Apple cider vinegar can lower blood sugar

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Registered dietitian Carol Johnston, a professor of nutrition and an associate dean in the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University, has been studying the effects of acetic acid, the main component of vinegar, on diabetic blood glucose levels, since 2004.

“If I was to show that vinegar slows progression to diabetes, then I would need hundreds of people and millions of dollars to do the studies, because diabetes has a lot of causes, including genetics,” Johnston said.

But studies do show acetic acid can be used as one tool in helping people lower blood sugar. A 2019 randomized clinical trial found “a 10 point decrease in fasting glucose concentrations,” Johnston said. “They used two ‘spoons’ of vinegar in a glass of water twice a day.”

In Johnston’s research, the people who benefited most from the use of vinegar were insulin-resistant, a condition called prediabetes. “In those with prediabetes, it was too good to be true,” she said. “It fell a good bit and stayed that way. It may be this is the group that could benefit the most.”

It’s not just apple cider – the antiglycemic response can be induced by any sort of vinegar: red and white wine vinegars, pomegranate vinegar or even white distilled vinegar.

“Basically, what acetic acid is doing is blocking the absorption of starch,” Johnston said. “If my study subjects eat a starch and add vinegar, blood glucose will go down. But if they drink sugar water and add vinegar, nothing happens. So if you’re having bacon and eggs, don’t bother. It only helps if you are consuming a starch.”

“If you’re taking a diabetes drug, the vinegar could amplify the effects of your meds,” she warned, “and your doctor might want to adjust your dosage.” Studies show the vinegar can reduce blood pressure, triglycerides and total cholesterol in rodents fed a high-fat, cholesterol-rich diet. But full-blown studies have not been conducted in humans.

Freeman, who serves on the American College of Cardiology’s prevention board, said there could be some benefit because of its antioxidant properties, like other heart-healthy fruits and vegetables, such as broccoli and blueberries.

Dog Sitting on a Nail Story

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There is a story of an old man and his dog sitting on the porch. It’s hot outside. The old man is sipping on his lemonade and the dog is sitting next to him moaning in pain.

The neighbor across the street hears the dog moaning for several minutes, and his curiosity gets the best of him, so he approaches the old man.

He asks the old man, “why is your dog moaning?” The old man responds by saying: “the dog is sitting on a nail.”

Perplexed, the neighbor asks, “why doesn’t the dog just get up and move to another spot on the porch?”

The old man takes another sip of lemonade, smiles, thinks about his response and says, “it doesn’t hurt bad enough!”

Even though the dog was moaning in pain, the pain wasn’t “bad enough” for the dog to do something about it. Instead, all he did was moan.

All the dog really needed to do was stand up, move several inches, and find a comfortable spot on the porch to lay down.

People Can Be Like the Dog

This story describes human nature. People are comfortable, even if they are unhappy and are experiencing pain. We all have a comfort zone. Your comfort zone dictates your daily habits, thoughts, actions and success in life.

Additionally, people fear change. People also fear failure. Many people are unhappy with their lot in life, but they will not step out of their comfort zone and change. Why? Because the pain doesn’t hurt bad enough for them to make a change in their life. They believe the pain of changing is greater than the pain of staying the same.

It’s not until people get sick and tired of being sick and tired, and make the decision they will do whatever it takes, that they will change and do what they need to do.

Intrinsic Value by Warren Buffett

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Warren Buffett’s investment strategy is simple:

  • Buy businesses, not stocks. In other words, think like a business owner, not someone who owns a piece of paper (or these days, a digital trade confirmation).
  • Look for companies with competitive advantages that can be maintained, or economic moats. Firms that can successfully fend off competitors have a better chance of increasing intrinsic value over time.
  • Focus on long-term intrinsic value, not short-term earnings. What matters is how much cash a company can generate for its owners in the future. Therefore, value companies using a discounted cash flow analysis.
  • Demand a margin of safety. Future cash flows are, by their nature, uncertain. To compensate for that uncertainty, always buy companies for less than their intrinsic values.
  • Be patient. Investing isn’t about instant gratification; it’s about long-term success.

Warren Buffett is a proponent of value investing, which looks to find stocks that are undervalued compared to their intrinsic value.

