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Newton, the Crypto Exchange for Canadians

2023-11-11T18:00:00.000-05:00

Entering the world of cryptocurrency can be an overwhelming yet thrilling endeavor, laden with opportunities and risks. As a Canadian enthusiast in this digital financial realm, finding the right platform for trading crypto has been a quest that has led me to explore numerous options. Among the many available exchanges, Newton has emerged as my primary go-to platform for engaging in the exciting realm of digital assets.

My decision to use Newton wasn't hasty. It stemmed from a thorough evaluation of various platforms' offerings, as well as a keen understanding of what I sought in a cryptocurrency exchange. As a now regular user of Newton, I've encountered a multitude of reasons why this Canadian-based exchange has become an instrumental tool in my crypto journey.

One of the primary reasons I gravitated towards Newton was its simple and user-friendly interface. Newton's platform simplifies the buying, selling, and transferring process, providing an intuitive and streamlined user experience without any unnecessary clutter. The clean design and accessibility of essential features have made the onboarding process a smooth and enjoyable experience for me. Its simplicity allows for quick and easy transactions, making it an appealing option for beginners and experienced traders alike.

Speed and reliability are essential in the fast-paced world of cryptocurrency trading, and Newton excels in these areas. Transactions are processed fairly, swiftly, and efficiently, eliminating potential delays that could affect trading outcomes. The platform's reliability, coupled with the seamless execution of transactions, has been instrumental in optimizing my trading experiences. It has afforded me the ability to capitalize on major market movements swiftly, a crucial aspect in the volatile realm of cryptocurrencies.

Security has always been a paramount concern when it comes to managing digital assets, and Newton takes this aspect seriously. The platform is built for crypto’s unique risks with security measures such as recurring penetration testing and cold storage for the majority of their assets; 80% of Newton’s assets are kept offline to limit their exposure to unforeseen issues and risks. This provides a sense of assurance and trust in the platform. However, it's worth noting that while the security measures are reassuring, Newton's status as a relatively new exchange in the market brings about an initial level of caution, despite the confidence instilled by these security protocols.

The variety of available digital assets for trading is another area where Newton has performed well. While it may not boast the most extensive selection of cryptocurrencies, it offers a diverse range, including prominent assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and others. This diversity provides ample opportunities for traders to explore and diversify their portfolios within the crypto ecosystem.

In my journey as a cryptocurrency enthusiast, Newton's 24/7 customer support has played a pivotal role in my overall experience. The responsiveness and helpfulness of the support team have been commendable, providing timely assistance whenever any questions or concerns arise.

Newton has been a welcoming entry point for many Canadians venturing into the crypto space, offering a secure and user-friendly platform. Despite its numerous merits, Newton, like any platform, is not without its drawbacks. In the following sections, I will delve deeper into both the advantages and limitations of Newton as an exchange, offering a comprehensive evaluation of its place in the Canadian crypto landscape. Additionally, I'll explore how a forex platform, Global Prime, may excel and be the preferred choice for specific trading needs.

Why I Use Newton to Buy and Sell Crypto

My journey into the world of cryptocurrencies led me to Newton, a Canadian-based exchange that has become my preferred platform for trading digital currencies. Newton's appeal stems from a combination of factors, most notably its user-friendly interface and the seamless trading experience it offers. Upon entering the realm of crypto trading, the sheer complexity of different platforms, digital assets, and market intricacies can be intimidating. Newton's user-friendly design and ease of use immediately stood out to me. In this ever-evolving landscape, the platform's simple layout is a breath of fresh air. It streamlines the process of buying, selling, and managing digital assets, providing an accessible gateway that is able to serve the needs of novices and veterans equally well.

Efficiency and Reliability of Transactions

The speed and reliability of transactions are pivotal aspects that contribute to a positive trading experience, and Newton excels in this domain. Transaction processing on the platform is rapid and dependable, eliminating potential lags or delays that might hinder effective trading. The platform's swift and efficient transaction execution has been crucial in seizing market opportunities promptly and responding to fast-paced market fluctuations, an integral part of successful cryptocurrency trading. Funding a Newton account via Interac e-Transfer from a connected Canadian bank account is quick and efficient. Withdrawing funds to a Canadian bank account is equally easy.

Commitment to Security

Security is a top priority when dealing with digital assets, and Newton addresses this concern by implementing several robust security measures. Consumer facing features such as mandatory two-factor authentication and corporate measures such as insured assets, institutional grade storage, as well as an in-house data security team add layers of protection to users' funds, instilling confidence in the platform's security protocols.

Access to the Most Relevant Digital Assets

While Newton might not offer the most extensive selection of cryptocurrencies, it boasts a diverse range of digital assets, including major players like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana, among many others. This variety caters to different trader preferences, allowing for opportunities to explore and diversify portfolios within the Newton ecosystem.

Responsive Customer Support

In my experience, Newton's customer support team has been a valuable resource. Available around the clock, their responsiveness and assistance in resolving queries or issues have contributed to a smooth and reassuring trading experience.

My utilization of Newton for buying and selling cryptocurrencies has been underpinned by these standout features. It's important to recognize that while Newton exhibits multiple strengths, it has its limitations, which I'll explore in the subsequent sections to provide a holistic overview of the platform's performance in the Canadian crypto landscape.

Why Global Prime is Better for Day Trading Crypto

Newton, as a cryptocurrency exchange, undoubtedly possesses numerous advantages that make it an attractive platform for trading digital assets. However, when specifically considering day trading in the realm of cryptocurrencies, another platform, Global Prime, shines brighter due to its specialized tools and features tailored specifically for this purpose.

Newton's user-friendly interface, fast transaction processing, security measures, and available cryptocurrencies make it a robust choice for general cryptocurrency trading. It excels in providing an accessible and secure environment for investors to buy, sell, and hold digital assets. Nevertheless, when it comes to the specific demands of day trading, certain features of Global Prime offer distinct advantages.

Introduction to Global Prime

Global Prime, as a forex broker, is much better suited for day trading cryptocurrencies due to its experience, specialized tools, and tailored services. Day trading requires particularly swift execution, access to in-depth market analysis, and tools for technical analysis, all of which are distinct offerings of Global Prime, setting it apart from platforms designed primarily for standard crypto trading through buying and selling assets.

Global Prime's Tools and Advantages

Day trading requires rapid decision-making and execution, and Global Prime fulfills these needs efficiently. With features like access to professional-grade charting tools, robust analytics, and faster execution times, the broker significantly enhances the overall day trading experience, allowing traders to swiftly capitalize on short-term market movements.

While Newton is a fantastic platform for general cryptocurrency trading, Global Prime's specialized tools and focus on the day trading niche provide a more tailored and advantageous environment for those who seek to actively trade cryptocurrencies throughout the day. Additionally, Global Prime offers all the usual advantages of a world-class forex broker such as extremely low spreads, low trading fees, and - maybe most importantly - leveraged trading through the use of a margin account.

In conclusion, both Newton and Global Prime serve distinct purposes in the cryptocurrency trading landscape. While Newton excels in providing a user-friendly interface and a secure environment for general trading, Global Prime emerges as a superior choice for day traders due to its specialized tools, low fees, and the ability to trade on margin. Understanding your individual trading preferences and needs is crucial in choosing the platform that best suits your trading objectives.

A Note on the Drawbacks of Newton

While Newton stands as a commendable platform for Canadian crypto traders, it's essential to recognize that, like any service, it does have some drawbacks, although fairly minor in nature. In any case, acknowledging these limitations is crucial for a well-rounded assessment and understanding of the platform's performance.

Newton's Relative Newness in the Market

One noticeable drawback of Newton is its relative newness in the market. As a relatively new player in the exchange landscape, Newton might not possess the same level of reputation and trust that more established platforms enjoy. However, this drawback can be mitigated by primarily relying on the platform for trading purposes, but not as a wallet or storage solution for holding digital currencies for extended periods of time.

One of the key conclusions from the various scandals involving large crypto exchanges throughout the last few years is to never keep digital assets in a custodial wallet longer than necessary. One of the best ways to mitigate the risks associated with bankruptcies and/or corrupt individuals is to always transfer crypto assets to a non-custodial wallet as soon as possible. This helps ensure that you and only you are in full control of your assets.

Limited Selection of Cryptocurrencies

Another limitation of Newton is its somewhat restricted range of available digital assets. While it does offer the most prominent cryptocurrencies, some users might find the selection to be narrower compared to larger exchanges. To overcome this drawback, Canadian individuals seeking a more diverse portfolio can utilize Newton exclusively for exchanging cryptocurrencies to/from fiat currencies (i.e., Canadian Dollars), and then transfer those assets to a non-custodial wallet that offers swaps. This approach makes it possible to obtain and store a much broader array of cryptocurrencies than what is available for trading directly on Newton.

Operates Only in Canada

Newton's exclusive operation within Canada could be perceived as a drawback for users who wish to access the platform from other regions. While this restricts its accessibility on a global scale, for Canadian users, this focus on a local market can also be seen as a positive aspect. However, for those outside Canada, the limited accessibility remains a constraint.

Lack of External Security Audit

Although Newton implements several robust security measures, including internal security audits, it hasn't yet undergone an external security audit. This might be a concern for users who place significant emphasis on independent third-party security assessments.

As mentioned previously, one very effective way to address most of these drawbacks is to view Newton only as a gateway for buying and selling cryptocurrencies rather than a storage solution for holding them. Utilizing the platform primarily for trading purposes and swiftly transferring assets to a non-custodial wallet can offer a more secure and diversified solution for managing digital assets. To support this strategy, Newton covers the first $5 of the transaction fee on the first withdrawal to a 3rd-party wallet made in a fixed 24-hour period. On the first withdrawal of the period, only transactional fees above $5 will be a cost incurred by the user. By taking advantage of this, users can benefit from Newton's strengths in trading while mitigating the drawbacks associated with the platform's newness, limited selection, and potential security concerns.

Conclusion

In the quest to traverse the dynamic landscape of cryptocurrencies, Canadian traders often seek a cost-effective, reliable, user-friendly, and secure platform to kickstart their digital asset journey. Newton has emerged as a prominent option, offering an array of commendable features that cater to the needs of both novices and seasoned traders. Nevertheless, while it boasts numerous advantages, it's equally important to acknowledge the limitations and drawbacks that accompany this platform for a comprehensive assessment of its role in the Canadian crypto market.

Choosing the right platform for cryptocurrency trading is a deeply personal decision, dependent on individual needs, preferences, and risk tolerance. Newton serves as an excellent entry point for those stepping into the cryptosphere. Readers and potential users are encouraged to evaluate their specific trading objectives, weighing the strengths and weaknesses of different platforms. By considering personal needs and aligning them with the offerings of various exchanges, traders can make informed decisions that best suit their unique goals.

Disclaimer

There are substantial risks associated with trading and investing in securities or other financial instruments. Trading and investing in stocks, bonds, exchange traded funds, mutual funds, money market funds, and cryptocurrencies involves risk of loss. Loss of principal is possible. Some high risk investments or trading certain financial instruments may use leverage, which will accentuate gains & losses. Trading in foreign exchange ('Forex') on margin, as well as trading cryptocurrencies, entails particularly high risk and is not suitable for all people. Before you decide to trade or invest in foreign exchange, or any other financial market, you should carefully assess your objectives, experience, financial possibilities and willingness to take risks. Past performance is not an indication of future results!

Lastly, please note that the links to Newton on this page are affiliate links. If you use any of these links to register an account, you will get $25 CAD free if you make a trade over $100 CAD within 90 days of sign up. I only endorse Newton because of the positive experience I've personally had using the platform's products and services.

N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine as a Dietary Supplement

2022-10-06T15:00:00.000-04:00

I was planning to write about N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) much earlier, but then NAC-containing products that are labeled as dietary supplements came under investigation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in the US. In a nutshell, the FDA has determined that NAC is excluded from the dietary supplement definition under the FD&C Act because NAC was approved as a prescription drug before it was marketed as a dietary supplement or as a food. As a result, all major retailers in the US have started to phase out related products from their catalogues. This does not affect me personally, because I live in Canada and NAC is still freely available as a supplement here. For anybody in the US this means that NAC as a supplement is now in the gray-zone of enforcement discretion by the FDA.^[1]

Why has NAC been getting so popular in recent years?

When taken as a supplement, NAC increases the concentration of L-cysteine, an important and essential amino acid, in the body. Cysteine promotes the production of natural antioxidants such as glutathione (GSH), also called the "master detoxifier", which effectively helps the body deal with oxidative stress and other toxins. GSH not only relieves oxidative stress but also supports the functions of vital organs and helps eliminate heavy metals from the body.^[2]

Naturally, NAC can be found in different fruits, herbs, and vegetables that, along with a healthy diet, are usually sufficient to fulfill the body's needs. However, as we are getting older it becomes increasingly more difficult for our cellular machinery to extract, generate, and supply an optimal amount of NAC. Other factors, such as poor nutrition, an unhealthy lifestyle, and environmental stress, also contribute to inadequate levels of NAC or cysteine in the body. Supplementation can help counteract these shortcomings.^[3]

In clinical practice, NAC is approved and being used for the neutralization and treatment of paracetamol toxicity. Medical research studies have mostly attributed the health benefits of NAC to its antioxidant activity both via GSH and itself. It scavenges free radicals such as hydrogen peroxide and reactive oxygen species to prevent organ damage, especially to the liver. NAC is one of the most potent liver protectants known, which is why it gained popularity as a hangover cure and preventative. In any case, NAC helps maintain optimal cellular integrity and supports important cleansing functions of the body, which is what makes it interesting as a supplement for the purpose of delayed aging and prolonged longevity.^[2][3]

It is important to note that aging does not necessarily mean getting older by numbers or appearance. Aging or pre-mature aging is the weakening and fading of our vital physiological functions. Thus, keeping all organs healthy and functioning optimally is directly related to enhanced longevity and a better quality of life. Among other threatening factors to organs, oxidative stress is one of the most common factors generated by the presence of free radicals and toxins. Oxidative stress can damage cells, tissues, and nerves, especially those that are prone to pre-mature aging, and increase the risk of chronic medical conditions, including neurodegenerative diseases.^[5]

Health Benefits of NAC

To summarize, NAC is typically considered as an anti-aging and lifespan extending supplement for its strong antioxidant activity. Following are details on medical research studies related to the health benefits as well as physiological functions of NAC and how those can contribute to longevity and an overall better quality of life.

