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International investments, health and wealth are
connected so here
are so more ideas on investing, business and wealth.
The investment idea of the day is that we should have diversified
currency portfolios because all currencies are vulnerable.
A recent message looked at the economic risks and consequences
of a
March 20, 2006 military strike on Iran and what this would do to
currencies.
A well informed reader shared more thinking on
the subject.
“Gary, I wanted to make a comment on the
bombing of Iran. If a
compromise can be worked out through Russia, I do not think we
will
bomb. Otherwise I view it as a near certainty. The leader of Iran
has
stated he wants Israel blown off the map. He says it does not matter
that losing his own country and its population. Israel is aware
of
these statements.
“Russia is selling Iran updated fighters,
and updated SAMs (surface
to air missiles). The activation date of these new weapons is likely
the
real time deadline for the strike. More than half the targets that
would have to be hit are non nuclear, to at least temporarily erode
the Iranian response. We recently sold Israel some of the large
bunker buster bombs, designed to destroy dams or for penetration
to deeply
buried sites. I have read all of the above on the Internet, by
the
way, or have heard it on the broadcast news. Assuming such a strike
occurs, what will the Iranian response be? I think the mildest
would be to quit exporting petroleum. The strongest would likely
be to destroy a couple of oil tankers, thereby blocking the Strait
of Hormuz, which is narrow, and cutting the world off from the
great majority of Middle Eastern oil. If this happens, oil at $250
a barrel would not surprise me. You might want to stock up a bit
in North Carolina.”
Let’s hope this scenario does not come to
fruition but if so one
wants a portfolio of well diversified currencies. The results of
such
disaster scenarios are incredibly hard to predict but having a
multicurrency portfolio enhances the chances of stability plus
if
such a portfolio returns 5%, 6% or even more the profit is also
good.
Learn more about safety and profit potential with
MultiCurrency
portfolios
As expected the comments
about saw palmetto in yesterday’s
message
opened a floodgate of response. Our good friend and main health
care
provider Dr. Joe Spano, wrote first.
“Dear Gary, Saw Palmetto
will be vindicated! That study related to a
small group of patients. I know my own personal experience that
it
very efficacious. I have many patients that refuse to give it up
because it relieves their symptoms.”
Another reader shared a published view by the
American Botanical Council that saw palmetto is okay.
Here are excerpts from that article: (Austin,
TX, February 8, 2006) The results of a new clinical trial on the
popular herb saw palmetto may confuse the public, especially men
with prostate problems, according to the American Botanical Council,
a nonprofit herb research and education group. The trial, published
this week in
the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM), found no significant
differences between a saw palmetto pill and a placebo in men with
moderate to advanced prostate problems. Saw palmetto is an herbal
dietary supplement that is widely recognized for its safety and
efficacy in treating mild to moderate symptoms associated with
benign
prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). BPH is a non-cancerous swelling of
the
prostate gland in older men, resulting in various symptoms associated
with the interruption of normal urinary flow. ‘Our primary
concern
with this trial is the relatively advanced condition of the prostate
problems in many of the men who were tested,’ said Mark Blumenthal,
Founder and Executive Director of ABC. Blumenthal emphasized that
the
men in this trial experienced moderate to severe symptoms of BPH,
although most of the previous controlled trials showing positive
results and efficacy for saw palmetto were conducted on men with
mild
to moderate symptoms of BPH. The men in the trial had scores between
8-35, i.e., moderate to severe BPH, according to the American Urological
Association Symptom Inventory (AUASI). ‘Most of
the
official international monographs that recognize the benefits of
saw
palmetto do so for stage 1 and 2 of BPH, i.e., the mild to moderate
range of BPH symptoms,’ said Blumenthal. ‘These include
monographs
from the German government and the World Health Organization.’ The
article said that the results of this trial need to be seen in
the perspective of the preponderance of the existing evidence,
including at least 21 controlled trials showing positive outcomes
with saw palmetto preparations.
Other readers offered alternatives to saw palmetto.
“Gary, Love your newsletter. There is a
herbalist in Australia named
Hilda Hemmes who discovered by accident a herb called epilobium.
This
stuff fixes men up very fast and very well. I had an enlarged prostate
a few years ago which made it hard to urinate. I made and drank
tea
made of epilobium for a fortnight, and voila, problem gone, and
so
far no reoccurrence. I'm 53 and had no side effects either. This
sure
beats having an operation. Cheers. Life's short, so live it well.
Rick from Australia.”
Dario from Italy wrote: “Gary, The saw palmetto
story is not
new. Has been researched for long time now. The best supplements
for prostate
are:
1) Beta Sitosterol
2) Beta Glucan 1,3
3) N-Acetyl Cysteine
4) somewhat effective also Pygegum.
“There is a book written by Roger Mason
that explain all these
supplements research, and two books about Beta Glucans.
Best in health. Dario”
I’ll stick with Dr. Joe’s advice but if you read yesterday’s
message I
am also trying the recipe for natural fudge we shared
yesterday! Merri is in the kitchen mixing up the formula now.
More on being in the kitchen with Merri tomorrow,
Until then, may
your investing business and health be good!
Gary
During our Import Export Expedition
we'll look at
tour ideas and some real estate as well. Today Merri and I looked
at 360
acres for sale ($150,000 asking price) on the crater lake below.
There are enormous tour potentials in this land as well.
Join Merri
and me and our Ecuador
on our Next
Import Export Expedition. |
