth Facebook (FB) announced its second-quarter earnings.
On Wednesday night, Facebook shares collapsed after the company revealed it missed analysts' expectations on growth and revenue.
Facebook's value plunged nearly $120 billion... the biggest one-day loss for a company on a U.S. stock exchange.
Dan wasn't shocked by the news. In fact, at Stansberry Research's annual conference in September 2017, Dan warned attendees...
[Facebook] is one of the all-time great businesses in the history of humanity... [But it] will become the victim of enormous cultural and regulatory backlash.
The first time I met Dan was more than 10 years ago in his home in Medford, Oregon.
He was one of the most dedicated financial researchers I'd seen. His office was piled with books and annual reports. So many, in fact, he also had bookshelves in his garage. He only took a break to eat two hot dogs for lunch, the same lunch he ate each and every day.
Dan's knowledge and devotion to stocking picking is one reason he holds the top open recommendation here at Stansberry, with a current gain of nearly 400%.
He's even in the Stansberry Research Hall of Fame for helping his subscribers earn 631% on alcohol giant Constellation Brands (STZ).
Dan has a simple strategy – buy stocks when they're safe and cheap, and sell when they're expensive and unsafe.
In the most recent issue of his value-focused newsletter, Extreme Value, Dan recommended one of the world's most resilient and misunderstood brands... with 70% upside potential and limited downside.
If you're not an Extreme Value subscriber, click here to get started.
Q: I have searched and searched the website for Doc's writing on what he calls the "white killers" and I can't find the article. Can you help? – R.W.
A: "White killers" are white flour, sugar, and white rice. These highly processed foods contribute to massive inflammation. Inflammation is the root of so many medical problems, including heart disease and diabetes. You can read more about the dangers of white killers right here.
Q: I visited my doctor today and they recommended the Recombinant Zoster Vaccine ("RZV") vaccine. I am 53 and wonder how you feel about this new vaccine. – D.W.
A: If you're over 50, you should get the shingles vaccine. It clearly cuts down both the pain and the actual occurrence of the disease. In a large, five-and-a-half-year study of more than 38,500 men and women across 22 sites in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs system, the vaccine was found safe compared with a placebo.
The usual complaints from a vaccine occurred: redness, swelling, pain, and irritation at the site of injection. Otherwise, this vaccine appears to be quite safe, and it reduces the pain and occurrence of the disease by at least 50%.
The other good news is that the vaccine could cost less than $200. And while not every insurance company pays for it, Medicare Part D covers it the same way it covers regular vaccinations. And even if you have to pay cash... relative to the pain and suffering this disease causes, it could be the best health care money you ever spend.
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Q: Are you talking about vitamin D or D3 or are they the same? Thanks for clarifying. – K.V.
A: There are actually a few different types of vitamin D. Vitamin D3 is what our bodies make naturally from sunlight and is still the best source for us. The most common vitamin D2 you find in supplements is made by irradiating certain types of fungus (sounds appetizing, right?).
You can find both types in supplements. However, we still advocate getting your vitamin D naturally instead. If you find you must take a supplement, look for one with D3 – it's closer to what we make naturally.
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Q: What is your current thinking about dietary and saturated fat? And do you think that people should take statin drugs to lower cholesterol? – R.W.
A: Not all saturated fats are created equal...
We know that saturated fat increases inflammation. But some types of saturated fats actually have health benefits.
Monounsaturated fatty acids (or "MUFAs") keep insulin levels in check and help with cholesterol levels.
Polyunsaturated fats, including omega fatty acids, are necessary for our brain health.
We need natural fats to be healthy. We recommend these in order of importance: monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and some saturated fats. Avoid trans fats altogether. Our bodies cannot break down trans fats easily... They upset our immune systems and trigger inflammation.
As for statins... Statins are overprescribed and have dangerous side effects. They can cause cataracts, diabetes, muscle weakness, and memory loss.
We strongly believe in prevention and finding more natural treatments when possible. More important, our job is to give you the information you need to take control of your health. You can cut your inflammation naturally by eating right and exercising, thus helping prevent atherosclerosis and future heart disease. But do your own research and ask your doctor tough questions about the best treatment plan for you.
- Something different: What's your regional anthem?
Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
July 27, 2018