The Wealth Mistake Most Americans Make... and How You Can Fix It Today

If you're like most Americans, the bulk of your net worth is in two assets – your home and your retirement account.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 2015 report on household wealth, home equity and retirement accounts make up nearly 63% of the average American household's net worth.

If you're one of these people, you're making a huge mistake, especially with the uncertainty we're seeing in the stock market today

That's what my good friend and colleague Dr. Steve Sjuggerud told folks on Wednesday night...

For most American households, the bulk of your net worth is tied up in your home. Most Americans also see real estate as a better investment than stocks when it comes to generating long-term wealth. But for most folks, that's actually where the opportunity ends, which is a huge mistake. You see, real estate is actually the largest asset class in the world, with over $200 trillion invested in it. That's 3 times larger than the stock market. So, for most folks, I think it makes sense for the majority of your portfolio to be in real estate, especially now...

As the famous industrialist Andrew Carnegie said, 90% of all millionaires became so through owning real estate. And even though that was over 100 years ago, I think the same is still true today. It's why I keep pouring my own money into the real estate market. You see, even though you know me for my work on stocks, ETFs, and major market trends, the overwhelming majority of my own personal investable net worth is invested in the real estate markets.

That's why Steve just launched a brand-new research service, True Wealth Real Estate, where he's finally sharing his secrets on how to substantially grow your wealth in the real estate market.

Don't worry... Steve's secret isn't flipping properties, becoming a landlord, or anything involving stacks and stacks of paperwork to sign. It's much, much simpler than that. And, as Steve said, "the long-term possibilities in real estate totally crush the opportunities we see in stocks, bonds, gold, or anything else right now."

If you missed Steve's presentation, I urge you to watch it while it's still available, right here.

Q: What's your opinion on apple cider vinegar with all of its promised health benefits? I tried the liquid, but quickly stopped because of the awful taste. I now see it is offered in capsules and the reviews say you just need to get around its powerful smell. I would like your opinion please. – D.S.

A: We've touched briefly on apple cider vinegar in the past regarding its use for heartburn. Apple cider vinegar contains acetic acid, so including it in your diet may help raise your stomach acid. Now, some reflux is due to low stomach acid. In these cases, apple cider vinegar may help. But if your problem is too much acid, it could worsen the situation instead.

There's little research into home remedies like apple cider vinegar, so there isn't any scientific support for many of the health claims. We did find a few small studies suggesting that it may help with blood sugar control. Each study involved liquid apple cider vinegar, not pill form. The results did show that after eating or upon waking, folks had lower spikes in blood sugar.

If you're already on medication for heartburn or blood sugar control, check with your doctor before adding apple cider vinegar to your diet. And remember, there are other lifestyle changes that work even better. These include exercising for blood sugar regulation and cutting out foods that trigger heartburn.

Q: I recently read a wonderful article about the health benefits of eating eggs and the best way to cook them. I neglected to bookmark it and now can't find it. Can you point me in the right direction?

Thanks! – D.W.

A: You've come to the right place, D.W. Here at Health & Wealth Bulletin, we believe in enjoying your eggs. Lots of folks believe the cholesterol myth and the headlines that claim eggs are bad for you. But here's the truth...

There are two types of cholesterol – dietary cholesterol and blood cholesterol. Dietary cholesterol comes in the foods that we eat. Blood cholesterol is made by your liver. Structurally, they are the same, but dietary cholesterol has no effect on your blood cholesterol levels. In fact, eggs have some incredible health benefits, including lowering your blood pressure.

Research shows chemicals called ACE inhibitors are abundant in fried eggs. ACE inhibitors stop the body's production of angiotensin-converting enzymes. These enzymes are known to cause blood vessels to narrow, making the heart work harder.

This is one of the best treatments doctors know of to lower blood pressure. And since cooking the eggs releases the chemicals, feel free to eat your eggs fried, boiled, poached, or scrambled.

Q: I've taken your advice and begun consuming a small amount of olive oil. I use it once per week when I fry an egg for breakfast and I use it in my waffle batter. More frequently (four to five times per week) I use it during dinner to dip my bread in, instead of using butter on the bread. My question concerns using bread as the means to consume olive oil. I purchase small loaves of French, Italian, or Ciabatta bread to eat with dinner. My concern is that these breads are all "white" and therefore I assume are made with white flour which I know you disapprove of. Can you recommend the best breads to consume with olive oil? Thanks. – J.T.

A: I do love a little bit of bread to dip in olive oil. But if you're always choosing white breads, why bother with olive oil if you're canceling out the benefits?

Olive oil reduces risk of developing diseases of inflammation, including heart disease, arthritis, and high blood pressure. It also keeps insulin levels in check. White bread does, well... pretty much the opposite. White bread increases inflammation in your body, and it ranks high on the glycemic index, which means is raises your blood sugar.

The next time you pick up some bread, read the ingredients. Ideally the No. 1 ingredient is whole grain, or grains, then maybe water, and salt. I love seeded, stone-ground wheat breads and sprouted grain breads. But remember to eat bread in limited quantities.

Have you used our health and wealth advice to improve your life? We've love to hear from you at [email protected].

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Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,

Dr. David Eifrig and the Health & Wealth Bulletin Research Team
June 26, 2020