Here are the top 15 Nutrition Myths – I’ve reviewed, summarized and debunked each one. Let the Myth Busting begin!Nutrition Myth #1: Natural saturated fat in our diet is a villain. TRUTH: Saturated fat is essential for healthy cells and heart. That’s correct: SATURATED FAT is REQUIRED for a HEALTHY HEART!! The villain is the high omega-6 fat found in vegetable oils like safflower, cottonseed, corn, soybean, sunflower, canola and peanut. The healthy fats come from butter, coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil, free-range meat and eggs.Nutrition Myth #2: Low fat diets are healthy. TRUTH: Low fat eating requires the consumption of excessive carbohydrates to obtain the daily energy requirements. This leads to high insulin production, which kick-starts the cycle that eventually leads to heart disease. The more fat, the more bile salts required, the more cholesterol the liver makes. Therefore, blood cholesterol may increase with a higher fat diet. But, that’s OK!Nutrition Myth #3: Polyunsaturated vegetable are a healthy substitute for animal fats. TRUTH: The polyunsaturated vegetable oils have been rendered toxic by the extreme high temperature and pressure extraction process used by the food industry. In addition, these polyunsaturated oils are mainly omega-6 which increases the INFLAMMATORY response throughout the body.Nutrition Myth #4: Only lean protein should be eaten. TRUTH: Animal fats contain many nutrients that protect against cancer and heart disease; elevated rates of cancer and heart disease are associated with large amounts of vegetable oils. Also, saturated fat from meat is critical to insure the necessary stiffness of cell walls. Consume fewer animal products and substitute vegetable oils for animal fat.Nutrition Myth #5: Consumption of red meat increases the risk of cancer and heart disease. TRUTH: There has been NO research results correlating UNPROCESSED red meats with cancer or heart disease. Red meat is rich in iron and zinc, both of which play important roles in the body’s use of essential fatty acids; and, as we have seen, consumption of saturated fat poses no threat to our health.Nutrition Myth #6: When drinking milk, consume only that which is low fat. TRUTH: Powdered skim milk is added to 1% and 2% milk to give it body. Commercial dehydration methods oxidize cholesterol in powdered milk, rendering it harmful to the arteries. High temperature drying also creates cross-linked proteins and nitrates which are potent carcinogens. The fat in whole milk protect the intestine against infections, as well as other health benefits.Nutrition Myth #7: Be sure milk is pasteurized before drinking. TRUTH: Real milk-full-fat, unprocessed, and from pastured cows-is a fully “self-sufficient” food. Raw milk contains many enzymes that when exposed to the pH of the intestinal tract, become, active and make the milk easy to digest. But pasteurization destroys these enzymes and the body must work hard to supply its own to break down the milk protein, sugars and fat.Nutrition Myth #8: Growth hormone (r-BGH) is of no concern in milk. TRUTH: Many scientists are concerned that r-BGH-treated cows could pas unhealthy bacteria into milk products. Also, r-BGH stimulates the production of insulin-like growth factor 1, which promotes cell division and growth. Thee is speculation that this could lead to cancer. It is banned in Canada, Australia, Japan and the European Union.Nutrition Myth #9: Raw milk is not safe and should be banned in all states. TRUTH: Raw milk contains lactic acid producing bacteria that protect against pathogens. Pasteurization destroys these harmful organisms, leaving the milk devoid of any protective mechanism should undesirable bacteria contaminate the milk supply.Nutrition Myth #10: High fat foods, especially saturated fat, increase the levels of blood cholesterol. TRUTH: As far back as the 1950s, the Framingham study found NO CONNECTION at all between fat consumption and blood cholesterol levels. Further studies by the British (1963), the Israeli’s (1969) and the University of Michigan (1976) confirm the Framingham results. Just another ploy to sell low-fat concoctions.Nutrition Myth #11: High levels of cholesterol in the blood cause atherosclerosis, the buildup of the fatty plaques that obstruct arteries. TRUTH: Research evidence indicates that high blood cholesterol has NO RELATIONSHIP with the degree of atherosclerosis. For example, a Canadian study (1963) showed men having low cholesterol had as much atherosclerosis as those with high cholesterol. Many other studies, honestly evaluated, showed the same results.Nutrition Myth #12: The USDA food pyramid promotes health because it leads to a diet low in cholesterol and saturated and promotes carbohydrates from grains, vegetables and fruit. TRUTH: Restriction of animal fats and cholesterol is particularly harmful for pregnant women and growing children. Such a diet can lead to birth defects, poor growth and neurological development. It greatly increases the profits of the processed food and drug companies.Nutrition Myth #13: Soy foods are healthy and prevent heart disease. They are also an excellent substitute for milk in infant formulas. TRUTH: Soy does not lower cholesterol and does not prevent heart disease. High levels of plant estrogens found in products like soy milk, soy nuts and other soy foods put women at risk for cardiovascular disease. Concerns about the dangers of soy have suggested a ban on infant soy formulas.Nutrition Myth #14: Beta carotene is converted to vit.A, therefore animal products are not necessary as a source of vit.A. TRUTH: Only under optimal conditions can humans convert beta carotene to vit. A in the intestinal tract. This conversion requires bile salts and fat enzymes. Adding butter to vegetables is WISE as it stimulates the secretion of the needed bile, and enzymes, as well as, supplying easily absorbed vit. A.Nutrition Myth #15: Protein powders are a healthy choice for protein. TRUTH: Isolated protein powders made from soy, whey, casein and egg whites are usually obtained by a high temperature process that denatures the proteins making them virtually useless while increasing nitrates and other carcinogens. In addition, soy protein…isolates have mineral blocking and thyroid depressing agents.