Delayed Aging

NAC helps keep the integrity of organs which creates an anti-aging effect. Medical research studies reported that it increases the resistance of the body against free radicals, environmental stress, and ultraviolet radiation. These functions of NAC specifically protect cells against unwanted cell death (apoptosis), reduce the risk of cancer, and promote other cellular functions that all eventually have a positive effect on lifespan.^[2][4][6][7]

Medical studies have shown that NAC elevates the production of GSH which effectively relieves oxidative stress in different body parts. Furthermore, NAC modulates different signaling pathways that positively impact cell growth and arrest, slow down apoptosis, and relieve inflammation. NAC also helps the body against the causative actions of heavy metals, including lead, arsenic, and mercury via cellular detoxification.^[2][3][5]

Moreover, studies reported that NAC provides neuroprotection and prevents mitochondrial decay which is highly associated with aging and age-related neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinsonism, and Huntington’s disease. The possible mechanisms include; an increase in the glutathione level in the brain, reduction of oxidative damage, increased mitochondrial protection, improve brain synaptic and non-synaptic activities, and a reduced risk of dopamine-induced cell death.^[2][3][5]

Studies also suggested that NAC improves mental health and wellness via regulating neurotransmitters in the brain. It helps normalize glutamate and dopamine levels which boost overall activity of the brain and can improve the symptoms of psychiatric conditions, including schizophrenia, memory ailments, and bipolar disorders. An optimal level of glutamate supports memory, improves cognition and enhances learning capabilities.^[6][8]

Another possible anti-aging effect includes the stimulation of hydrogen sulfide (H2S) biosynthesis that plays an important role in longevity and stress resistance. An optimal amount of H2S in the body influences aging-related pathways and improves certain biological activities. These activities are bioenergetics, cellular metabolism, stem cell proliferation and differentiation, autophagy, stress resistance, apoptosis, and inflammation.^[7]

Quality of Life

NAC acts as a precursor for cysteine which replenishes the “master detoxifier” GSH in the body and helps prevent various medical conditions. It supports the physiological functions of the heart, lungs, and other vital organs via its antioxidant activity. Medical research studies demonstrated that NAC boosts the immune system, reducing the risk of developing chronic medical conditions. It does so by restoring the concentration of natural killer cells and supporting the functions of lymphocytes and phagocytes, increasing resilience to pathological agents.^{[2][9][10][14]}

Adding more, NAC helps physical performance and may ease muscle fatigue. It enhances force output and improves muscle activity to support a healthy lifespan. Furthermore, NAC supports optimal reproductive and gastrointestinal health. It improves the symptoms of ulcerative colitis via softening the colonic tissue, relieving oxidative stress, decreasing the risk of cell apoptosis, enhancing injured colon recovery, and supporting tightening of junctions.^[3][11]

Studies also confirmed that NAC improves the symptoms of various respiratory disorders. It helps chronic bronchitis, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, nasal congestion, and airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR). NAC decreases the frequency of symptom aggravation and relieves inflammation in the airways, including bronchial tubes and lung tissues. Moreover, it acts as an expectorant and softens the mucus for easier expulsion. In the case of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), NAC improves lung function, reducing exacerbation. All these health benefits may help reduce the risk of respiratory disorders when using NAC as a preventative supplement.^{[2][3][15][16][17]}

Furthermore, NAC supports optimal functioning of the kidneys and liver via detoxifying harmful agents such as drugs and environmental toxins. It may also help various hepatic disorders, including liver cancer via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. In the case of sexual health, NAC showed a positive impact on fertility, semen quality and also improved symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in women.^{[2][3][12][13]}

Medical research studies also reported that NAC prevents the risk of diabetes by regulating blood sugar levels and relieving inflammation in fat cells. It reduces insulin resistance, improves glucose tolerance, and increases insulin sensitivity. Adding more, it not only reduces diabetic complications but also decreases the risk of heart diseases and supports optimal cardiovascular functions. All these health benefits may not only improve the overall quality of life, but also help delay aging, prevent pre-mature aging, and increase longevity through their positive action on organs.^[18][19]

Precautions

More likely than not, the use of NAC as a supplement is safe for adults. However, it can cause gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and constipation at high doses. Also, other adverse effects include drowsiness, runny nose, chest tightness, and mouth swelling. Its relative safety is also evident in the guidance of the FDA, which states: "Unless we identify safety-related concerns during our ongoing review, [the] FDA intends to exercise enforcement discretion until either of the following occurs: we complete notice-and-comment rulemaking to allow the use of NAC in or as a dietary supplement (should we move forward with such proceedings) or we deny the NPA citizen petition’s request for rulemaking." - meaning, most importantly, that the FDA does not currently have any safety-related concerns about NAC.^[1]

Lastly, please note that I am only talking about my personal experience and opinion. This is not medical advice and what works for me might not work for you. Please make sure to always consult your primary care physician about any information obtained from or through my site.

Take a look at this page for a full overview of all the supplements that I am currently taking on a regular basis: Fundamental Longevity Supplements. You will find links to other detailed articles, such as this one, about other supplements significant to longevity. There are also product endorsements and recommendations from me, based on the supplements that I am personally taking after spending years experimenting with different products.

References:

https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/guidance-industry-policy-regarding-n-acetyl-l-cysteine
Vida Mokhtari et al. "A Review on Various Uses of N-Acetyl Cysteine." Cell Journal, vol. 19(1), 2017: 11–17. https://doi.org/10.22074/cellj.2016.4872
Špela Šalamon et al. "Medical and Dietary Uses of N-Acetylcysteine." Antioxidants, vol. 8(5), 2019: 111. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox8050111
Seung-Il Oh, Jin-Kook Park & Sang-Kyu Park. "Lifespan extension and increased resistance to environmental stressors by N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine in Caenorhabditis elegans." Clinics, vol. 70(5), 2015: 380–386. https://doi.org/10.6061/clinics/2015(05)13
Sonja K. Soo et al. "Compounds that extend longevity are protective in neurodegenerative diseases and provide a novel treatment strategy for these devastating disorders." Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, vol. 190, 2020: 111297. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mad.2020.111297
Deepmala et al. "Clinical trials of N-acetylcysteine in psychiatry and neurology: A systematic review." Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, vol. 55, 2015: 294–321. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2015.04.015
Mikhail V. Shaposhnikov et al. "Effects of N-acetyl-L-cysteine on lifespan, locomotor activity and stress-resistance of 3 Drosophila species with different lifespans." Aging, vol. 10(9), 2018: 2428–2458. https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.101561
Lianne Schmaal et al. "N-Acetylcysteine Normalizes Glutamate Levels in Cocaine-Dependent Patients: A Randomized Crossover Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy Study." Neuropsychopharmacology, vol. 37, 2012: 2143–2152. https://doi.org/10.1038/npp.2012.66
Lorena Arranz et al. "The glutathione precursor N-acetylcysteine improves immune function in postmenopausal women." Free Radical Biology and Medicine, vol. 45(9), 2008: 1252–1262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2008.07.014
B. de Quay, R. Malinverni, B. H. Lauterburg. "Glutathione depletion in HIV-infected patients: role of cysteine deficiency and effect of oral N-acetylcysteine." AIDS, vol. 6(8), 1992: 815-819. PMID: 1418777.
Qingjing Wang et al. "Protective effects of N-acetylcysteine on acetic acid-induced colitis in a porcine model." BMC Gastroenterology, vol. 13, 2013: 133. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-230X-13-133
Kívia Queiroz De Andrade et al. "Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Hepatic Diseases: Therapeutic Possibilities of N-Acetylcysteine." International Journal of Molecular Sciences, vol. 16(12), 2015: 30269–30308. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms161226225
D. Quig. "Cysteine metabolism and metal toxicity." Alternative Medicine Review, vol. 3(4), 1998: 262–270. PMID: 9727078.
Wulf Dröge & Raoul Breitkreutz. "Glutathione and immune function." Proceedings of the Nutrition Society, vol. 59(4), 2000: 595–600. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0029665100000847
Claudio M. Sanguinetti. "N-acetylcysteine in COPD: why, how, and when?" Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine, vol. 11, 2015: 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40248-016-0039-2
C. Stey, J. Steurer, S. Bachmann, T. C. Medici, M. R. Tramèr. "The effect of oral N-acetylcysteine in chronic bronchitis: a quantitative systematic review." European Respiratory Journal, vol.16 (2), 2000: 253-262. https://doi.org/10.1034/j.1399-3003.2000.16b12.x
Elham Pirabbasi et al. "Efficacy of Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) and/N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) Supplementation on Nutritional and Antioxidant Status of Male Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Patients." Journal of Nutritional Science and Vitaminology, vol. 62(1), 2016: 54–61. https://doi.org/10.3177/jnsv.62.54
Phiwayinkosi V. Dludla et al. "A Systematic Review on the Protective Effect of N-Acetyl Cysteine Against Diabetes-Associated Cardiovascular Complications." American Journal of Cardiovascular Drugs, vol. 18, 2018: 283–298. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40256-018-0275-2
Alona Falach-Malik et al. "N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine inhibits the development of glucose intolerance and hepatic steatosis in diabetes-prone mice." American Journal of Translational Research, vol. 8(9), 2016: 3744–3756. PMID: 27725855.

A Critical View on Proof-of-Stake; Why Bitcoin is Here to Stay

2022-08-30T17:00:00.092-04:00

There are fundamental differences between ETH and BTC when it comes to their capabilities, intended use cases, and their respective ecosystems overall. I won't be discussing those in this post. I am merely using them as representatives for two radically different philosophies in the blockchain space, that of proof-of-stake and that of proof-of-work.

When we read about these things in mainstream news, on social media or any other space where these topics are being discussed, the primary consideration for one over the other is often cited as the environmental impact that they have - especially when it comes to power consumption.

There is no denying that a proof-of-stake blockchain has radically lower power requirements compared to a proof-of-work blockchain. Since the vast majority of power generated all over the world is currently not considered clean, sustainable energy, there is also no denying that at present a proof-of-stake blockchain will have a radically smaller energy footprint, and therefore much less of a negative environmental impact, than a proof-of-work blockchain.

However, in my opinion, while the above seems like a perfect argument to pivot towards proof-of-stake, it is also an extremely dangerous view that is both short-sighted and diverts attention away from a severe underlying issue with any proof-of-stake blockchain.

Mining ETH versus BTC

To understand the issue, first, let's take a small step back and look at why, especially recently, mining ETH has been more profitable than mining BTC.

The short answer is gas fees; they make up a significant amount of revenue for ETH miners but are largely insignificant for BTC miners. Ever since the NFT craze in late 2021 gas fees on ETH have skyrocketed and are often cited as one of the main issues of Ethereum when it comes to its viability in terms of mass adoption; you can read more about those scaling issues directly on the Ethereum website.

This video is a perfect landmark for when that NFT craze peaked in the mainstream.

This is what mining revenues recently looked like when comparing ETH and BTC. Mining ETH is still more profitable than mining BTC, despite the initial NFT craze having largely subsided.

The gas fees on Ethereum are still out of control and often make trading small amounts of ETH or low-value NFTs that live directly on the Ethereum blockchain prohibitively expensive, which in turn limits the overall potential and specific use cases of Ethereum. This is not a new or recent realization. In fact, to name two examples, it's the primary reason why Dapper Labs decided to build their own L1 blockchain Flow after their experience with Crypto Kitties on Ethereum - and the primary reason why L2 solutions and ZK-rollups like Immutable X exist.

Now add the negative environmental impacts, due to the escalating power demands of proof-of-work blockchains, on top of all of that and we have the perfect narrative for why proof-of-stake is supposedly the future of blockchain.

The Problem With Proof-of-Stake

In order to understand the issue, we first need to look at value creation, the foundation of every business and our capitalist society. The foundation of every business is to create and deliver value in an efficient enough manner so that it will generate a profit after cost. In the broadest terms possible, value is created through work. In scientific terms, entropy is reduced by investing energy, turning something that's chaotic and useless into something that is more useful to humans. In simple terms, you have to spend time and/or money in order to make money.

This is essentially the concept behind every proof-of-work blockchain, such as Bitcoin.

Institutional investing works very differently. Institutional investors are usually large market actors such as banks, mutual funds, pensions, and insurance companies that pool together funds on behalf of others and invest those funds in a variety of different financial instruments and asset classes. Those businesses do create value like any other - however, their investors don't, they just give them money to turn it into more money. The more money an investor will give to these institutions to invest into ETFs, mutual funds, crypto tokens, or similar assets, the more they will get in return. In other terms, the richer those investors already are, the richer they will get, without doing any work or spending any money.

This is essentially the concept behind every proof-of-stake blockchain, such as Ethereum will be.

One could say that there is nothing wrong with this, that's just how our society works, deal with it. I think that's a valid position to take, if being honest about it. However, the entire crypto scene has become a huge echo chamber about how blockchain, DAOs, decentralization, a free metaverse, and other buzzwords are going to be our salvation and the future of humankind; finally a way out of end-stage capitalism! The reality is that everything that is currently happening in the blockchain space is leading us into the exact opposite direction, the tokenization of everything, everything having some kind of precisely measurable monetary value associated with it, essentially capitalism on steroids. In the world of NFTs and blockchain, at least as it is being steered right now, you will be even less relevant than you already are if you're not already rich. If this future happens as it is being envisioned, it'll be the most extreme divide between the wealthy and the poor that has ever existed in the history of humankind. If put into the terms of a free-to-play video game, in the long run, all that's going to be left are the whales and the gold farmers.

Proof-of-Work is Not a Long-Term Issue

The current impact of the energy needs of proof-of-work blockchains is undeniable, even more so in these most recent times of international turmoil and war. However, I believe the right approach is not to get rid of proof-of-work as a concept, but to see this as an opportunity and argument to radically increase investments into clean and renewable energy sources.

Significant advances have already been made in the field of fusion energy. In a recent milestone at the LLNL, published this summer, researchers recorded a net-positive energy yield of more than 1.3 megajoules during only a few nanoseconds. For reference, that's enough clean energy to power a few thousand homes for a year. This is what we need to double down on.

Bitcoin and the proof-of-work concept were conceived with the Kardashev scale of civilization in mind, originally proposed by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Kardashev in 1964. Kardashev wondered about civilization, which he defines by its capacity to access energy, to maintain itself and to integrate information from its environment. I encourage you to read more about his ideas and how contemporary physicists expanded on it.

In this context, and by looking at those premises, it becomes clear how those ideas relate to a proof-of-work blockchain and Bitcoin specifically:

Access to energy; an ever increasing amount is required based on how proof-of-work creates an ever increasing complexity to solve. Over a period of time, this automatically accounts for radical breakthroughs in our ability to access energy.
Maintaining itself; the concept of decentralization, there is no single controlling entity or group of entities.
Integrating information from the environment; the concept of immutable information being publicly accumulated and stored on the blockchain.

All of the above is also one of the main reasons why Bitcoin has now become lot more like a naturally occurring commodity rather than something that's human-made and maintained, even though it factually is.

These are the same reasons why I believe that it's a huge mistake to switch Ethereum to a proof-of-stake blockchain. It's the antithesis to those concepts - access to energy becomes access to capital, maintaining itself becomes maintained through the people with the most money, because all crypto tokens have monetary value. Besides, there are already solutions that fix all the everyday issues this change is supposedly solving, namely L2 networks and ZK-rollups. It's basically an unnecessary band-aid for Ethereum to work around the energy issue, with potentially devastating results.

I do believe there is a perfectly valid and important place for more commercially oriented blockchain projects like BNB, FLOW, SOL, IMX, and way too many others to create an exhaustive list, especially when it comes to addressing the everyday practical needs of projects building on top of them, but nothing like those should be the foundation on which we build our digital future.

The right solution would be to fix the underlying issue, specifically the current energy scarcity, reliance on fossil fuels and other non-renewable energy sources that pollute our environment. That's a solution that would benefit all of humankind, all of us that are currently around as well as all future generations - not just the richest 1%.

I realize these are lofty, maybe even idealist thoughts. Then again, people should at least be honest about what their end-game is with proof-of-stake; it's about maintaining control and keeping our current societal order intact in the upcoming digital age, and a +1 at that.

How Forex Brokers Make Money

2021-11-11T11:00:00.526-05:00

When I started to look at forex trading more seriously, one of the first things I had to do is to find a reliable and fair forex broker. I am very fortunate to have found Global Prime; they offer accounts for forex retail traders almost anywhere in the world, with only the exceptions of North Korea, Iran, USA, Puerto Rico, Ivory Coast, and Ontario, the province of Canada.

I already wrote a post about why I chose Global Prime as my forex broker. However, that is only a brief overview of the true depth beneath it all. The tip of the iceberg, in a sense. There is a very direct and straight forward honesty with which Global Prime operates and they genuinely value educating their clients about the business they are operating. To that end, they have an in-depth video series on their YouTube channel where they explain the ins-and-outs of the forex broker business from their own inside perspective. I found those videos to be highly educational, eye-opening even. I have not seen this type of candid discussion about the forex broker business anywhere else, especially not in this kind of detail.

The videos feature Angus Walker (General Manager), Jeremy Kinstlinger (Co-Founder) and host Sammy Althaus (Head of Retail Support) of Global Prime, alongside occasional guests. This is an overview of the first six episodes.

I found the first two episodes somewhat difficult to follow, I can imagine this is even more difficult for someone who is completely new to the topic. Somewhere after the third and into the fourth episode - following the discussion about dealing desks - was the point where it all came together for me and started to make sense. I hope the excerpts below are helpful for the purpose of following the overarching narrative. At the bottom of this page, you will find a broker quiz to help you understand what kind of forex broker you are dealing with and how honest they are with you.

