Ask Doc When inflation threatens, gold is king.
But despite rising inflation, gold has disappointed investors over the past couple years...
As we've written about before, the metal has a reputation as an inflation hedge. But this time, it has come up short. Even as inflation sent prices of many goods surging higher in 2021, gold fell about 3%.
And gold didn't start off this year much better...
We know that gold has value over the long term... especially in times of chaos. And right now, things are pretty chaotic. As you can see in the chart above, gold started moving higher once the banking crisis kicked off in March with the failure of Silicon Valley Bank.
And now, we're watching bad politics play out on Capitol Hill as Democrats and Republicans battle over the debt ceiling. While we hope both sides will come to their senses to prevent the U.S. from defaulting on its debt for the first time in history, I don't prefer putting my trust in big government.
That's why I've told readers for years to hold some gold to protect them from chaos.
Yesterday, gold-investing legend John Doody explained why chaos has created a perfect storm in gold, leading to a new bull market. As John said...
There's a right way and a wrong way to invest today, now that gold is in a new bull market.
Get it right, you could make a fortune.
But if you wait on the sidelines...
Or even worse, you don't know the right way to play this rare setup... you will miss out on this money entirely.
John also detailed the inner workings of the gold system he has spent his career building... and how it could help you achieve the retirement you've always dreamed of.
If you missed John's 2023 Gold Rush event, click here to catch up now.
Now, let's get into some of the things you've had on your minds this week. As always, keep sending your comments, questions, and topic suggestions to [email protected]. We read every e-mail.
Q: Hi Doc. Why do we need to limit salt intake and how do you do it? Almost all prepared foods and restaurant food seems to be highly salted. So we cook at home most of the time. Any suggestions? Thanks. – B.K.
A: For years, folks have treated salt as the enemy of health. That's not a notion I subscribe to. Too little salt is just as harmful as too much salt. Your body needs salt to function. In fact, one of my longtime researchers told me her doctor recommended she add a little extra salt to her diet to help improve her low blood pressure.
The nuances behind the benefits and risks of salt are a bit more involved than we can cover in a Q&A. But we've written about why blanket salt recommendations are harmful here.
For folks who do need to worry about their salt intake, they can read our tips for that here.
Q: Enjoy your advice very much, but disappointed about your advice for fish oil. Is flaxseed oil a better supplement? – G.C.
A: The problem with all supplements – which longtime readers will be familiar with – is a lack of regulation.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ("FDA") doesn't verify claims on packaging or the safety of supplements. The FDA often only steps in when folks start reporting adverse side effects.
Some of these dangers are already known... One popular supplement, colloidal silver, will not only turn your skin blue but can even lead to kidney damage and seizures. And it's regularly ranked on Consumer Reports' list of dangerous supplements and ingredients.
Another problem with supplements is dosage. Consider a study published recently in JAMA... Researchers from the Cambridge Health Alliance and the University of Mississippi looked at 25 melatonin gummies. These are popular supplements to help people fall asleep. Out of those 25, a whopping 22 were mislabeled. Some of the supplements had 347% more melatonin than was on the label. Too much melatonin actually makes it harder to sleep and can interfere with medications.
You asked in particular about flaxseed oil... As a food, flaxseed oil has some great health benefits (which we've touted before). A study published in the Skin Pharmacology and Physiology journal found that eating half a teaspoon of flaxseed oil for 12 weeks improved participants' skin hydration by 39%. It's also a good source of omega-3 fatty acids, which help reduce inflammation. Inflammation, as you might recall, is the culprit for diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and more.
So flaxseed oil is something you should consider having in your diet. But flaxseed-oil supplements aren't the same. The science isn't there to prove that flaxseed-oil supplements are good for you or that they're safe. In fact, we know that too much leads to diarrhea and loose stools.
Whenever you're tempted to try any supplement, consider what purpose it would serve and first seek out another way to get those benefits. Any time you can get that vitamin or other nutrient from your diet, it's safer and more effective than taking a supplement. So even when they're safe, treat supplements as a last resort.
And always do your research. (Or send us your question, and we'll do it for you!)
What We're Reading...
- Did you miss it? The golden wave is finally here.
- Something different: Is the IRS creating the next big tax-preparation tool?
Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,
Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
May 26, 2023
P.S. Our offices are closed for Memorial Day next Monday, May 29. Expect your next Health & Wealth Bulletin issue on Tuesday, May 30.