Financial metrics like price/book (P/B), price/earnings (P/E), return on equity (ROE) and dividend yield carry the most weight on the Buffett scales. In addition, he seeks out companies that have what he calls “economic moats” – high barriers to entry for a competitor who may wish to invade the market and erode profit margins.

https://x.com/brianferoldi/status/1695438447417471471

MCT Oil

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MCT oil is a supplement from coconut and the molecules are smaller than those in most of the fats you eat, absorbed into the bloodstream quickly leading to higher energy level and more.

MCT Oil (Medium Chain Triglycerides) Benefits:

  • Promotes the growth of healthy gut bacteria, which strengthens the intestinal barrier.
  • Anti-Inflammatory
  • This oil can promote fat loss by increasing your metabolism, reducing body fat
  • Powerfully reduces appetite

Adding it to your morning cup of coffee, in your salad dressing, smoothies, and other non-cooked foods (it has a low smoke point, so avoid using MCT oil where heat is involved). Do not cook with it. Drizzle it over proteins and vegetables.

For beginners, start with 1 tsp.(4 grams) and scale up to 1 tbsp. (15 grams) per day.

Bulletproof Coffee

✔️ Brew a cup of high-quality coffee
✔️ Add 1-2 tablespoons of grass-fed butter
✔️ Mix in 1-2 tablespoons of MCT oil
✔️ Blend until frothy and creamy

Benefits:
✔️ Boosts mental clarity and focus
✔️ Sustained energy without the crash
✔️ Helps with weight management
✔️ Enhances cognitive performance

Quality matters! Use top-notch ingredients for maximum nutrients and effects.

Evaluating Companies

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A way to evaluate a company’s profitability is to compare its return on invested capital (ROIC) to its weighted cost of capital (WACC).

Return on invested capital (ROIC) measures how well a company generates cash flow relative to the capital it has invested in its business.

The weighted average cost of capital (WACC) is the rate that a company is expected to pay on average to all its security holders to finance its assets. If the ROIC is higher than the WACC, it indicates that the company is creating value for shareholders.

Small Cap Stock Investing

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Small Cap Stocks

Ten Things You Should Say To Yourself!

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In the intricate landscape of your minds, the thoughts you harbor can mold your reality. Your self-talk, the inner dialogue you have with yourself, can be either a force of empowerment or a source of self-sabotage.

Here are ten mantras that can help you navigate the depths of your consciousness and cultivate a more positive and fulfilling life.

1. “I am capable and deserving of success and happiness.” Banish the notion of inadequacy. Remind yourself that you possess the skills and potential to achieve greatness and that happiness is not an elusive dream but a state of mind you can cultivate.

2. “I have the ability to learn and grow.” Replace self-doubt with the belief in your adaptability and resilience. Embrace challenges as stepping stones towards personal development and self-improvement.

3. “Failure is an opportunity for growth.” Reframe your perspective on failure. Embrace mistakes as valuable lessons that pave the way for future success. Every stumble is a chance to rise stronger than before.

4. “I am worthy of love and affection.” Dismiss thoughts of unworthiness and embrace self-love. Recognize that you deserve care and affection, just as much as anyone else.

5. “Happiness is within my reach.” Dispel thoughts of eternal dissatisfaction. Happiness is a journey, not a destination. Seek joy in the little things and acknowledge that your happiness is within your control.

6. “My journey is unique, and I celebrate my progress.” Avoid the pitfalls of comparison. Each path is distinct, and every step you take is a milestone on your individual journey. Celebrate your growth and accomplishments, however big or small.

7. “I embrace my imperfections and focus on growth.” Release the burden of perfectionism. Embrace your flaws and acknowledge that they are a part of what makes you beautifully human. Channel your energy towards self-improvement instead.

8. “Change is natural, and I am adaptable.” Embrace the ebb and flow of life. Recognize that change is inevitable and that you have the power to adapt and evolve through life’s transitions.

9. “I hold inherent value and make a difference.”Reclaim your sense of importance. Your thoughts, actions, and presence have an impact on the world around you. Embrace your uniqueness and cherish the difference you make.