Episodes

A-Book vs B-Book
Forex Brokers Profit From Client Losses
Dealing Desks Exposed
Real Liquidity vs B-Book
The Real Reason Brokers Offer 500:1 Leverage
Why Forex Brokers Profile Clients

Update; September 2023. Unfortunately, Global Prime decided to mark all the videos of this series private on YouTube. However, even though the videos aren't publicly available anymore, the core content is still preserved here on this page in the summaries below and provides an insightful overview on how forex brokers make money.

A-Book vs B-Book

The discussion in the first episode centers around the fundamental differences between A-Book versus B-Book brokers. This is a key indicator to differentiate between brokers who have your interests at heart versus those who are likely to do more harm than good to your trading account.

The difference, in a nutshell:

A-Book: Brokers who focus on connecting their clients to financial markets, helping them become profitable; they communicate transparently about all trades on a case-by-case basis.
B-Book: Brokers who provide a market to trade, but don't externalize trades and the risk; they simulate a market environment without actually connecting their clients to real financial markets.

Angus believes ~98% of current forex brokers use a B-Book model, and none of them focus on honesty and transparency with their clients. B-Book brokers focus on extracting losses from their clients, which leads to a lot of compromises in potential profitability for all of their clients. Interestingly, in 2018, a report of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) showed that trading clients lost ~$2 billion, while brokers profited ~$2 billion. B-Book brokers usually target inexperienced clients who don't fully understand the implications of trading in such an environment. The second episode goes more in-depth on this particular subject, explaining how exactly B-Book brokers are profiting from their clients.

Brokers, like any other business, need to focus on client outcomes (i.e. profitability) for long-term, sustainable success. Global Prime's goal is to do that for their clients in order to connect them to financial markets reliably, while educating them about the forex trading business to help them become successful as traders. This leads into an interesting and important discussion about the ethics of the forex broker business; I encourage you to watch the full episode to follow it.

Forex Brokers Profit From Client Losses

The majority of this episode further iterates on points about the ethics of brokerages and regulatory bodies that were introduced in the first episode, and how Global Prime operates differently than most other forex brokers.

Why do forex brokers B-Book?

Because most retail traders tend to lose, the profit margin for a B-Book broker is 2x to 6x greater than that of an A-Book broker. Brokers aren't penalized for the practice of directly profiting from their client's losses and can be vague about their product descriptions to create loopholes. They are also able to advertise leverage rates of 1:500 or higher, which helps them attract clients by making it appear as if they offer great trading conditions. In a sense they do, but leverage amplifies both wins and losses, and since most retail clients tend to lose it's in the best interest of B-Book brokers that their clients use as much leverage as irresponsibly as possible.

Usually, B-Book brokers profile and divide their clients into two groups - profitable traders are transferred to a secondary A-Book (connected to actual markets), while losing traders stay in the primary B-Book (markets simulated by the broker). The focus of these brokers is to optimize their B-Book trading to facilitate more clients losing, in order to maximize their profits. For profitable traders this usually creates very poor trading conditions, because optimizing liquidity for their A-Book is often an afterthought for these brokers.

B-Book brokers are similar to casinos and gambling business models in that they profit off of their client's net losses, not their net gains. They are focused on marketing and the constant acquisition of new clients instead of client retention and bringing actual value to their clients.

How does Global Prime compete as an A-Book brokerage?

Their product offerings are not that different from those of B-Book brokers, but the leverage offered to their clients is more conservative. A-Book brokerages focus on trade execution speeds, quality of trades, and typically have 1-3 prime brokers. A-Book brokers get direct liquidity from different banks and customize their pricing for institutional and retail clients.

A-Book brokers profit from a mark-up on spreads, swaps, and commissions - not off of a conflict of interest like B-Book brokers.

Essentially, this enables A-Book brokerages to focus on qualitative results for clients w.r.t. transparency, liquidity, and profitability instead of pure quantity of clients and trades. Global Prime specifically values building a community of educated and profitable traders who can hold the brokerage accountable for results and advice.

Dealing Desks Exposed

The third episode centers around dealing desks at a brokerage, what they are, how they operate, and why you should care about them.

Essentially, dealing desks are tasked with risk management for a brokerage.

The underlying principle, as with B-Book tactics in general, is for clients to lose, so that the brokerage can profit from those losses. In certain cases, dealing desks may even deploy deterrent strategies against winning clients to stop them from making too much of a profit at the brokerage's expense - such as artificial slippage, delaying trades, increasing latency, limiting execution speeds, or artificially changing the trading environment.

The checklist for a typical dealing desk:

In the long run, the clients always have to lose.
Hedge the least amount possible. The more exposed a B-Book broker is, the more money they stand to make. For instance, if they make $100-200 million in a quarter, then the market exposure they carry is, on average, over $1 billion.
Hedge less in volatile markets. More volatility = more client losses = more profit for the broker.
Clients with excess risk always blow up their account.
The A-Book is not the focus.
The core principle is always to optimize revenue per million and maximize profits for the brokerage through earning from client losses.

Dealing desks can switch a client from A-to-B-Book (or vice-versa) even mid-trade, and the client has no idea. This leads to the client suffering a higher possibility of losses due to the aforementioned unethical practices of delaying trades, artificial slippage, etc.

These forex brokers always have a set percentage of winning clients who are permanently put on the A-Book, but that A-Book itself is often only an afterthought, so the client doesn't have access to optimal liquidity or an ideal trading environment. This is bad for these profitable clients, as it is likely that they are getting a sub-standard return on their investment at the brokerage.

It can result in a double loss for the brokerage if they move a client from B-to-A-Book; i.e. if a client wins on the B-Book side, then the brokerage owes them money. Then, if that client is moved to the A-Book and loses, that's another loss for the brokerage as well because now the brokerage owes money to a bank. Thus, it requires good timing, expertise and substantial experience to operate a dealing desk at the highest efficiency.

B-Book brokers primarily make money from exposure + volatility = risk (the "formula" for client losses) not from commissions or spread revenue across clients. This is one of the reasons why they are eager to give 500:1 or more leverage to clients, who (statistically speaking) inevitably make large losses. Leverage amplifies both wins and losses, and the quicker clients blow up their account, the quicker a B-Book forex broker generates a profit.

What are the two most important tools for every B-Book brokerage?

Marketing. - This brings clients to the brokerage to make money off of them. Since the strategy is for clients to blow up their account, and it is expected of them to eventually give up forex trading in the process, these brokers require a constant stream of new clients.
Dealing Desks. - The broker completely controls the trading conditions and risk management policy by constantly monitoring and dynamically adapting the trading environment.

A-Book brokers on the other hand focus on managing liquidity and communicating with liquidity partners to make sure that their clients receive the best trade execution speeds and trading environment.

Why should you care?

The primary mission of dealing desks is making sure individual clients don't make too much money, so that the brokerage can profit from their losses instead. Being a high-value, high-volume, winning client is actually detrimental to a brokerage firm that primarily operates on a B-Book. This is why it's so important to know whether a brokerage has your best interests at heart - and to help answer that, please refer to the quiz at the bottom of this page. The Q&A style format should be self-explanatory after reading and digesting this article, even more if you watch all the videos as well.

Do A-Book forex brokers like Global Prime have dealing desks?

Normally, an A-Book forex broker does not have (nor need) a dealing desk.

However, batch hedging, where trades are internalized until they reach a certain value threshold, after which they are connected to the external market environment, has some characteristics of a dealing desk. The key difference is that these trades and clients are not individually profiled; instead, the trades are only internalized until their combined value aggregates over a preset limit. The brokerage doesn't make money off of any client's losses (if any) in this case. It is considered a budgeting and cost saving measure, in regards to transaction volumes, to accommodate retail traders with small accounts and to ensure profitable trades for all clients involved.

Real Liquidity vs B-Book

This discussion focuses on exhaust flows and the value of real liquidity of an A-Book brokerage vs that of a typical B-Book brokerage. The episode features Elan Bension (Co-Founder, Director Institutional) of Global Prime as a guest.

In the B-Book business model, when a broker moves a profitable client from their B-Book to their A-Book, they are "exhausting" the trade volume of that particular client into the real market. The losing clients are kept on their internal B-Book. Meanwhile, an A-Book broker tries to exhaust and showcase as much of their trading volume as possible to the market, to maintain complete transparency about all client transactions.

The system of trade in A-Book vs B-Book:

In general, the system of how the trades are executed in A-Book and B-Book brokerages are quite similar, up until the time when the counterparty fills the trade. With an A-Book brokerage you are trading against real, external liquidity providers, whereas with a B-Book brokerage the trade is being internalized by the brokerage.
In both cases, the trade goes through the platform and then hits a bridge/execution engine. Now, at the execution engine, in a B-Book execution, the trade will follow all the settings prescribed by the broker, i.e. the latency of execution. Then, the system will take a snapshot of the market liquidity after that latency time-gap has passed (e.g. 30 milliseconds), and then fill in the final order according to the available liquidity and other parameters present at that particular time.
An A-Book brokerage uses live-market trade response times; while B-Book brokers have to simulate/synthesize the latency, response times, and order fills for clients with larger orders. This isn't a true reflection of current market conditions and easily abused or manipulated for profit by the broker, at the expense of their clients.

The quality of liquidity = the quality of the relationship.

The quality of liquidity provided to clients is often dependent on the relationship between the brokerage firm and their liquidity providers. Global Prime has a team dedicated to communicating and showcasing the quality of their current client flow to their liquidity providers. Elan says that banks don't mind seeing diverse (both good and bad, i.e. losing and winning) client flow, because what matters most to banks is transparency. Due to this openness and dedicated relationship between the brokerage and their liquidity providers, Global Prime is able to provide a superior quality of liquidity to their clients compared to B-Book or even other A-Book brokerages.

In B-Book brokerages, there is usually a lack of transparency with banks. Those firms intentionally send them about 95% bad client flows (i.e. mostly the winning clients, which they don't want on their internal B-Book), which negatively impacts the banks investing with them. Thus, the banks start losing faith in the B-Book brokerage because they (the banks) are consistently losing money by investing with them. In the long run, this leads to the banks being more defensive with their injections of liquidity, which increases the risks of slippage and outages for the trading stream of the B-Book brokerage. This then affects both A-Book & B-Book clients of the firm, leading to system breakdowns.

Additionally, the A-Book clients of primarily B-Book brokers suffer from a lack of dedicated attention to their portfolios and liquidity management. Meanwhile, a purely A-Book brokerage can offer better liquidity and attention to their clients due to a better relationship with their banks. Having a good relationship with their liquidity providers also enables an A-Book brokerage to customize the revenue/liquidity streams to fit their clients better. For them their A-Book isn't an afterthought, it's the core of their business.

The Real Reason Brokers Offer 500:1 Leverage

There is a common sentiment in the forex retail trading community that one of the best ways to get higher returns is through higher leverage.

Is it possible to get higher returns (~5% per month) without very high leverage?

It is entirely possible to do so, but it isn't attractive to most traders because higher leverage seems like a good deal or shortcut to most. However, most of the traders who are entering the market today with B-Book brokers are uninformed about the true risks of higher (like 500:1 or more) leverage, and haven't had suitability tests done to actually assess their ideal leverage and risk capacity. Ultimately, this leads to the wrong belief that they absolutely require higher leverage to make more money, or even to make any significant amount of money at all.

However, B-Book brokers often have a near-guaranteed return on any investment they make with a losing trader. This is why they are happy to offer exorbitant leverage rates, or welcome and deposit bonuses, because at the end of the day the brokerage is going to make a net profit from their clients' losses, carefully managed by their dealing desk. Extremely high leverage is not always in every trader's best interest. Often, when traders ask back-office or B-Book brokers for higher leverage, there is no risk assessment done and minimal information is given to the trader about the risks involved. This usually leads to massively amplified losses on the trader's side, meaning quicker and higher profits for these brokerages.

Angus, Jeremy and Sammy all agree (as before, in the second episode) that B-Book brokerages are like casinos, where some people might get lucky every once in a while, but the house always wins. Angus reminds us that the general rule of thumb with trading is to try and make 1% profit with each trade, and nobody really needs 500:1 leverage to make a 1% profit.

Personally, I think the issue is that most retail traders misunderstand the purpose of leverage. They see it as a means to open a few extreme positions in an effort to make as much money on a few trades as quickly as possible. In reality, the main benefit of high leverage, as I see it, is that it allows you to open a lot of very reasonable positions in parallel. However, this is not something that a regular retail trader should be doing. If you're manually opening 20-30+ positions in parallel on a daily basis, chances are you're probably overtrading. For regular retail forex trading, something along the lines of 100:1 leverage is more than enough and already requires a fair amount of discipline to manage.

In equities trading and other financial trading platforms, there are usually stringent background checks and risk assessments required, no matter what kind of financial instruments are offered to traders, because there is an underlying market which is heavily regulated by proper institutions. In forex trading however this is not always the case, and there are many ways to skirt around the few regulations that are in place, which lead to the creation of the A-Book and B-Book business models in the first place.

Why Forex Brokers Profile Clients

Angus reiterates how B-Book brokers profile clients in order to optimize and maximize their own profits by carefully categorizing traders. As previously mentioned, the profit difference (revenue per million) between an A-Book and B-Book brokerage is significantly in favor of the B-Book brokerage. They don't have their clients' best interests at heart, since relieving them of the money in their account is their primary source of revenue, and will do whatever it takes to make money off of as many of their clients as possible.

The profiling of potential clients starts with the marketing team, who focus on jurisdictions where they predict a higher number of unsophisticated and amateur traders. The B-Book broker's primary objective is to get as many such traders on board as possible, because they are the main target of B-Book tactics. Usually, if a broker is offering a "learn as you trade" service, they are more likely to be running a B-Book. The same applies to welcome bonuses, deposit matching, and similar promotions.

In order to further profile their clients, a B-Book brokerage will then go through a client's transaction history and buying behavior. This serves to find out whether to categorize them as a losing trader (who is kept on their primary B-Book) or a winning trader (who is sent to their secondary A-Book), and which strategies to employ to make the most amount of money from that client.

Using highly sophisticated profiling strategies as well as experienced dealing desk operators, B-Book brokers are nearly always at an advantage. They can plan ahead and keep refining their methods of extracting profitability from losing traders by internalizing all of the risk and guiding inexperienced traders towards sustaining heavy losses. While the brokers have a plethora of information and data about their traders' skill level and trading history, the traders do not have this advantage/luxury, unless they use equally sophisticated third party tools.

At the end of the day, forex trading is a zero sum game and a B-Book brokerage will always be the winner in the trading environment they provide and fully control. It is a very adversarial and competitive situation, with a major conflict of interest between the B-Book brokerage and their clients. Winning clients who are making money are essentially a kind of opportunity cost for B-Book brokers, or in other words, a necessary inconvenience that comes with the territory. - Isn't that precisely the reason we all started forex trading though, to win trades and to make money?

Broker Quiz

The following five questions can be asked of your favorite broker.
If your broker is honest, they should be able to answer you easily and without hesitation.

Rule #1: This must be sent to the compliance department of your broker.
Rule #2: You must demand YES/NO answers for this to be effective.

Do you profile your clients into separate books (i.e. A-Book / B-Book) based on their profitability? YES/NO?

The answer should be NO. An ethical broker should not offer different trading conditions to their clients based on their profitability.

Can you categorically state that you do not profit from client losses through warehousing client trades? YES/NO?

The answer should be YES. If the answer is NO, then the broker is primarily set up to profit from client losses instead of providing access to financial markets as a service.

Do you notify clients when you switch them from A-Book to B-Book ? YES/NO?

If the answer to the first question is YES, then the answer to this should be YES as well. That would mean the broker is profiling clients, but at least honest about doing so. If the answer to the first question is NO, then the answer to this question should be N/A.

Can your clients increase their leverage without any assessment? YES/NO?