S&P 500 Biotech Giant Vertex Leads 5 Stocks Showing Strength
Your stocks to watch for the week ahead are Cheniere Energy (LNG), S&P 500 biotech giant Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX), Cardinal Health (CAH), Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Genuine Parts (GPC).
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While the market remains in correction, with analysts and investors wary of an economic downturn, these five stocks are worth adding to watchlists. S&P 500 medical giants Vertex and Cardinal Health have been holding up, as health-care related plays tend to do well in down markets.
Steel Dynamics and Genuine Parts are both coming off strong earnings as both the steel and auto parts industries report optimistic outlooks. Meanwhile, Cheniere Energy saw sales boom in the second quarter as demand in Europe for natural gas continues to grow.
Major indexes have been making rally attempts with the Dow Jones and S&P 500 testing weekly support on Friday. With market uncertainty, investors should be ready for follow-through day breakouts and keep an eye on these stocks.
Cheniere Energy, Cardinal Health and VRTX stock are all on IBD Leaderboard.
Cheniere Energy Stock
LNG shares rose 1.1% to 175.79 during Friday’s market trading. On the week, the stock advanced 3.1%, not from highs, bouncing from its 21-day and 10-week lines earlier in the week.
Cheniere Energy has been consolidating since mid-September, but needs another week to forge a proper base, with a potential 182.72 buy point formed on Aug. 10.
Houston-based Cheniere Energy was IBD Stock Of The Day on Thursday, as the largest U.S. producer of liquefied natural gas eyes strong demand in Europe.
Even though natural gas prices are plunging in the U.S. and Europe, investors still see strong LNG demand for Cheniere and others.
The U.K. government confirmed last week that it is in talks for an LNG purchase agreement with a number of companies, including Cheniere.
In the first half of 2021, less than 40% of Cheniere’s cargoes of LNG landed in Europe. That jumped to more than 70% through this year’s second quarter, even as the company ramped up new export capacity. The urgency of Europe’s natural gas shortage only intensified last month. That is when an explosion disabled the Nord Stream 1 pipeline from Russia that had once supplied 40% of the European Union’s natural gas.
In Q2, sales increased 165% to $8 billion and LNG earned $2.90 per share, up from a net loss of $1.30 per share in Q2 2021. The company will report Q3 earnings Nov. 3, with investors seeing booming profits for the next few quarters.
Cheniere Energy has a Composite Rating of 84. It has a 98 Relative Strength Rating, an exclusive IBD Stock Checkup gauge for share price movement with a 1 to 99 score. The rating shows how a stock’s performance over the last 52 weeks holds up against all the other stocks in IBD’s database. The EPS rating is 41.
Vertex Stock
VRTX stock jumped 3.4% to 300 on Friday, rebounding from a test of its 50-day moving average. Shares climbed 2.2% for the week. Vertex stock has formed a tight flat base with an official buy point of 306.05, according to MarketSmith analysis.
The stock has remained consistent over recent weeks, while the relative strength line has trended higher. The RS line tracks a stock’s performance vs. the S&P 500 index.
Vertex Q3 earnings are on due Oct. 27. Analysts see EPS edging up 1% to $3.61 per share with sales increasing 16% to $2.2 billion, according to FactSet.
The Boston-based global biotech company dominates the cystic fibrosis treatment market. Vertex also has other products in late-stage clinical development that target sickle cell disease, Type 1 diabetes and certain genetically caused kidney diseases. That includes a gene-editing partnership with Crispr Therapeutics (CRSP).
In early August, Vertex reported better-than-expected second-quarter results and raised full-year sales targets.
S&P 500 stock Vertex ranks second in the Medical-Biomed/Biotech industry group. VRTX has a 99 Composite Rating. Its Relative Strength Rating is 94 and its EPS Rating is 99.
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Cardinal Health Stock
CAH stock advanced 3.2% to 73.03 Friday, clearing a 71.22 buy point from a shallow cup-with-handle base and hitting a record high. But volume was light on the breakout. CAH stock leapt 7.3% for the week.
Cardinal Health stock’s relative strength line has also been trending up for months.