10. “I believe in my ability to achieve my goals.”Replace doubt with determination. Break your goals into manageable steps and trust in your capacity to persevere. Success is attainable with a steadfast belief in yourself.

Conclusion

As you navigate the labyrinth of your thoughts, remember that you hold the key to your own empowerment.

The words you say to yourself shape your reality, influence your actions, and ultimately define your destiny.

Embrace the power of positive self-talk, for it can be a guiding light on your journey to a more fulfilling and contented life. Ignite the fire within you to conquer challenges, embrace growth, and create a future brimming with possibility and purpose.

References:

  1. https://youthvillage.co.ke/10-things-you-should-never-say-to-yourself/#

Basics of Mindfulness Practice

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Mindfulness helps us put some space between ourselves and our reactions, breaking down our conditioned responses. Here’s how to tune into mindfulness throughout the day:

The basics of a mindfulness practice
  1. Set aside some time. You don’t need a meditation cushion or bench, or any sort of special equipment to access your mindfulness skills—but you do need to set aside some time and space.
  2. Observe the present moment as it is. The aim of mindfulness is not quieting the mind, or attempting to achieve a state of eternal calm. The goal is simple: we’re aiming to pay attention to the present moment, without judgment. Easier said than done, we know.
  3. Let your judgments roll by. When we notice judgments arise during our practice, we can make a mental note of them, and let them pass.
  4. Return to observing the present moment as it is. Our minds often get carried away in thought. That’s why mindfulness is the practice of returning, again and again, to the present moment.
  5. Be kind to your wandering mind. Don’t judge yourself for whatever thoughts crop up, just practice recognizing when your mind has wandered off, and gently bring it back.

That’s the practice. It’s often been said that it’s very simple, but it’s not necessarily easy. The work is to just keep doing it. Results will accrue.

References:

  1. https://www.mindful.org/meditation/mindfulness-getting-started/

U.S. Federal Public Debt

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As of September 30, 2020, 64 percent of the outstanding amount of marketable Treasury securities held by the public (about $13.1 trillion) was scheduled to mature in the next 4 years. Current coupon rate is around 2,5 percent

During the past decade, the federal government’s debt increased at a faster rate than at any time since the end of World War II, outstripping economic growth over that period. At the end of 2019, federal debt was higher than at any other time since just after the war.

When the federal government runs an annual budget deficit, the Department of the Treasury borrows money to make up the difference between spending and revenue. Then, if special funds like the Medicare trust fund have surpluses, the “extra” revenue is lent to the rest of the federal government.

The federal debt is the total amount of money that the federal government owes, either to its investors or to itself. Total federal debt rose to $26.9 trillion at the end of fiscal year 2020, equal to about 79 percent of GDP, a higher percentage than at any other time since just after World War II.

To finance the government’s activities, the Treasury issues securities—collectively labeled debt held by the public—that differ in time to maturity, the ways they are sold to investors, and the structure of their interest payments. Marketable securities make up the lion’s share of that debt, and nontradable securities, such as savings bonds, make up the rest.

The Treasury sells securities in the capital markets—often through a primary dealer intermediary­—to various U.S. buyers (such as the Federal Reserve System, mutual funds, financial institutions, and individual people), to private investors overseas, and to the central banks of other countries. Domestic investors currently own about three-fifths of outstanding debt held by the public.

Your Mindset and Clarity of Vision

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A young couple moved into a new house. The next morning while they were eating breakfast, the young woman saw her neighbor hanging the washing outside.

“That laundry is not very clean; she doesn’t know how to wash correctly. Perhaps she needs better soap powder. Her husband looked on, remaining silent.

Every time her neighbor hung her washing out to dry, the young woman made the same comments.

A month later, the woman was surprised to see a nice clean wash on the line and said to her husband, “Look, she’s finally learned how to wash correctly. I wonder who taught her this?”

The husband replied, “I got up early this morning and cleaned our windows.”

And so it is with life… What we see when watching others depends on the clarity of the window through which we look.

So don’t be too quick to judge others, especially if your perspective of life is clouded by anger, jealousy, negativity or unfulfilled desires.

“Judging a person does not define who they are. It defines who you are.”