The answer should be NO. A responsible broker will make sure that clients do not overtrade and understand the risks of trading with very high leverage.

Do you provide some form of post trade transparency to demonstrate which liquidity provider filled the client's trade? YES/NO?

The answer should be YES. Otherwise there is no transparency on who filled the trade on the opposing side and whether the trade was based on real market conditions.

Omega-3 & CoQ10, Effects on Longevity

2021-05-29T19:00:00.300-04:00

Both omega-3 fatty acids and CoQ10 play an important role in supporting the optimal performance of various physiological processes. Coenzyme Q10 is naturally produced in the body and stored in the mitochondria, the powerhouse of the cell. It acts as a potent antioxidant agent that, if taken as a supplement, can help with various medical conditions. Omega-3 fatty acids derived from fish and other seafood typically deliver a combination of EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) fatty acids to help prevent deficiencies. There is a third omega-3 fatty acid, ALA (alpha-linolenic acid), which is found mainly in plant oils such as flaxseed, soybean, and canola. Diets in developed nations tend to be rich in ALA (typically from oils used to fry food), but poor in EPA and DHA, unless a diet regularly includes fish or other seafood.

Both omega-3 fatty acids and CoQ10 are commonly found combined in the same supplement because they have synergies with each other based on their individual action. They are often marketed as heart health products since both help fight inflammation, support blood vessel and cardiovascular health, nourish brain cells, and reduce mental stress.

Health Benefits of Omega-3 and CoQ10

There is a wealth of literature and websites on the potential health benefits of omega-3 fatty acids. Here I am focusing on some of the key benefits of omega-3 fatty acids and CoQ10 as they relate to the topic of longevity.

Cardiovascular Functions

Medical research studies have shown that omega-3 fatty acids are able to support a healthy heart in numerous ways. They decrease the level of bad cholesterol in the body, help regulate the amount of triglycerides (i.e. energy stored in fat cells) and increase the concentration of high-density lipoproteins a.k.a. good cholesterol. As a result, this reduces the risk of plaque formation in blood vessels, which in turn promotes optimal blood flow and heart functions. Moreover, they help with high blood pressure, relieve inflammation and may even help resolve harmful blood clot formations inside blood vessels.^[3][4][6][7]

Studies reported a potent antioxidant effect of CoQ10 that relieves oxidative stress in cells, protects cellular integrity and helps vital body organs. Several medical studies have shown that CoQ10 has a significantly positive effect on blood sugar levels and cardiovascular health. It helps regulate blood sugar levels, lowers the amount of triglycerides, and supports a higher concentration of good cholesterol in the blood. All these physiological effects not only assist heart functions, but also may help with type 2 diabetes symptoms and synergize with the effects of omega-3 fatty acids. Moreover, the antioxidant action of CoQ10 not only benefits everyday brain functions, but also reduces the risk of developing neurological diseases and disorders.^{[1][2][9][16]}

Neuroprotective Effect

Studies reported a neuroprotective effect of omega-3 fatty acids that not only slows down the progression of neurological diseases but also helps relive symptoms of depression and mental stress. An optimal supplementation of omega-3 fatty acids was reported to lower anxiety, improve states of depression, and to inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory mediators, including interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α).^[5][6][7]

Brain Health

In addition to their neuroprotective effect, studies suggest that an optimal intake of omega-3 fatty acids results in tangible benefits for brain health in terms of mental ability and performance. Medical research studies reported that optimal levels of omega-3 fatty acids support cognition, improve memory retention, support social skills, and increase concentration as well as attention span. A proper intake of omega-3 fatty acids may even lessen symptoms of hyperactivity, aggression, sleep apnea, and impulsiveness. This was found in a study specifically about children, but still reminds of similar effects in adults mentioned before.^[5][6][7] These particular benefits are the primary reason why omega-3 fatty acids are also highly popular as supplements in the nootropic community.

Eye Health

Macular degeneration is a serious threat to eyes sight and may, with old age, eventually result in permanent blindness. Different medical studies reported that omega-3 fatty acids have the ability to protect the retina against different pathological and environmental hazards and reduce the risk of macular eye degeneration. Thus, they help protect vascular and neural retina tissues which in turn improves eye health and longevity.^[6]

Sexual Health

An optimal amount of CoQ10 supports sexual health and wellbeing in both men and women. Medical research studies reported that the antioxidant activity of CoQ10 improves testosterone levels, increases sperm count, and encourages sperm mobility for improved fertility. Furthermore, studies confirmed a significant positive effect on overall fertility and sperm quality by protecting sperm cells against chemical toxins in the body.^[12][13]

In the case of women, medical research studies confirmed a positive impact of CoQ10 supplements during pregnancy. It not only reduces the risk of preeclampsia but also improves the ovarian response to stimulation as well as embryological parameters that help fertilization and support the optimal development of the embryo.^[8][11]

Physical Performance

CoQ10 is stored in the mitochondria and part of the process of cellular energy production. It is required for proper cellular mitochondrial functions and helps during physical activities. Studies reported that supplementation with CoQ10 relieves muscle fatigue and delays exhaustion, both of which enhance athletic performance. The antioxidant activity of CoQ10 further promotes mitochondrial functions by protecting them against oxidative stress.^[14][15]

Quality of Life

Adding more to the previously discussed health benefits, omega-3 fatty acids also reduce the risk of developing metabolic disorders, including diabetes. They increase resistance against inflammation as well as insulin sensitivity, which helps regulate high blood sugar levels. As a result, they decrease the risk of developing various medical conditions linked to irregular levels of inflammation, including cancer and heart disease. Overall, all of these are effects that can meaningfully contribute to an increased health span.^[4][5][20]

Studies also suggested that omega-3 fatty acids support resistance against autoimmune types of diseases and may improve the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and psoriasis. Moreover, they support healthy bones and joints by reducing pain and helping to increase grip strength. In regards to common aging related diseases, optimal intake of omega-3 fatty acids reduces the risk of osteoporosis and arthritis.^[7][18][19]

Complementing the health benefits mentioned above, an optimal amount of CoQ10 in the body helps reduce the occurrence of migraines and decreases the severity and occurrence of headaches. Moreover, CoQ10 slows down the progression of type 2 diabetes via reducing fasting blood sugar and hemoglobin A1C levels. It stimulates the metabolism of fats and discourages their accumulation in adipocytes (i.e. fat cells). Some studies also reported that CoQ10 supports lung functions and tissue oxygenation via suppressing inflammatory response. Thus, it might also reduce the risk of developing certain respiratory conditions, including asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.^{[1][2][9][10][16]}

Omega-3 fatty acids improve skin texture and help maintain younger looking skin. They play an important role in skin hydration, reduce the risk of developing abnormal skin conditions and improve skin immunity against pathological agents. Additionally, they improve oil production to help prevent premature aging of the skin through exposure to environmental hazards. Studies also reported that they contribute to protecting the skin against harmful radiation from the sun and increase the concentration of collagen in the skin.^[17]

References:

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Gerry Schwalfenberg. "Omega-3 fatty acids: their beneficial role in cardiovascular health." Canadian family physician, Medecin de famille canadien, vol. 52(6), 2006: 734–740.
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David Kiefer & Traci Pantuso. "Omega-3 fatty acids: An update emphasizing clinical use." Agro Food Ind Hi Tech., vol. 23(4), 2012: 10–13.
Maria Alessandra Gammone, Graziano Riccioni, Gaspare Parrinello, Nicolantonio D’Orazio. "Omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids: Benefits and Endpoints in Sport." Nutrients, vol. 11(1), 2019: 46. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu11010046
Enrique Teran et al. "Coenzyme Q10 supplementation during pregnancy reduces the risk of pre-eclampsia." International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, vol. 105(1), 2009: 43–45. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijgo.2008.11.033
Shi-ying Zhang et al. "Effectiveness of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." International Journal of Endocrinology, 2018: 6484839. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/6484839
ZhiYong Zeng et al. "Efficacy of CoQ10 as supplementation for migraine: A meta-analysis." Acta Neurologica Scandinavica, vol. 139(3), 2019: 284–293. https://doi.org/10.1111/ane.13051
Yangying Xu et al. "Pretreatment with coenzyme Q10 improves ovarian response and embryo quality in low-prognosis young women with decreased ovarian reserve: a randomized controlled trial." Reproductive Biology and Endocrinology, vol. 16(1), 2018: 29. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12958-018-0343-0
Saleem Ali Banihani. "Effect of Coenzyme Q10 Supplementation on Testosterone." Biomolecules, vol. 8(4), 2018: 172. https://doi.org/10.3390/biom8040172
Ahmed T Alahmar. "The impact of two doses of coenzyme Q10 on semen parameters and antioxidant status in men with idiopathic oligoasthenoteratozoospermia." Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine, vol. 46(3), 2019: 112–118. https://doi.org/10.5653/cerm.2019.00136
Matthew Cooke et al. "Effects of acute and 14-day coenzyme Q10 supplementation on exercise performance in both trained and untrained individuals." Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, vol. 5, 2008: 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-5-8
Dietmar Alf, Michael E Schmidt & Stefan C Siebrecht. "Ubiquinol supplementation enhances peak power production in trained athletes: a double-blind, placebo controlled study." Journal of the International Society of Sports Nutrition, vol. 10, 2013: 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/1550-2783-10-24
Qiuhua Shen & Janet D. Pierce. "Supplementation of Coenzyme Q10 among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus." Healthcare, vol. 3(2), 2015: 296–309. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare3020296
Meagen M. McCusker & Jane M. Grant-Kels. "Healing fats of the skin: the structural and immunologic roles of the ω-6 and ω-3 fatty acids." Clinics in Dermatology, vol. 28(4), 2010: 440-451. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clindermatol.2010.03.020
Huan Yang, Pengcheng Xun, Ka He. "Fish and Fish Oil Intake in Relation to Risk of Asthma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis." PLoS ONE, vol. 8(11), 2013: e80048. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0080048
J E Löfvenborg et al. "Fatty fish consumption and risk of latent autoimmune diabetes in adults." Nutrition & Diabetes, vol. 4, 2014: e139. https://doi.org/10.1038/nutd.2014.36
Lars C Stene, Geir Joner & Norwegian Childhood Diabetes Study Group. "Use of cod liver oil during the first year of life is associated with lower risk of childhood-onset type 1 diabetes: a large, population-based, case-control study." The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, vol. 78(6), 2003: 1128–1134. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/78.6.1128

Ginseng, the Primordial Longevity Herb

2021-05-03T13:00:00.022-04:00

Ginseng, scientifically known as Panax ginseng or Panax quinquefolius, is a short, slow-growing medicinal herb with fleshy roots. The roots of ginseng contain bioactive compounds that show significant positive effects in the management and prevention of medical conditions. It is commonly touted for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. It could also help regulate blood sugar levels and have benefits for some cancers. What’s more, ginseng may strengthen the immune system, enhance brain function, fight fatigue and improve symptoms of erectile dysfunction. Ginseng has also been shown to benefit mental functions, feelings of calmness and mood in both healthy people and those with Alzheimer’s disease. Additionally, ginseng may help fight fatigue and enhance physical activity by lowering oxidative damage and increasing energy production in cells. The use of Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolius in traditional Chinese medicine dates back to about 5000 years ago.^[1]

Bioactive Compounds in Ginseng

The word Panax is derived from the word "panacea" - in Greek mythology, Panacea (Πανάκεια) was a goddess of universal health and remedy. Roots of the Panax ginseng contain various bioactive compounds such as saponins (ginsenosides), alkaloids, acidic polysaccharides (ginsenan S-IA and ginsenan S-IIA), polyacetylenic alcohols, sesquiterpenes, vitamins, peptides, and amino acids. The health benefits of ginseng are strongly correlated with the presence and concentration of ginsenosides.^[1]

Types of Ginseng

More than 13 types of ginseng species exist in nature; among these, the Korean (red) and American (white) ginseng are the most common and typically used as supplements.

The Korean species, scientifically called Panax ginseng and sometimes referred to as Chinese ginseng, is native to Asia. While the American ginseng, also known as Panax quinquefolius, is native to North America. The main difference between these types is the composition and ratio of the various bioactive compounds and their resulting medicinal uses. They are equally well known and used because they both contain an optimal concentration of ginsenosides with positive effects on different medical conditions. Red, Korean ginseng has been used to heal, however, it also has the reputation of being a stimulant. White, American ginseng has healing properties, while having more of a calming effect, providing mental clarity.

Moreover, red ginseng roots are collected after growing for over six years, then soaked and steamed between 100–110°C for 2–3 hours. White ginseng roots are typically collected for medicinal purposes when they are between 4-6 years old and then dried naturally in the sun.

Health Benefits of Ginseng

In the following, I am only referring to relatively recent research. Most of the references are from the last 10 years, only one of them is from before the year 2000. There are thousands of years worth of anecdotes about the health benefits of ginseng, I am not considering anything derived from that.

Quality of Life

Ginseng possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity that reduces the risk of developing various chronic medical conditions. Medical studies reported that ginseng inhibits signaling pathways led by protein kinases and transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa-B. The inhibition of these signaling pathways results in a decrease in the production of proinflammatory mediators and cytokines. Thus, ginseng can help in the prevention of underlying medical conditions.^[1][3]

Furthermore, it relieves oxidative stress and increases the antioxidant activity of enzymes in the body that improve cellular integrity, support physiological functions, and increase longevity. Also, a regular consumption of ginseng supports mental health, can relieve mental stress and ease fatigue, and could thus even improve social behaviors in everyday interactions. On the physiological side, even in healthy people ginseng improves potential symptoms of type 2 diabetes via regulating the blood sugar level, increasing insulin sensitivity, and encouraging reuptake of sugar into tissue.^[1][3]

Besides, ginseng shows an immunomodulatory activity and can enhance immune response against pathological and environmental hazards. It helps maintain an optimal immune system response against microbial attacks and therefore increases resistance to various infections or illnesses.

Additionally, studies reported anti-cancer activity of ginseng via antiangiogenics and apoptosis-inducing action. Thus, it helps lower the risk of developing different cancers, including liver, stomach, lung, colon, pancreas, mouth, and ovarian cancer.^[1][2][3]

Delayed Aging

Ginseng contains potent bioactive compounds that promote the production of collagen to help improve skin appearance. It promotes a youthful look, protects skin against photodamage or sun damage, and acts as a skin whitener that enhances skin complexion. Also, it helps reduce facial wrinkles to maintain an optimal skin texture. Moreover, ginseng reduces the production of melatonin, which decreases the risk of photoaging and skin pigmentation.^[5]

Furthermore, it delays mental aging by reducing the risk of neurodegenerative disorders via neuroprotective properties. Also highly popular in nootropic circles, ginseng promotes enhanced human intelligence, inhibits neuronal cell apoptosis, and supports nerve proliferation. Personally, I support this action through a multivitamin, to make sure my body has enough vitamin B12 and other related nutrients at its disposal. Ginseng also helps remove free radicals and toxins that negatively affect nerves and specifically brain tissue.^[1][2][4]

Sexual Health

Ginseng is a traditional remedy for promoting sexual health, libido and satisfaction for both men and women.