The cup-with-handle base is part of a base-on-base pattern, forming just above a cup base cleared on Aug. 11.
Cardinal Health, based in Dublin, Ohio, offers a wide assortment of health care services and medical supplies to hospitals, labs, pharmacies and long-term care facilities. The company reports that it serves around 90% of hospitals and 60,000 pharmacies in the U.S.
S&P 500 stock Cardinal Health will report Q1 2023 earnings on Nov. 4. Analysts forecast earnings falling 26% to 96 cents per share. Sales are expected to increase 10% to $48.3 billion, according to FactSet.
Cardinal Health stock ranks first in the Medical-Wholesale Drug/Supplies industry group, ahead of McKesson (MCK), which is also showing positive action. CAH stock has a 94 Composite Rating out of 99. It has a 97 Relative Strength Rating and an EPS rating of 73.
Steel Dynamics Stock
STLD shares shot up 8.5% to 92.92 on Friday and soared 19% on the week, coming off a Steel Dynamics earnings beat Wednesday night.
Shares blasted above an 88.72 consolidation buy point Friday after clearing a trendline Thursday. STLD stock is 17% above its 50-day line, definitely extended from that key average.
Steel Dynamics’ latest consolidation could be seen as part of a larger base going back six months.
Steel Dynamics topped Q3 earnings views with EPS rising 10% to $5.46 while revenue grew 11% to $5.65 billion. The steel producer’s outlook is optimistic despite weaker flat rolled steel pricing. STLD reports its order activity and backlogs remain solid.
The Fort Wayne, Indiana-based company is among the largest producers of carbon steel products in the U.S. It engages in metal recycling operations along with steel fabrication and produces myriad steel products.
How Millett Grew Steel Dynamics From A Three Employee Business
STLD stock ranks first in the Steel-Producers industry group. STLD stock has a 96 Composite Rating out of 99. It has a 90 Relative Strength Rating, an exclusive IBD Stock Checkup gauge for share-price movement that tops at 99. The rating shows how a stock’s performance over the last 52 weeks holds up against all the other stocks in IBD’s database. The EPS rating is 98.
Genuine Parts Stock
GPC stock gained 2.8% to 162.35 Friday after the company topped earnings views with its Q3 results on Thursday. For the week GPC advanced 5.1% as the stock held its 50-day line and is in a flat base.
GPC has an official 165.09 flat-base buy point after a three-week rally, according to MarketSmith analysis.
The relative strength line for Genuine Parts stock has rallied sharply to highs over the past several months.
On Thursday, the Atlanta-based auto parts company raised its full-year guidance on growth across its automotive and industrial sales.
Genuine Parts earnings per share advanced 19% to $2.23 and revenue grew 18% to $5.675 billion in Q3. GPC’s full-year guidance is now calling for EPS of $8.05-$8.15, up from $7.80-$7.95. The company now forecasts revenue growth of 15%-16%, up from the earlier 12%-14%.
During the Covid pandemic, supply chain constraints caused a major upheaval in the auto industry, sending prices for new and used cars to record levels. This has made consumers more likely to hang on to their existing vehicles for longer, driving mileage higher and boosting demand for auto replacement parts.
Fellow auto stocks O’Reilly Auto Parts (ORLY) and AutoZone (AZO) have also rallied near buy points amid the struggling market. O’Reilly reports on Oct. 26.
IBD ranks Genuine Parts first in the Retail/Wholesale-Auto Parts industry group. GPC stock has a 96 Composite Rating. Its Relative Strength Rating is 94 and it has an EPS Rating of 89.
Finance Surveys Show Most Americans Want More Knowledge
Facing a period of economic uncertainty, many Americans admit that their money knowledge isn’t where they’d like to be, finance surveys indicate. According to the Chicago Tribune, 41% of those polled gave themselves a grade of “C” or lower on their knowledge of personal finance. Furthermore, 4/5ths of those questioned indicated that they would benefit from professional advice on every day questions.The results of these finance surveys are counter-intuitive; The number of Americans who indicated they’d like instruction is nearly double the number who gave themselves negative marks. This datum indicates a potential polling bias whereby people are reluctant to give themselves poor marks, regardless of their actual knowledge. The actual proportion of poorly-informed Americans could be much greater.Finance surveys like this indicate the need for more comprehensive school programs that deal with money management. Many high schools — my own included — have no such programs. While many of the causes of the current recession are systemic and outside of the control of any particular person, a large burden has to be put on irresponsible or poorly-conceived spending. Furthermore, navigating an economic downturn can be difficult; the overwhelming majority that indicated in these finance surveys they could use professional help shows how hard the issues can be to understand and interpret.While much of the news from these financial surveys is fairly dire, they do show that (some) Americans are frank about their lack of monetary knowledge, and that most are aware they could easily know more. Simply acknowledging the issue is an important first step towards sustainable reform.