Ask Doc Everyone's stressed about the stock market today. But you don't have to be.
That's because there's one secret to stop worrying and sleep well at night... having a smart, well-balanced portfolio that will withstand anything the world throws at it.
And the key to success? Proper asset allocation.
Stocks, bonds, real estate, gold, and other investments move in different directions and are influenced by different economic factors. By holding multiple asset classes, you reduce your risk and increase the return you get per "unit" of risk you take on. Having an intelligent portfolio of stocks, bonds, and other asset classes means you have less to worry about and more to gain.
Asset allocation doesn't guarantee returns, but it gets you closer and closer to a predictable rate of return. When you look back, you'll always wish you had more of what went up and less of what went down... But you'll never be able to do that. You're not going to double your retirement account in a year. But you will see stability and the beautiful effect of compounding. And that brings some powerful peace of mind.
Now, longtime readers know I spend a lot of time following the stock market, the bond market, and recommending my favorite chaos hedges. But one asset I don't often write about is real estate.
And if you're like most Americans, and your only real estate exposure is your home... you could be UNDER-exposed to this important sector, according to my friend Dr. Steve Sjuggerud.
That's why, next Wednesday, Steve is going to share ALL the secrets of his No. 1 investment strategy that he still personally uses to profit today.
During this event, Steve will even show you a brand-new kind of investment opportunity that has been off-limits to ordinary investors until recently.
You can find out what this opportunity is... and why Steve believes it's the No. 1 best way to get started in real estate right now.
Q: I have a question about the use of hand sanitizers: Is there a point where one can overuse them and possibly compromise one's immune system? I thought I read a while back that there were those who questioned the efficacy of disinfecting soaps and hand sanitizers. Could frequent lathering on of hand sanitizers to combat coronavirus germs lead to a weakened immune system? – S.W.
A: The biggest issue with hand sanitizers and antibacterial products was the ingredient triclosan. Triclosan messes with our hormones, hurts our hearts, and even leads to antibacterial resistance. (We've written about it before, here.) But in 2016, the FDA banned the use of triclosan in many products. Now, hand sanitizers work through high amounts of alcohol (70% or higher).
But antibiotic resistance is only for bacteria, not viruses (like coronavirus). The best way to kill the virus on our hands is washing with soap and water. That will break down the fatty outer layer of the virus and make it inactive. The alcohol in sanitizers does the same thing.
Personally, I think using hand sanitizer all the time is a good way to weaken the immune system. If you never get exposure, your body can't practice fighting off germs. But sometimes it makes sense to use it. During cold and flu season, it's a substitute when you can't get to a sink to wash with soap and water. The same applies for the coronavirus pandemic.
Q: Would you mind to comment if heat affects health benefits of curcumin? Is it better to add turmeric during cooking or after meal is ready? Thanks. – A.S.
A: For readers who aren't familiar, curcumin – a chemical in turmeric – has powerful antioxidant and antibacterial properties. Curcumin also has some cancer-fighting abilities, relieves joint pain, improves digestion, protects against memory loss, and prevents Type 2 diabetes in pre-diabetics.
According to a 2019 study out of China, heating curcumin through methods like boiling, frying, or roasting does somewhat limit the capacity of antioxidants. Out of these three cooking methods, boiling did the least amount of damage to the antioxidants.
If you want to get the full antioxidant hit, feel free to add it to your meal after you've finished cooking. Or add it to foods you don't cook, like salads. But don't worry too much about it because even with cooking, the antioxidants won't degrade enough to make them worthless.
Q: I've seen a reference to a Health & Wealth Bulletin where you discuss taking glucosamine as a supplement, but I can't find it in the archive on the Stansberry website. Can you point me in the right direction please? – M.P.
A: We just wrote about using glucosamine supplements. You can read that right here.
As always, we keep a full archive of our issues on our website – healthandwealthbulletin.com.
Please keep your questions, comments, and suggestions coming... [email protected].
What We're Reading...
- Did you miss it? Millennials are a tailwind for this sector.
- Something different: The FDA just approved a prescription video game to treat ADHD.
Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,
Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
June 19, 2020