Research studies have found a tangible, positive effect of ginseng on male reproductive systems. It helps prevent and potentially even improves existing symptoms of erectile dysfunction by enhancing the production of nitric oxide. It is believed that this higher concentration of nitric acid increases blood flow to the penis muscles. Another possible and positive mechanism is relieving oxidative stress in the muscles and vessels of the genital organs. For men, ginseng can even act as somewhat of an aphrodisiac.^[6][7]

Brain Functions

As mentioned earlier, intake of ginseng may help enhance brain functions, improve cognitive abilities, have a positive effect on mood, and generally increase mental performance. It helps modulate the action of neurotransmitters in the brain and facilitates neurotransmission between neurons. Multiple medical research studies have shown that ginseng relieves mental fatigue, reduces memory issues, improves focus, and encourages learning capabilities. On the therapeutic spectrum, it helps with the retrieval of memories and relives symptoms of dementia, which can aid with the treatment of neurological disorders like Alzheimer's disease.^[1][3][8]

Cardiovascular Functions

Ginseng contains potent bioactive compounds that support the proper functioning of the cardiovascular system. Ginseng modulates and supports different physiological processes that may help heart and blood circulation. Several studies reported that ginseng reduces the risk of heart disease by relieving oxidative stress in the arteries, lessening artery rigidity, protecting cardiac muscles, preventing endothelial dysfunction, improving blood circulation, and increasing the survival of cardiomyocytes.^[1][9][11]

Also, the enhanced production of nitric oxide induces vasodilation, ameliorates vasomotor function, and regulates high blood pressure. Moreover, it decreases the level of low-density lipoproteins in the blood and supports the level of good cholesterol that decreases the risk of atherosclerosis and supports cardiovascular functions. The bioactive compounds in ginseng mildly inhibit platelet aggregation, which helps reduce the risk of blood clots in individuals with cardiac ischemia and thrombotic patients.^[1][9][10]

Physical Endurance and Athletic Performance

The combined physiological actions of ginseng can have a positive effect on overall endurance and muscular strength. Medical research studies have shown that systematic intake of ginseng not only relieves fatigue but can also help improve physical performance and endurance. It promotes energy production in the cells and helps with post-workout muscle recovery. Besides, it helps athletes by reducing the risk of exercise-induced inflammation and muscle damage. Additionally, it significantly improves oxygen uptake and consumption, increases vital capacity, promotes forced expiration, supports heart rate, increases muscular strength, and eases fatigue induced by lactate production.^[12][13]

Precautions

Ginseng shows mild side effects in some individuals. These adverse effects include insomnia, nervousness, headache, dizziness, gastrointestinal upset, and menstrual changes in women with regular use. Some people have an allergic reaction to ginseng, specifically to some of the bioactive compounds contained in the plant. Because of the effects of ginseng, it may interfere with antidiabetic drugs, anticoagulants (e.g. Aspirin), and antidepressant medications.^[14]

It is commonly recommended to not take ginseng for more than 3 months consecutively. Personally, I do a combination of switching between ginseng types and taking actual breaks, although this is something I am still experimenting with. I strongly prefer to take ginseng in the morning, regardless of which type.

The use of caffeine synergizes the effects of ginseng.^[14]

References:

Yang Yong, Ren Changhong, Zhang Yuan, Wu XiaoDan. "Ginseng: An Nonnegligible Natural Remedy for Healthy Aging." Aging and Disease, vol. 8(6), 2017: 708–720. https://doi.org/10.14336/AD.2017.0707
Yu Jin et al. "American Ginseng Suppresses Colitis through p53-Mediated Apoptosis of Inflammatory Cells." Cancer Prevention Research, vol. 3(3), 2010: 339–347. https://doi.org/10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-09-0116
C. I. Coleman, J. H. Hebert, P. Reddy. "The effects of Panax ginseng on quality of life." Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, vol. 28(1), 2003: 5–15. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2710.2003.00467.x
Yong Cheng, Li-hong Shen & Jun-tian Zhang. "Anti-amnestic and anti-aging effects of ginsenoside Rg1 and Rb1 and its mechanism of action." Acta Pharmacologica Sinica, vol. 26(2), 2005: 143–149. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1745-7254.2005.00034.x
Young Gon Kim, Maho Sumiyoshi, Masahiro Sakanaka, Yoshiyuki Kimura. "Effects of ginseng saponins isolated from red ginseng on ultraviolet B-induced skin aging in hairless mice." European Journal of Pharmacology, vol. 602(1), 2009: 148-156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejphar.2008.11.021
Dai‐Ja Jang et al. "Red ginseng for treating erectile dysfunction: a systematic review." British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, vol. 66(4), 2008: 444–450. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2125.2008.03236.x
Kar Wah Leung & Alice ST Wong. "Ginseng and male reproductive function." Spermatogenesis, vol. 3(3), 2013: e26391. https://doi.org/10.4161/spmg.26391
Hee Jin Kim, Pitna Kim, Chan Young Shin. "A comprehensive review of the therapeutic and pharmacological effects of ginseng and ginsenosides in central nervous system." Journal of Ginseng Research, vol. 37(1), 2013: 8–29. https://doi.org/10.5142/jgr.2013.37.8
Jong-Hoon Kim. "Pharmacological and medical applications of Panax ginseng and ginsenosides: a review for use in cardiovascular diseases." Journal of Ginseng Research, vol. 42(3), 2018: 264–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgr.2017.10.004
C. Norman Gillis. "Panax ginseng pharmacology: A nitric oxide link?" Biochemical Pharmacology, vol. 54(1), 1997: 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0006-2952(97)00193-7
Kyu Hee Lim, Dukhwan Ko, Jong-Hoon Kim. "Cardioprotective potential of Korean Red Ginseng extract on isoproterenol-induced cardiac injury in rats." Journal of Ginseng Research, vol. 37(3), 2013: 273–282. https://doi.org/10.5142/jgr.2013.37.273
Sergiy Oliynyk & Seikwan Oh. "Actoprotective effect of ginseng: improving mental and physical performance." Journal of Ginseng Research, vol. 37(2), 2013: 144–166. https://doi.org/10.5142/jgr.2013.37.144
Hyun Lyung Jung et al. "Effects of Panax ginseng Supplementation on Muscle Damage and Inflammation after Uphill Treadmill Running in Humans." The American Journal of Chinese Medicine, vol. 39(3), 2011: 441–450. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0192415X11008944
https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1000/panax-ginseng

Forex Trading Journal - Calendar Week 1/2, 2021

2021-01-17T16:00:00.078-05:00

After taking a bit of a break, and reading some related books on trading financial markets, I am back in the forex trading world. I have now completed a mentorship course offered by my broker Global Prime. This course is currently available for free to all active traders of their brokerage; i.e. traders with a live account who deposited at least the equivalent of A$ 200. There are is a also an entirely free preview for the course, which only requires a demo account with Global Prime, and gives an introduction to the types of strategies that are being taught.

Additionally, there are Discord chat rooms that allow traders who are practicing a certain type of trading strategy to communicate with each other and with their mentor, ask questions, analyze each other's trades, and so forth.

I am still using TradingView to search for setups, then execute those trades in MT4. For this purpose, I have found my multi-monitor setup with my PC and laptop extremely helpful! This is what my dashboard and chart setups look like now, for the specific strategy that I am practicing with:

All of the indicators and the strategy behind them are explained in detail in the course material that can be found on the Global Prime website.

I have executed 3 live trades based on this strategy; all 3 of them failed due to human error on my part.

Trade 1

AUDCAD long.

The setup for this trade was valid, going well for a while, and went up easily to 100% profit. At this point, according to the strategy, I should have moved my stop loss to break even, which I didn't do. I was motivated by greed and the expectation to chase an extra few pips. Excited that this trade was going well, I did not want it to get stopped out. Like one of the mentors at Global Prime said to me: "Never chase those extra 3 pips, there is always another bus to get on." I didn't have the discipline of sticking to my strategy, which is required to be successful as a trader. I also held the position over the weekend, in the hopes of the trade going my direction again in the new week. The result was a loss instead of breaking even.

Trade 2

EURCAD short.

This was simply a weak setup, wishful thinking on my part, trying to find patterns when there were none. The result was that the trade went straight against me and resulted in a loss.

Trade 3

AUDJPY long.

Same as the trade before, this was a weak setup, wishful thinking on my part, trying to find patterns when there were none. The result was that the trade went straight against me and resulted in another loss.

Collagen, Vitamin C and Healthy Skin

2020-12-16T21:00:00.077-05:00

Skin health is the most prominent and principal factor for assessing an individual's health, age, and overall well-being. It directly correlates with perceived beauty and various kinds of health issues, including signs of premature aging that require proper attention and timely treatment. In addition to superficial beauty treatments, or other natural remedies, medical research suggests a systemic and safe remedy, collagen peptides, to improve skin texture, rejuvenate appearance, and help prevent signs of premature aging.

Collagen is a natural protein found abundantly in the human body. It is a necessary nutrient for the maintenance of optimal health in bones, muscles, skin, ligaments, and tendons. In simple terms, it's the "glue" that holds all of this stuff in our body together. In fact, the word comes from the Greek word 'κόλλα', which means glue. A proper amount of collagen is required to keep bones healthy and improve the body's overall strength and structure. To this end, hydrolyzed collagen formulations are available in the market that absorb quickly in the intestines, help fulfill the body's needs, and support various organs' functions.

Collagen is made up of specific amino acids (i.e. building blocks of proteins), including glycine, proline, hydroxyproline, and arginine. Along with these amino acids, vitamin C is required for the body to process the formation of collagen. Vitamin C acts as an essential cofactor for enzymes, including prolyl hydroxylase and lysyl hydroxylase, which are required to synthesize collagen in the body. There are various types of collagen, at least 16 different types. All types perform their respective functions, but the most common and most important for our body are type I, II, III, and to some extent type IV collagen peptides.^[1]

Collagen supplementation is widely reported in medical studies as a remedy for signs of aging and a method to help facilitate longevity. The main reason being that getting older impairs the production of collagen in the body, which then makes the body prone to more premature aging. Moreover, collagen supplementation supports the mineralization of joints, can relieve arthritis, and promotes overall quality of life. Collagen deficiency not only result in premature aging but also negatively affects the proper function of vital organs.^[1][2][4]

Anti-Aging Effects of Collagen

Medical research studies have reported several health benefits of collagen supplementation, particularly though its anti-aging effects.

Skin Rejuvenation

Collagen is an essential component of connective tissue and promotes proper development and growth of skin and bones. It couples with elastin, hyaluronate (HA), and proteoglycans in the body to form a well-structured extracellular matrix, imports mechanical characteristics to cells, and improves cell stability and cellular functions. Studies reported that collagen strengthens the bond between skin layers, stimulates the formation of extracellular matrix proteins, nourishes skin cells, and prevents premature skin aging. It also protects the skin against UV-induced aging and improves fibroblast proliferation to promote the integrity of skin tissue.^[1][4][6][8]

Collagen's mechanisms are attributed to the stimulation or formation of elastin, hyaluronic acid, and collagen itself. Moreover, it significantly inhibits the degradation of elastin and the release of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3), which both indicate the development of certain skin and joint conditions.^[2][4][8]

It also stimulates the synthesis of other minor components such as glycosaminoglycans to improve collagenic tissue regeneration and prevent bone density loss, skin aging, and joint pain. Also, it is a fact that after a particular stage of life, the regular functions of the body start fading and do not produce enough and quality collagen. Collagen deficiency can express itself in certain skin conditions, including a loss of firmness, suppleness, and elasticity. Therefore, supplementation with collagen to restore diminished collagen levels becomes a potential option to tackle these conditions. Moreover, the combination of collagen with other nutrients like chondroitin sulfate, glucosamine, L-carnitine, vitamins, and minerals significantly improve premature skin aging and delay hallmarks of aging. Studies reported that collagen is responsible for the strength, texture, resilience, dermal thickness, and youthful appearance of skin as well as its durability. In combination with ornithine, collagen supplementation resulted in a significant improvement of skin conditions via increasing the level of plasma growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1).^{[2][3][4][6][7]}

Along with several other substances, collagen acts as an antioxidant agent to protect skin against reactive oxygen species or oxidative damage; it facilitates elastin production, supports protein folding, and helps repair DNA. All these functions of collagen help delay visible skin aging, can relieve signs of premature skin aging and contribute to an overall improvement in longevity. Medical research studies reported that collagen improves skin elasticity, indexes (i.e. hydration and tone of skin), plumpness, and helps enhance the general appearance of skin. It also helps give skin a smooth and youthful appearance and decreases the risk of developing wrinkles and dryness.^[3][4][5]

Quality of Life

Collagen not only improves skin texture but also supports other physiological functions in the body and helps enhance overall quality of life. Studies reported that it supports optimal cartilage integrity, helps reduce inflammation, relieves joint pain, and improves symptoms of osteoarthritis. A recent medical research study showed that collagen supplementation helps increase strength and muscle mass in men after exercise. It may stimulate the synthesis of muscles and help delay age-related muscle loss in older adults. Moreover, it improves lean body mass and supports weight loss goals by boosting basal metabolic rate, i.e. the number of calories required to keep the body functioning at rest.^{[7][9][10][11][12][13]}

Collagen decreases the risk of osteoporosis, improves bone structure, and prevents other bone conditions via increasing bone mineralization and inhibiting the risk of bone breakdown. Studies also reported that it supports optimal cardiovascular functions by helping to improve the structure of arteries, reducing artery stiffness, keeping a desirable level of good cholesterol in the body, and reducing the risk of atherosclerosis.^{[2][9][10][14][15]}

Furthermore, there is a fairly recent suggestion on how it could even aid the gastrointestinal tract with the absorption of different nutrients, including vitamins and minerals. Moreover, regular consumption of collagen could prevent the risk of leaky gut and improve intestinal tract functions. It has been reported that a leaky gut is associated with the development of certain medical conditions, including acne, mood disorder, depression, intestinal bowel syndrome, and autoimmune diseases.^[17]

In terms of overall health and appearance, collagen increases nail strength, prevents brittleness, and stimulates the growth of both hair and nails. All of these functions improve hair and nail health and contribute to a healthy and youthful appearance. Moreover, it helps with the healing of superficial wounds of the skin as well as of tissues such as gums and the scalp. In the eyes, it supports the mechanical and optical properties of the cornea.^[15][16]

In conclusion, considering all of the medical evidence and these miscellaneous beneficial physiological effects, I believe it's very reasonable to think that collagen supplementation is highly effective for both men and women in delaying the aging process and can contribute to an overall, enhanced quality of life in a meaningful way.

Precautions

Usually, the consumption of collagen is considered safe and should not produce any severe side effects. However, some individuals reported a lingering bad taste in their mouth and gastrointestinal discomfort, including heartburn and feelings of fullness with collagen supplementation.^[18]

As with any supplement, eating more nutrients with the hope of attaining more benefits isn't necessarily going to make a difference, although in this specific case there is fairly strong medical evidence for it. Regardless, like with most of the other supplements from my daily regimen, my personal philosophy is to - first - make sure that my body won't have to deal with any deficiencies due to my dietary intake and - second - to compensate for any potential decrease in the amount of nutrients my body is able to synthesize itself as it ages.

