Ask Doc In 1987, I had one of the greatest moments of my financial career.
Back during my Goldman Sachs days, I met one of the firm's big-shot clients, who I'll call "John."
John had been on dialysis when a new drug changed his life. His story was so powerful, and his passion so strong, that I asked him the name of the drug. He said "E-P-O." The tiny company that made it was called Amgen.
Many of you will recognize Amgen as the preeminent biotechnology company in the world today... a $145 billion behemoth that pioneered the use of bioengineering in the development of drugs. But back in 1987, its success was anything but assured.
Amgen was merely one of at least 20 other equally promising biotech startups.
It was a risky play. But everything I learned about it looked great: The science made sense... and I figured any drug that could save or alter a life like John's was probably a good bet.
And it was. I easily made 20 times my money.
Some investors are too afraid to invest in biotech. They worry about putting their money into what looks to be breakthrough research, only for it to never reach consumers.
It's still possible to lose your shirt if you buy the wrong biotech stock. But this whole field is in the early makings of a massive boom...
Innovations are happening at a rapid pace, in multiple areas, at the same time. While many have been talked about for years, we're starting to see real results roll in.
As investors, we could try to bet on the next big drug or breakthrough with a small portion of our portfolios. But that's a difficult and risky proposition.
On Wednesday, I unveiled my No. 1 biotech stock to own this year. It's a strong, stable business with proven profitability... and still offers the potential for triple-digit returns... without the risk of buying small startups.
In my just-released video, I also explained why we're in the middle of a pivotal moment for the biotech sector and why I expect things to surge even higher.
Click here for all the details.
Q: You have told us of the many health benefits coffee has for us. Does decaffeinated coffee also have the same benefits as regular coffee?
I have been a longtime subscriber to both of your monthly investment letters and find them very helpful with financial and health concerns. Keep up the informative work. You are helping a lot of people. – B.E.
A: Thanks for your longtime readership and support, B.E.!
For years, the research pointed to the benefits coming from the caffeine in coffee. But more and more studies show that decaf coffee has benefits, too.
Coffee – regular or decaf – contains antioxidants like hydrocinnamic acids and polyphenols. We know that antioxidants battle inflammation, which is a major cause of diseases like type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, and heart disease. We've seen plenty of studies that show coffee offers nearly identical benefits regardless of whether it's caffeinated or not.
A 2012 study from the National Institutes of Health showed drinking coffee lowered the odds of dying from causes like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Study participants who drank two to three cups a day lowered their risk of dying during the yearlong study period by 10%... The outcome was the same whether participants drank coffee with caffeine or without.
So if you can't or don't want to drink caffeine, you'll still get benefits from a cup of decaf.
Q: Can I use coconut oil as a healthy fat replacement for olive oil? – L.Z.
A: Regular readers know I love olive oil. It has medium-chain fatty acids and proven benefits, including lowering your risk of cardiovascular disease. And olive oil contains monounsaturated fats that help keep insulin levels in check, making it good for diabetics.
Coconut oil shows promise, too. While it has some saturated fat – known to trigger inflammation – new research suggests that different types have different effects based on the length of a saturated fat's carbon chain (longer chains are worse).
Coconut oil has medium-chain saturated fat. These chains can more easily pass through our bodies than long-chain fats. Plus, our livers help break them down easier, meaning you gain less weight. So you don't need to limit coconut oil just because of the saturated fat.
We've also seen a few promising studies that suggest coconut oil reduces inflammation in cases of arthritis and bowel disease.
Still, we remain cautious. We want to see more long-term human studies before we recommend replacing olive oil.
So until I see more evidence to change my mind, I'm sticking with olive oil.
As for cooking... definitely stay away from coconut oil. As I mentioned last month, coconut oil has a much lower smoke point than olive oil.
What We're Reading...
- An oldie, but a goodie: Imagine getting an olive-oil prescription from your doctor.
- Something different: Vaccinated Americans might be able to take a European vacation this summer.
Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,
Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
May 21, 2021