References:

Lodish H, Berk A, Zipursky SL, et al. "Molecular Cell Biology. 4th edition." New York: W. H. Freeman; 2000. Section 22.3, Collagen: The Fibrous Proteins of the Matrix.
Teresa Figueres Juher and Esther Basés Pérez. "Revisión de los efectos beneficiosos de la ingesta de colágeno hidrolizado sobre la salud osteoarticular y el envejecimiento dérmico." Nutrición Hospitalaria, vol. 32(1), 2015: 62–66. https://doi.org/10.3305/nh.2015.32.sup1.9482
Anna Czajka et al. "Daily oral supplementation with collagen peptides combined with vitamins and other bioactive compounds improves skin elasticity and has a beneficial effect on joint and general wellbeing." Nutrition Research, vol. 57, 2018: 97–108. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nutres.2018.06.001
Nikita Jhawar, Jordan V. Wang, Nazanin Saedi. "Oral collagen supplementation for skin aging: A fad or the future?" Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, vol. 19(4), 2020: 910–912. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.13096
Proksch, E. et al. "Oral Intake of Specific Bioactive Collagen Peptides Reduces Skin Wrinkles and Increases Dermal Matrix Synthesis." Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, vol. 27, 2014: 113-119. https://doi.org/10.1159/000355523
Maryam Borumand and Sara Sibilla. "Effects of a nutritional supplement containing collagen peptides on skin elasticity, hydration and wrinkles." Journal of Medical Nutrition and Nutraceuticals, vol. 4(1), 2015: 47-53. https://doi.org/10.4103/2278-019X.146161
Alfonso E. Bello and Steffen Oesser. "Collagen hydrolysate for the treatment of osteoarthritis and other joint disorders: a review of the literature." Current Medical Research and Opinion, vol. 22(11), 2006: 2221–2232. https://doi.org/10.1185/030079906X148373
Ping Lin, Nan Hua, Yu-Chen Hsu, Kai-Wen Kan, Jia-Haur Chen, Yung-Hao Lin, Yung-Hsiang Lin, Chen-Meng Kuan. "Oral Collagen Drink for Antiaging: Antioxidation, Facilitation of the Increase of Collagen Synthesis, and Improvement of Protein Folding and DNA Repair in Human Skin Fibroblasts." Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, vol. 2020, Article ID 8031795, 9 pages, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/8031795
Kristine L. Clark at al. "24-Week study on the use of collagen hydrolysate as a dietary supplement in athletes with activity-related joint pain." Current Medical Research and Opinion, vol. 24(5), 2008: 1485–1496. https://doi.org/10.1185/030079908x291967
Alexander G. Schauss et al. "Effect of the Novel Low Molecular Weight Hydrolyzed Chicken Sternal Cartilage Extract, BioCell Collagen, on Improving Osteoarthritis-Related Symptoms: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial." Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, vol. 60(16), 2012: 4096–4101. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf205295u
Roland W. Moskowitz. "Role of collagen hydrolysate in bone and joint disease." Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism, vol. 30(2), 2000: 87–99. https://doi.org/10.1053/sarh.2000.9622
Denise Zdzieblik at al. "Collagen peptide supplementation in combination with resistance training improves body composition and increases muscle strength in elderly sarcopenic men: a randomised controlled trial." British Journal of Nutrition, vol. 114(8), 2015: 1237–1245. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0007114515002810
Allison R. Gillies and Richard L. Lieber. "Structure and function of the skeletal muscle extracellular matrix." Muscle & Nerve, vol. 44(3), 2011: 318–331. https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.22094
Naohisa Tomosugi et al. "Effect of Collagen Tripeptide on Atherosclerosis in Healthy Humans." Journal of Atherosclerosis and Thrombosis, vol. 24(5), 2017: 530–538. https://doi.org/10.5551/jat.36293
Doris Hexsel et al. "Oral supplementation with specific bioactive collagen peptides improves nail growth and reduces symptoms of brittle nails." Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, vol. 16(4), 2017: 520–526. https://doi.org/10.1111/jocd.12393
Satya Allaparthi, Himanshu Verma, David L. Burns, Ann M. Joyce. "Conservative management of small bowel perforation in Ehlers-Danlos syndrome type IV." World Journal of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, vol. 5(8), 2013: 398–401. https://doi.org/10.4253/wjge.v5.i8.398
https://www.flushinghospital.org/newsletter/benefits-of-collagen-for-maintaining-a-healthy-gut
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/collagen-benefits

Forex Trading Journal - Calendar Week 48/49, 2020

2020-12-06T18:00:00.004-05:00

The last two weeks have been less about trading and more about learning and continually realizing how little I actually know. I also used the opportunity that came with Black Friday discounts to purchase some upgrades for my computer setup.

In terms of a trading strategy, one of the things I noticed is that most of the free Forex courses that are available on the internet will teach the theory behind technical indicators, talk about fundamentals, risk management, and so forth. They're basically handing you over a tool box, briefly explain how the tools work, but then you're on your own to figure things out from there. I believe what then happens for the majority of people - and that's exactly what I was doing - is that they take a chart, slap on a couple of technical indicators they like but which are more or less unrelated to each other, call that their strategy, and then enter trades based on whatever they believe those random indicators are telling them.

Then the majority of people tend to lose the majority of trades and blow up their accounts.

It's a bit of mystery why that's happening, because they're doing exactly what they're supposed to do according to whatever technical indicators they're using. It's almost like a conspiracy and as soon as they enter a trade, the market always does the opposite of what it was supposed to do!

Again, that's exactly what was happening to me in my first few weeks of live trading.

I didn't really understand why this is so common until I saw how professional, profitable traders work and what kind of strategies they are using. Then suddenly it all became clear to me. If I wanted to summarize it in a few sentences, I would say that in order to develop a strategy that provides an actual edge, you need to layer indicators on top of each other in a meaningful way, so they complement each other. Most technical indicators have their strength and weaknesses. In order to mitigate the weakness of a certain indicator or an entire strategy, you need to identify which other indicator(s) can help with that. It's even likely that some indicators need to be applied and checked on higher or lower timeframes than the one you're intending to trade in. I've seen different approaches from professional traders, in both directions, confirming setups on lower timeframes (e.g. 15min or 1h) and managing trades on higher timeframes (e.g. 4h or daily), and vice versa.

As I mentioned in previous blog entries, I believe it's possible to self-educate oneself about all of this and eventually develop a proper strategy. However, that will require a significant amount of time and money. Also, I thought to myself that just because it's possible doesn't guarantee that I'll get there eventually. So I decided to look into one of the mentorship programs that my broker Global Prime recently started offering. Those mentorship programs are currently free for active traders who have a live account with them, although that might change in the future. I am now learning a strategy which looks for setups on the 1h/4h charts, then takes and manages trades on the 15min chart. It's a fair amount of material to go through and internalize. I should be in a position to start experimenting with actual trades in the coming weeks.

As for my PC setup, I decided to purchase an external monitor for my laptop and use that for now. This gives me 3 screens on 2 computers in total and I can take this external monitor with me when travelling. I went with a brand called 'GICHAT', which I had never heard of before, for the portable monitor. It turned out to be an extremely positive surprise, the quality of the monitor exceeded all my expectations! The built-in monitor of my HP laptop is already excellent, the visual quality of this portable one is even better.

I also purchased a new Logitech keyboard while I was putting in the Amazon order for the monitor. I'm very happy with that as well. It looks stylish, has several cool lighting effects that can be fully customized, and typing on it is very comfortable.

This is what my trading desk & office looks like:

I still want to purchase 2 full-size monitors and a monitor mount to use with my desktop PC, but this should do for now.

Resveratrol & Pterostilbene, Effects on Longevity

2020-12-02T18:00:00.472-05:00

Both resveratrol and pterostilbene are naturally occurring non-flavonoid phytochemicals (i.e. compounds that are produced by plants) found in a variety of fruits and herbs as well as in supplements. They are polyphenols (i.e. micronutrients that we get through certain plant-based foods) that have mainly received attention for their observed ability to support organ functions, enhance overall quality of life, and help improve different medical conditions ranging from inflammation to cancer. Moreover, resveratrol and pterostilbene show antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity that protects cellular integrity, acts as an anti-aging agent, and promotes longevity.^[1][2]

Let's talk a little bit about the process of aging. For something that we know is certainly happening, we know surprisingly little about it. Medical studies typically report that the negative aspects of the aging process usually manifest themselves as impaired cognitive and motor functions. Other than its obvious and superficial effect on our appearance, the aging process by itself is natural and mostly harmless until organs fail to perform their intended activity in an optimal way. Sometimes people experience aging-related symptoms or pre-mature aging caused by factors other than the natural aging process, for example through an increased generation of oxidative stress. High oxidative stress damages cells and nerves, including proteins, lipids, and DNA, leads to neurological deterioration, and generally provokes the development of aging-related symptoms, particularly in older adults. Natural antioxidant agents of the body as well as supplements containing antioxidant agents like resveratrol and pterostilbene can help relieve oxidative stress, remove free radicals, and provide neuroprotection.^[1][2]

One or the Other?

Well, why not both? Different studies have reported poor bioavailability of resveratrol when taken as a supplement, but using it combined with pterostilbene makes both compounds synergize with each other's effect to help give optimal therapeutic results.

Delayed Aging

Resveratrol and pterostilbene have both been shown to enhance lifespan and provide an anti-aging effect via different mechanisms. Studies have reported that resveratrol consumption induces similar effects to a calorie restricted diet, such as intermittent fasting, by activating Sir2 in the body which increases DNA stabilization, increases cell longevity, and supports organs functioning at peak efficiency. Resveratrol's antioxidant action protects cells against toxins, enhances cellular integrity, and promotes cell survival. Studies have also shown that it helps support longevity and DNA integrity by protecting cells against UV irradiation.^[1][2]

Moreover, resveratrol supports cellular energy production by increasing the amount of mitochondria and improving motor functions. Studies have shown that it enhances longevity and delays aging by supporting locomotor skills and activities, improving resistance against stress, and reducing the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Most of these effects are attributed to its antioxidant property that relieves oxidative stress, removes free radicals, protects nerves, and increases the activity of natural antioxidants of the body.^[1][2][4]

It is important to note that pterostilbene has higher bioavailability and thus an enhanced therapeutic effect as compared to resveratrol. Studies confirmed that pterostilbene has an anti-aging effect by delaying various age-related changes in cells and the body overall. It indirectly improves memory and cognition via its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity which prevents cognitive decline and even helps relieve symptoms of various neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, it protects cellular integrity, relieves oxidative stress, reduces inflammation, and has the potential to slow down progression of Alzheimer's disease.^[2][3][5]

A recent study confirmed the neuroprotective effect of pterostilbene and showed that it enhances cognition and motor abilities. Also, it accumulates in the hippocampus region, where it supports memory performance and neurological functions. Pterostilbene's anti-aging effect is attributed to its antioxidant action which boosts the natural antioxidant defense system of the body and increases the upregulation of PPAR-α and MnSOD to prevent oxidative stress, support longevity, and delay or even reverse cognitive decline.^[2][3][5]

Quality of Life

Resveratrol and pterostilbene not only increase lifespan but also help support a better quality of life. They help the cardiovascular system to function optimally by reducing the risk of atherosclerosis and protecting blood vessels against oxidative damage. Also, they reduce the risk of inflammation, cataracts, vascular endothelium apoptosis, and improve motor coordination. Moreover, they assist several physiological functions and reduce the risk of chronic medical conditions. For example, they increase insulin sensitivity, improve the level of insulin-like growth factor (IGF-l), and support AMP-activated protein kinase activities. All these biological effects help to regulate high blood sugar levels and improve symptoms of diabetes.^[2][3][5]

Resveratrol and pterostilbene show anti-cancer activity against colon, breast, cervical, prostate, and lung cancer. Studies reported that they have the ability to decrease tumor volume, inhibit cancer cell proliferation, induce apoptosis, arrest the cell cycle, reduce the risk of metastasis, and can even help protect against chemotherapy's adverse effects.^[1][2][3]

Pterostilbene shows potential anti-inflammatory properties that reduce the risk of inflammation and promote the health and optimal functioning of our vital organs. It decreases the migration of macrophages towards adipose tissue (i.e. body fat) and inhibits the pro-inflammatory mediators such as the cytokines Interleukin 6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNFα). This effect may be beneficial to support optimal joint health and relieve symptoms of arthritis.^[1][2][3]

Both resveratrol and pterostilbene support a better quality of life by inhibiting the growth of different microbials and help protect the body against certain infections. Studies reported that they are able to arrest the cell cycle of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria such as Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, and Campylobacter coli. The presence of pterostilbene can also protect against drug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) via different mechanisms.^[1][2]

Resveratrol and pterostilbene further enhance quality of life by helping to prevent heart disease. They support cardiovascular functions by reducing the risk of atherosclerosis, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. They help reduce the serum level of low-density lipoprotein, increase the level of good cholesterol, and show vasodilating effect via high nitric oxide production in the vessels.^[1][2][3]

Also, it has been shown that resveratrol has a significant positive effect on mood, fatigue, and other neurological functions. It decreases cholinergic neurotransmission, promotes the clearance of β-amyloid peptides, reduces neuronal apoptosis, and shows anti-amyloidogenic cleavage of β-amyloid precursor protein to help improve the symptoms of neurodegenerative decline and diseases.^[1][4]

Precautions

Pterostilbene is usually considered safe at normal doses. However, certain side effects were occasionally reported, including gastrointestinal problems, itching, and muscle pain at different doses. Personally, I tolerate it extremely well and have not directly observed any side effects at the dose of 100mg/day that I am currently taking.

Studies reported that there is no serious risk of consuming normal doses of resveratrol on a regular basis. However, at larger doses, it may cause gastrointestinal discomfort, interfere with the Cytochrome p450 system (specifically CYP3A4), and increase the risk of bleeding, especially during and after a surgery. It's generally advised to avoid its use in case of chronic or severe medical conditions.^[1]

References:

Bahare Salehi et al. "Resveratrol: A Double-Edged Sword in Health Benefits." Biomedicines, vol. 6(3), 2018: 91. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomedicines6030091
Hui-Yun Tsai, Chi-Tang Ho, Yu-Kuo Chen. "Biological actions and molecular effects of resveratrol, pterostilbene, and 3′-hydroxypterostilbene." Journal of Food and Drug Analysis, vol. 25(1), 2017: 134-147. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfda.2016.07.004
Denise McCormack and David McFadden. "A Review of Pterostilbene Antioxidant Activity and Disease Modification." Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity, vol. 2013, 2013: 575482. https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/575482
Mohammad Hosein Farzaei et al. "Effect of resveratrol on cognitive and memory performance and mood: A meta-analysis of 225 patients." Pharmacological Research, vol. 128, 2018: 338-344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.phrs.2017.08.009
James A. Joseph et al. "Cellular and Behavioral Effects of Stilbene Resveratrol Analogues: Implications for Reducing the Deleterious Effects of Aging.” Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, vol. 56(22), 2008: 10544-10551. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf802279h
Konstantinos M. Kasiotis et al. "Resveratrol and related stilbenes: Their anti-aging and anti-angiogenic properties." Food and Chemical Toxicology, vol. 61, 2013: 112-120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fct.2013.03.038

Forex Trading Journal - Calendar Week 47, 2020

2020-11-22T22:00:00.027-05:00

This week is not going to be a typical trading journal post, but more of a progress update.

After figuring out the basics and getting everything set-up and in place, experimenting with some live trading, I decided to take a step back and ask myself the question: "What do I really need in order to become successful as a trader?" Interestingly enough, this started by me getting invited to a webinar about journaling trades and how that can help improve my trading. The webinar was average, not really anything I wasn't aware of yet, but someone blurted out a book recommendation that caught my attention. I looked into that, among some other things I was evaluating this week, and eventually realized it all boils down to 3 key components that are essential for success:

A profitable strategy.
The right mindset.
The right environment.

In fact, this might apply to many aspects of life, but right now I am looking at this specifically from a trading perspective.

A Profitable Strategy

There are many approaches to gaining an edge in the market. One thing I know for sure by now is that it's incredibly difficult to start from scratch, going in blindly, and to figure everything out by myself. I believe it's possible, but either way, I'm fully convinced that this would require a substantial amount of time and a fairly large monetary investment.

There are strategies that are being peddled on the internet, which is not something I am interesting in or have looked into.

Fortunately, my broker Global Prime recently established a new Discord server, where highly skilled, experienced and very successful traders offer to mentor other clients of Global Prime, entirely for free. They share their strategy and knowledge, it's possible to ask questions and get feedback, and there are regular calls where the mentors talk about their strategy, how they implement it, what works for them and what doesn't.

This doesn't mean that it's as simple as copy and paste, but it's so much more of a head start compared to starting completely from scratch all by myself. Although I am fully aware that eventually I will still have to figure out what works for me personally, how to adapt any strategy to my own trading style and then work with that.

If you are reading this for whatever reason, know one thing, and I cannot stress this enough: TRADING IS A SERIOUS JOB AND A FULL-TIME CAREER, NOT A GET RICH QUICK SCHEME. Some people try and take shortcuts, go into chatrooms to receive trading signals, or they copy trade, and so forth. I believe this is part of the reason why the vast majority of people ultimately fail and tend to incur losses. You have to treat this as a serious job, like any other, and accept that it will take time to master it. In my previous career, it took me around a decade of very hard work to get to a point where I achieved mastery and things became essentially effortless.

I just started digging in, this is work in progress.

The Right Mindset

The following part will be quote heavy.

One of my core believes is that if you're really serious about something and are investing your time, money and effort into it, are persistent and won't let yourself get dragged down by misfortune, setbacks, other people or difficult circumstances - then the universe will come to your aid and the things that you really need to become successful will somehow present themselves to you.

That's essentially how I came across an interesting book:

"Trading in the Zone is an in-depth look at the challenges that we face when we take up the challenge of trading. To the novice, the only challenge appears to be to find a way to make money. Once the novice learns that tips, brokers' advice, and other ways to justify buying or selling do not work consistently, he discovers that he either needs to develop a reliable trading strategy or purchase one. After that, trading should be easy, right? All you have to do is follow the rules, and the money will fall into your lap.

At this point, if not before, novices discover that trading can turn into one of the most frustrating experiences they will ever face.

This experience leads to the oft-stated statistic that 95 percent of futures traders lose all of their money within the first year of trading. Stock traders generally experience the same results, which is why pundits always point to the fact that most stock traders fail to outperform a simple buy and hold investment scenario.

So, why do people, the majority of whom are extremely successful in other occupations, fail so miserably as traders? Are successful traders born and not made? Mark Douglas says no. What's necessary, he says, is that the individual acquire the trader's mindset. It sounds easy, but the fact is, this mindset is very foreign when compared with the way our life experiences teach us to think about the world."

This is from the foreword, and it peaked my curiosity. At this point I am about halfway through the book and I can honestly say that it's more than just a technique, or a method you robotically apply, or something else along those lines. It's about more than that. I am now starting to understand how in order to master trading, and to have a chance of becoming one of the few successful people in the field, I first have to master myself.

Also, on a more personal note, this quote from the book really resonated with me, for various reasons...:

"I started trading in 1978. At the time, I was managing a commercial casualty insurance agency in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan. I had a very successful career and thought I could easily transfer that success into trading. Unfortunately, I found that was not the case.

By 1981, I was thoroughly disgusted with my inability to trade effectively while holding another job, so I moved to Chicago and got a job as a broker with Merrill Lynch at the Chicago Board of Trade. How did I do? Well, within nine months of moving to Chicago, I had lost nearly everything I owned. My losses were the result of both my trading activities and my exorbitant life style, which demanded that I make a lot of money as a trader. From these early experiences as a trader, I learned an enormous amount about myself, and about the role of psychology in trading."

The Right Environment

I have written about some of this before, when I explained why I chose Global Prime as my forex broker. However, there is more to it than that. It's also about the people you surround yourself with, the company you keep, your co-workers and business partners, and especially the friends you have - in other words, your social circle.

There is another interesting quote I came across this week, from a life coach called Corey Wayne:

"Life and living at your personal best is to be found living in the present moment taking action towards becoming all that you are capable of being. The action you take or fail to take today is what will determine what your future becomes. Winners expect to win and take the actions required to eventually manifest their grandest goals and dreams, despite the fact that success lies far off in the future or seems unrealistic to others.

Losers quit and give up on their dreams when the first sign of difficulty or challenges arise, and then they seek to sabotage the dreams of those around them so they can convince them to give up like they have, so they can feel better about their lack of success. Misery loves company.

Your inner circle ideally should consist of people who are just as committed to their own greatness as you are to your own and who celebrate and encourage your victories and continued perseverance."

There are many formulations of this principle, a fairly popular one for the negative side of it is crab mentality:

In short, choose your friends wisely and get out of that bucket!

Multivitamin Supplements and Longevity

2020-11-20T11:58:00.066-05:00

Vitamins are essential and vital nutrients required by the body to function at peak performance and efficiency. The daily intake of vitamins and minerals plays a crucial role in supporting normal bodily functions. They are necessary for a healthy metabolism and functions of the digestive, endocrine, cardiovascular, neurological, and the immune system of the body.^[1][2]

Our body needs a proper amount of nutrients and extracts those from our meals to perform several cellular processes. With advancements in production technology and in particular with the ever-increasing amount of highly processed food items in our diet, unfortunately there comes an increasing chance that we become deprived of these important nutrients in our daily food supply. Ideally, a healthy diet should always provide all the essential nutrients - but in reality, that can be tough. For me, taking a multivitamin is like my nutrient insurance plan. In the areas where my food falls short, getting support from a quality multivitamin helps fill the gaps to fulfill my body's requirements and to make sure that my vital organs can operate perfectly. Recent medical studies on certain vitamins also reported that daily supplemental intake of vitamin A, the vitamin B family, vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin E boosts the immune response against bacterial and viral infections.^{[2][3][4][10]}

Did You Know?

Medical studies have reported that deficiency of any essential nutrient in the body can lead to chronic medical conditions or permanent disability. For example, it has been reported that deficiency of vitamin B may result in anemia, beriberi, and neurological dysfunctions. Vitamin A deficiency typically results in vision problems, vitamin C deficiency weakens the immune system and can also result in gum disease. Other medical conditions due to deficiency of vitamins include skin problems, osteoporosis, poor blood clotting, cardiovascular dysfunctions, blood disorders, fatigue, metabolic dysfunctions, and other bodily impairments.^[2][3][5][8]

Typical Nutrients in a Multivitamin

Multivitamin formulations mostly contain vitamin A, C, D, E, K, and the vitamin B family. Also, they usually come with a proper amount of minerals, including calcium, magnesium, chromium, zinc, selenium, copper, manganese, and other minerals. Some products add certain pseudoscientific or unproven medications, such as herbal extracts that are either newly discovered or have been used in traditional medicine for centuries.

Health Benefits of Multivitamins

Following is an outline of the significance of proper nutrition and the importance of daily vitamin intake in the proper dose, specifically in regards to longevity. For me, without this kind of baseline, discussion or intake of any additional longevity related products becomes almost meaningless.

Vitality and Longevity

Certain nutrients are required for the complete execution of different cellular and metabolic reactions. These nutrients enhance the efficiency of cellular production of energy, increase physical performance, and improve the vitality of various organs. Also, they support and promote the synthesis of certain proteins and DNA to repair and support the health of vital organs. Studies have shown a direct impact of vitamins on longevity. For example, vitamin A plays a significant role in maintaining healthy vision, cell differentiation, and bone growth, promoting the vitality and longevity of organs. Immune cells such as lymphocytes need a proper amount of nutrients to fight effectively against invading germs. Thus, vitamins boost and promote the body's resistance to pathological agents and encourage longevity.^{[2][3][8][10]}

Certain vitamins, such as vitamin C, E, and others, possess potent antioxidant activity that protects cells and organs against oxidative damage, improves cellular integrity, and enhances the vitality of tissue and organs. Vitamins also have anti-inflammatory activity that, in combination with antioxidant properties, increase resistance to toxins and remove free radicals from the body.^[2][3][4][7]

Vitamins, including the vitamin B family, support neural functions and can improve mood and symptoms of neurological dysfunctions. They also support gastrointestinal health by helping gut microbiota and increasing the metabolism of fats, carbs, and proteins. The presence of vitamin K promotes vascular functions and makes bones stronger. It is also required for blood coagulation and the healing of wounds.^[2][9][12]

Apart from the direct impact on the health of internal organs, vitamins like the vitamin B family perform a significant role in different enzymatic processes. That helps improve metabolic reactions, increases red blood cell production, promotes DNA and protein synthesis, helps maintain an optimal level of hormones, and supports the central nervous system's functions. Considering all of this, there is an overall positive and significant role of vitamins in promoting vitality and longevity.^[2][3][8][9]

Delayed Aging

Vitamins possess anti-aging activity by protecting the organs against stress and assisting their regular functions. The nutrients nourish the body's cells, organs and promote cellular processes via acting as coenzymes in metabolic reactions, relieving oxidative stress. It has been reported that oxidative damage produced by the generation of reactive oxygen species increases the risk of certain diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular dysfunction, cataract formation, all of which plays an important etiological role in the aging process. Also, reactive oxygen species are produced daily during different cellular reactions. So, a daily intake of scavengers like vitamin A, C, E, etc., is essential to help protect and promote optimal functioning of cells and organs.^{[2][3][4][7][10]}

Thus, multivitamins can help delay aging and enhance longevity. Some vitamins, like vitamin E, can delay skin aging, improve skin tone and enhance skin appearance by removing fine lines, wrinkles, and spots. Vitamins can improve skin rejuvenation by supporting the production of collagen to increase skin tightness, firmness and enhance the youthful appearance of skin. Additionally, vitamins support joint health by playing a significant role in the growth of ligaments.^{[2][3][16][17]}

Quality of Life

Vitamins enhance and extend life expectancy by reducing the risk of certain chronic medical conditions such as heart disease, cancer, eye problems, and many others, that impair quality of life. It has been reported in medical studies that vitamins and minerals possess significant antioxidant activity that relieves oxidative stress and prevents the risk of organ damage. They have an anti-inflammatory action that reduces the risk of chronic inflammatory conditions, including atherosclerosis and diabetes. The anti-inflammatory activity is attributed to the modulation of pro-inflammatory mediators by regulating the production of cytokines and macrophages.^{[2][3][4][7][10]}

Vitamins support healthy cardiovascular function by regulating total cholesterol and decreasing the risk of plaque formation in vessels. Vitamins help various brain activities by supporting cognition and memory retention. They also stimulate the nervous system, improve mood, and relieve stress and depression. An optimal amount of vitamin B is required for the proper metabolism of homocysteine to prevent the risk of coronary heart diseases. Other studies have shown that regular intake of vitamin D strengthens bones and teeth, treat osteoporosis, and avoid the risk of fractures, especially in areas with limited sun exposure.^{[2][8][9][11][14]}

Vitamins and minerals like vitamin C and zinc enhance the immune response against pathological agents, decrease the chances of infections and shorten the disease state's duration or slow down its progression. They act by stimulating and increasing immune cells production in the body, including natural killer cells, lymphocytes, dendritic cells, and antibodies against viral and bacterial infections.^{[2][3][10][13]}

Precautions

There are no severe side effects associated with a daily intake of multivitamins in the proper dose. However, exceeding the usual recommended doses can lead to significant adverse effects. Excessive intake of multivitamins, including minerals, can results in teeth coloration, muscle weakness, confusion, increased urination, gastrointestinal discomfort, and irregular heart rhythms. Studies have also reported that multivitamins may cause nausea, diarrhea, and stomach or abdominal cramps. Also, consuming a high amount of selenium can result in loss of hair, an upset stomach, weakness, and mild neurological dysfunctions.^[18][19]

This is part of the reason why I am careful with the doses of vitamins that I am taking. My goal is to supplement my daily vitamin and mineral intake and not to replace it entirely with an artificial product. When I read product labels and how they advertise to contain 100%, or in some cases in excess of 1000%, of a daily recommended dose of vitamins and minerals, it always makes me wonder how much of that I actually need, what is healthy and what might be too much of a good thing.

References:

Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Diet and Health; Woteki CE, Thomas PR, editors. "Eat for Life: The Food and Nutrition Board's Guide to Reducing Your Risk of Chronic Disease." Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US); 1992. Chapter 8, Vitamins, Minerals, And Chronic Diseases.
Fortmann SP, Burda BU, Senger CA, et al. "Vitamin, Mineral, and Multivitamin Supplements for the Primary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease and Cancer: A Systematic Evidence Review for the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force [Internet]." Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2013. Chapter 1, Introduction.
Milly Ryan-Harshman and Walid Aldoori. "Health benefits of selected vitamins." Canadian family physician, Medecin de famille canadien, vol. 51(7), 2013: 965–968.
Anitra C. Carr, Ben-Zhan Zhu, Balz Frei. "Potential Antiatherogenic Mechanisms of Ascorbate (Vitamin C) and α-Tocopherol (Vitamin E)." Circulation Research, vol. 87(5), 2000: 349–354. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.res.87.5.349
Joel G. Ray et al. "Association of neural tube defects and folic acid food fortification in Canada." The Lancet, vol. 360(9350), 2002: 2047–2048. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(02)11994-5
Tao Huang et al. "Meta-analysis of B vitamin supplementation on plasma homocysteine, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality." Clinical Nutrition, vol. 31(4), 2012: 448–454. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clnu.2011.01.003
Rene Aguirre and James M. May. "Inflammation in the vascular bed: Importance of vitamin C." Pharmacology & Therapeutics, vol. 119(1), 2008: 96–103. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pharmthera.2008.05.002
Alex Ankar and Anil Kumar. "Vitamin B12 Deficiency." In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; Jan. 2020 [Updated June 7, 2020]
Fiona O'Leary and Samir Samman. "Vitamin B12 in Health and Disease." Nutrients, vol. 2(3), 2010: 299–316. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu2030299
Abel Ang, Juliet M. Pullar, Margaret J. Currie, Margreet C. M. Vissers. "Vitamin C and immune cell function in inflammation and cancer." Biochemical Society Transactions, vol. 46(5), 2018: 1147–1159. https://doi.org/10.1042/BST20180169
J. W. Nieves et al. "Calcium and vitamin D intake influence bone mass, but not short-term fracture risk, in Caucasian postmenopausal women from the National Osteoporosis Risk Assessment (NORA) study." Osteoporosis International, vol. 19(5), 2008: 673–679. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-007-0501-2
Milly Ryan-Harshman and Walid Aldoori. "Bone health. New role for vitamin K?." Canadian family physician, Medecin de famille canadien, vol. 50, 2004: 993–997.
Zhiyi Huang et al. "Role of Vitamin A in the Immune System." Journal of Clinical Medicine, vol. 7(9), 2018: 258. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm7090258
Ralph Carmel et al. "The frequently low cobalamin levels in dementia usually signify treatable metabolic, neurologic and electrophysiologic abnormalities." European Journal of Haematology, vol. 54(4), 1995: 245–253. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0609.1995.tb00679.x
J. Rodrigo Mora, Makoto Iwata, Ulrich H. von Andrian. "Vitamin effects on the immune system: vitamins A and D take centre stage." Nature Reviews Immunology, vol. 8, 2008: 685–698. https://doi.org/10.1038/nri2378
Stanley S. Shapiro and Claude Saliou. "Role of vitamins in skin care." Nutrition, vol. 17(10), 2001: 839–844. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0899-9007(01)00660-8
Almudena Pérez-Sánchez et al. "Nutraceuticals for Skin Care: A Comprehensive Review of Human Clinical Studies." Nutrients, vol. 10(4), 2018: 403. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10040403
https://www.webmd.com/diet/guide/effects-of-taking-too-many-vitamins
https://www.emedicinehealth.com/drug-multivitamin/article_em.htm

Forex Trading Journal - Calendar Week 46, 2020

2020-11-15T16:55:00.005-05:00

This was my worst week yet, in terms of winners/losers - I lost all of my trades, 100%. I only took 5 trades the whole week, 3 on Monday, 2 on Thursday. While things were still somewhat erratic and unpredictable due to the continued uncertainty of the US presidential election spilling over from the previous week, that wasn't really the reason for my results.

I wasn't necessarily just plain wrong on what I thought would happen, compared to what did actually happen. Sometimes of course I was just plain wrong. However, what often tends to make me lose is the timing of entering my trades. I will observe, wait and analyze to gain confidence. By the time I decide to enter the trade, I might have assessed the current situation correctly but the market has already moved on.

Here is a good example, the first trade of the week, going short on USDCHF.

First, looking at Bollinger Bands on the 30 minute chart, USDCHF was getting to a place where it appeared heavily overbought.

My thoughts at this point were that there was either going to be a short retracement, or potentially a trend reversal. Either way, it seemed like a good opportunity to go short. Looking at some trend lines on the 1 minute chart seemed to confirm this.

It did indeed turn out to be a short retracement. Sadly - and, of course - by the time I had built enough confidence to actually enter the trade, the retracement was just about ending and the overall uptrend of the USD continued.

This isn't the first time something like this happened.

Now I am thinking that maybe I should experiment with trades on longer time frames, with different lot sizes and different ranges for my stop loss and take profit targets. This week, I have also learned that my broker Global Prime has a Discord server with mentor rooms to help new traders like myself. While I have a tendency and preference to figure things out by myself, that is something I might explore in the coming weeks.

On a more technical side of things, there were some good news though! I was made aware that Global Prime is now integrated with TradingView.

This is excellent, since it allows me to use the same data source for my trading as well as my charting. Global Prime even has plans for the future to enable trading directly through TradingView, which would make entering trades while charting super convenient.

Why I chose Global Prime as my Forex Broker

2020-11-11T14:00:00.161-05:00

Choosing a reliable forex broker is not easy. It feels like there is an endless list of brokers available online, and many seem to be much of the same. Most brokers offer the same currency pairs, trading platforms, funding methods, commissions, spreads and so on.

Before starting my journey into the world of live forex trading in earnest, I spent several months looking into and trying several brokers. I was always underwhelmed and often disappointed one way or another. After opening trading accounts with numerous brokers, I finally discovered Global Prime. Knowing how difficult it was to find a broker that matched my expectations, I feel it is important to share my experience and hopefully help other aspiring or established traders like you. Here are the reasons why I use Global Prime as my forex broker.

Recently, Global Prime started adding crypto CFDs to their portfolio, allowing traders to access a growing selection of coins (already over 35) with 0.1% commissions and the ability to trade on margin with far lower costs than most crypto exchanges. This allows crypto traders to tap into the vast experience of Global Prime as a forex broker and to benefit from their professional tools as well as all the other positive features outlined on this page, especially when it comes to reliability and security of assets.

Why Global Prime stood out to me?

The way forex brokers position and brand themselves is very uniform and feels a lot like being in an echo chamber. Frankly, I don’t care which football team my broker supports, what kind of news and narrative they are pushing, or whatever else they have going on. I want consistently favorable and reliable trading conditions that will allow me to prosper and profit.

The first thing that stood out to me was the design and language on the company’s website: https://globalprime.com - This broker has a minimalist, professional and institutional tone that I connected with. It grabbed my attention because the site doesn’t just throw out jargon and buzzwords like ‘ECN’ or ‘STP’; they go into specifics and clearly explain the business model behind the company. I haven’t seen this approach taken before.

What Makes Global Prime a Real ECN Broker

Global Prime offers one trading account for all clients. It’s an ECN account, but it genuinely is an ECN account. Many brokers mislead traders into believing they offer ECN trading. In reality, they offer ECN pricing, which means quotes are derived from an ECN but not executed that way. Or they offer so-called ECN accounts, which is normally used to describe a low spread account rather than an execution method.

The Global Prime business model is simple; provide the best possible quotes and be remunerated a fixed commission for every trade processed. They do not profit from client losses, which means there is no conflict of interest between me being profitable as a trader and them being profitable as a business. They want me to be successful.

You might wonder how you could ever know if a broker is really ECN or not. Global Prime figured it out; they are the first broker to offer trade receipts which will verify the counterparty (usually a major bank or similar type of liquidity provider) that took the other side of your trade. In addition to showing you which liquidity provider filled your trade, trade receipts will show other essential information, such as spread, market profile, execution time, slippage and more.

There are many benefits to receiving trade receipts from your broker, and it goes further than fairness, honesty and showing that your broker doesn't profit from your losses. You can use this information to understand how the market behaves and understand how orders are executed in a wider context, on a global scale.

Why Execution is Important

There are different business models that forex brokers operate; they are broadly categorized as A-book and B-book. The vast majority of brokers use a B-book execution model, which means your trades are executed inside a black box that traders do not have visibility into. With a B-book broker, you have no idea how your trade is filled; the broker could match it against another client, hedge externally or - what typically happens - your broker could be the counterparty profiting if and when you lose.

An A-book broker uses a straight-through-processing (STP) technique to execute orders with external counterparties. Many traders mistakenly assume A-book is perfect and B-book is terrible, however, it’s a little bit more complicated than that. It still matters who a broker is executing trades with, after all, and A-book brokers can STP trades to a B-book broker. That is why the trade receipts feature offered by Global Prime is a gamechanger in execution transparency. After spending a considerable amount of time looking into forex brokers, I have not found any other broker that offers a similar level of transparency.

Accessible to Traders Around the World

Forex trading is incredibly accessible these days thanks to an abundance of retail brokers and online trading platforms like MetaTrader. One area that still restricts traders from emerging, and sometimes even established, economies is funding methods. If you have a credit card such as a Visa or MasterCard, or a bank account in a major currency, then it’s pretty easy to transfer money and fund a trading account. Traders from Europe or Australia might not give this a second thought. However, if you have Nigerian Naira, Vietnamese Dong or Thai Baht, it can be difficult and expensive to do an international bank transfer.

Traders can deposit using local transfers in their native currency. Global Prime will then convert your deposit into one of the supported trading account currencies (USD, AUD, GBP, EUR, SGD, CAD). The exchange rate they use to convert deposits is set to spot +2%. Most payment service providers charge much more than this. For example, PayPal charges 4-5% for currency exchange. Global Prime will absorb any fees more than 2%.

Besides the major currencies USD, EUR, GBP, CHF, JPY, AUD you can deposit instantly with THB, MYR, VND, IDR, PHP, NGN, ZAR and within 24-to-48 hours with MXN, ARS, COP, BRL and more. Global Prime also supports popular forex funding methods Skrill and Neteller.

Personally, since I live in Canada and have a Canadian bank account, I can use Interac e-Transfer to fund my account. This is extremely convenient for me, entirely free of any fees and essentially instant. After a long search, I have not found any other broker that makes funding and withdrawals this straight forward and easy for me.

Mature Community

Global Prime runs a Discord chatroom for clients to interact not just with each other, but also the owners, management and support team.

There are more than 4000 participants in the chatroom, and it’s a great place to go for a lively discussion. Many traders pay monthly subscriptions to join mature forex trading communities, which makes this feature a great selling point for serious traders. Additionally, this community of traders not only helps each other, but also holds Global Prime accountable to the high standards and expectations they set out for themselves.

Trading Academy

Recently, Global Prime began building out multiple, fully featured trading courses. From understanding why traders fail, choosing the right technical tools to understand market conditions, all the way to the importance of risk management; it’s all covered in their courses!

Their courses are just the tip of the iceberg and serve as an entry point. They have also put together several integrated communities, bound in camaraderie as part of Discord rooms, where traders can communicate with each other and with their mentor, ask questions, analyze each other's trades, and so forth. Overall, this is a great example of how Global Prime wants their traders to be successful and it illustrates one of the major advantages of working with a broker that operates off of a commission model instead of profiting from their client's losses.

Great Reputation

The way Global Prime operates is widely endorsed by forex traders, thus validating their fresh take on running a forex broker.

According to Forex Peace Army, Global Prime has an impeccable track record with over 300 detailed, highly positive reviews. This makes Global Prime one of the most highly rated brokers, especially when taking into account the high amount of reviews from actual retail traders.

Why it is Important to Trade with a Broker Like Global Prime

There is a large disparity between retail and institutional forex trading services. Logically, any benefit that a broker offers, be it a bonus, a rebate, a lucrative competition or a gift, it will all be factored into the cost of every trade they facilitate. Most brokers make money from their clients' losses, much like a casino; this is how they can afford such lucrative sponsorships and incentives for clients.

If you want a competition, consider playing poker or maybe even the lottery. If you aspire to be successful at trading forex, follow me and choose a broker with a transparent pricing model, the tightest possible spreads, with stable technology, who maintains reliable services and supports you as a trader. Bottom line; using Global Prime as my forex broker doesn't guarantee that I will be successful, but it puts me in the best possible position to succeed - it is entirely up to me and my skills as a trader whether I am profitable trading the markets.

Drawbacks and Other Tools

One of the few drawbacks of Global Prime as a broker is that they only offer MetaTrader 4 and Trader Evolution for trading platforms. I use MT4, which is perfectly fine for everyday trading, but is lacking certain features that other platforms offer these days. Trader Evolution looks interesting and appears to be on a promising trajectory for the future, but is still in fairly early development.

To compensate for this situation, I am using TradingView, mostly for charting purposes. TradingView offers a very good (and highly popular) web-based charting platform, not just for forex but for all major financial markets. I have come to appreciate how it allows me to navigate the markets and currency charts without having to do that in my trading platform MT4, that I almost exclusively use just to execute trades. This creates a natural separation between doing my research and actually putting money on the line.

Disclaimer

Lastly, please note that the links to Global Prime and TradingView on this page are affiliate links. If you use them to register an account, I may earn a small commission, you may get a discount or other benefits, and I will be identified as your introducing broker. This helps support the companies and both of us. I only endorse these companies because of the positive experience I've personally had using their products and services.

Forex Trading Journal - Calendar Week 45, 2020

2020-11-08T16:00:00.107-05:00

The week of the US Presidential Election 2020. Joe Biden vs. Donald Trump. That was certainly an interesting event to happen during my third week of Forex trading. I dipped my toes into the market, but quickly realized that it's a particularly good time to lose money fast. On the other hand, since the market is a zero-sum game, of course that also results in an abundance of opportunity if you know what you're doing (i.e. not me).

For me personally, this was the perfect time to observe and better understand how and when currencies move together, either directly or indirectly correlated with each other, or when they don't. One of the things that I didn't really understand at all when I read through articles and theory was how as a Forex trader I should first focus on a few currency pairs and master those. So far I have been trading all over the place, looking for whatever appeared to be an interesting point to enter a trade.

Looking at the major currency pairs, this week made it very obvious to me how they are all traded in relation to the US Dollar and how an event like the US election influences the movement of these currencies.

These are 30 minute charts from Thursday, November 5 (EST), showing the 2 days directly after the US election started with the vote count still ongoing at the time. While there are small differences, it's plain to see how they all moved together based on what was happening and what was being reported in the news. It's also apparent how in a special time like this, fundamental data and news essentially overrides almost all technical analysis and price action based trading.

The interesting part is that even though the charts look very similar, the individual currencies actually trade very differently. What I am starting to understand is how not every strategy might be applicable to every currency. For example, GBPUSD tends to move more strongly in the short term and in terms of pips. When trading on short timeframes - 1 or 5 minute charts - and with a relatively narrow stop-loss such as 10 pips, it's easy very easy to get stopped out despite being right overall about where the price is going. On the other hand, with USDCAD for instance, a stop loss of 10 pips usually seems to be fine since a lot of times the currency doesn't appear to be moving as strongly or erratic on very short timeframes.

Another thing I am starting to understand is why I keep reading that as a trader (Forex or otherwise) I have to figure out what works for me personally. I was never looking to blindly copy and paste someone else's strategy and try to apply that mechanically without understanding what is going on exactly, why it might work, or why it might not. Although I can see why so many people try that and ultimately fail. There are so many nuances, moving parts, interactions, correlations and whatnot - it takes time, practice, effort and maybe most importantly persistence to fully figure this all out.

I am at the very beginning of this journey.

Forex Trading Journal - Calendar Week 44, 2020

2020-10-31T16:00:00.121-04:00

I traded a whole lot less this second week, compared to my first. I am down a couple of dollars compared to my first week, but no major change either way. Here is my full, public, verified track record.

This week was all about understanding proper position sizing.

Before I started trading, I went through almost all of the material of the BabyPips FX trading course: https://www.babypips.com/learn/forex. There is a chapter on position sizing and they have a very straight forward and easy to use Position Size Calculator available:

When I was first reading through the course material, it kind of made sense to me in a way, but at the same time it didn't just based on the theory alone and without having ever used it in practice. I wasn't really sure when and how to properly use this calculator. So when I actually started trading, I totally forgot about this lesson altogether. With a 1000$ account and willing to risk 1% of it per trade (10 pips) to make 2% (20 pips), I always used 0.1 lots (i.e. one mini lot) as my position size. I assumed that this would essentially mean that I either lose 10$ or make 20$, plus/minus a few cent to account for broker commissions and slippage.

However, to my surprise, I often saw different types of profits/losses, while always using the same position size, and I didn't understand what was going on exactly. Here are some examples:

Fortunately, my broker Global Prime has a very active Discord community of traders willing to help. I posted these screenshots and asked for guidance to understand what's going on exactly. Somebody pointed me towards a short and sweet article about this on Investopedia. After reading through that, and now having the experience from actual trading, suddenly everything made sense!

I'm trading and learning directly on a live account. I think it is fair to say that this type of thing is one of the reasons it's highly recommended to start trading with a demo account instead. I don't disagree with that, but personally I find it makes me more likely to learn a lesson when it cost me real money - I'm seeing all of my mistakes as an investment into my future as a trader. My main strategy to mitigate losses and prevent me from losing my whole account in a matter of days is proper risk management. I'm currently not sure if my risk management strategy causes me to lose more trades than I should, but at least it's primary purpose of not blowing up my entire account is working so far.

Fundamental Longevity Supplements

2020-10-25T20:58:00.397-04:00

This is an overview of the supplements that I am currently taking on a daily/weekly basis.

→ Last updated on October 29, 2023.

The list below is not always fully comprehensive since I am constantly trying new supplements and keep experimenting based on the latest research, experience reports from other people interested in this topic, and so forth. However, after several years of exploring various approaches and combinations, this plan is what I currently follow to serve as a consistent baseline.

Most recently, starting early 2022, I became interested in nootropics, generally as a topic and trying them out to observe their effects on myself. I've been taking a supplement containing various nootropics for about 18 months now and my experience has been positive. As a result, I added it to my regular regiment in addition to some cleansing substances that can help maintain a healthy liver.

On a high level, my intention is for these supplements to serve as a foundation for longevity, help ward off aging related illnesses, keep my body & mind operating at peak performance, and increase my personal health span.

I have divided taking these supplements into a morning and evening routine. Some of them have stimulating properties and I found them to be better taken in the morning to help with my energy levels throughout the day and to not interfere with my ability to fall asleep. Others I prefer to take in the evening to help my body perform regenerative and rejuvenating functions while I'm sleeping. I usually also go weight lifting in the gym in the evening, 3-4 times a week, shortly after taking those supplements at around 8pm.

Weekly Schedule

Broken down by weekday, this is what my schedule currently looks like.

In the spirit of cost effectiveness and manageability, I consider the number of supplements here close to the upper limit that I am willing to take on a regular basis - at this point, if I were to add something else to take on a regular basis, I would probably be trying to replace something.

Supplement Overview & Products

Below is a brief overview of the individual items on the list, as well as my product of choice for each of them. Some of these products, such as a multivitamin, are fairly straight forward and mostly self-explanatory. Others, such as pterostilbene or NR/NMN, require a more comprehensive discussion. However, in the interest of keeping this in the format of a brief overview and about related products, I'm not going into too much detail on each of these below. There are links to individual, researched, in-depth articles with additional information about each of the substances that I am taking. I only mention products on this page that I'm using myself on a regular basis and that I genuinely believe in:

Multivitamin
Nicotinamide Riboside/Mononucleotide
Pterostilbene
Multi Collagen Complex
Vitamin C+
Ginseng Blend - Korean/American/Siberian
Omega-3 & Coenzyme Q10
N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine & Liver Health
Nootropic Complex

Lastly, please note that I am not a doctor and only talk about my personal experience and opinion. Nothing here is medical advice and what works for me might not work for you. Please make sure to always consult your primary care physician about any information obtained from or through my site.

If you decide to purchase anything through iHerb, you can use the coupon code AMQ0238 for a 10% discount.

Multivitamin

The history of multivitamins dates back to the early 20th century when scientists identified and isolated various vitamins essential for good health. Initially, (multi-)vitamin supplements were designed to address specific nutrient deficiencies, primarily in vulnerable populations. These days, they have evolved into a culmination of various vitamins and minerals within a single dose and have become a foundational aspect of modern nutrition. In the United States, for instance, studies have shown that roughly one-third of adults report taking a multivitamin regularly.

While a balanced diet should ideally provide most necessary nutrients on a regular basis, various factors such as lifestyle, dietary preferences, physical and/or mental exertion, or even a rigorous workout plan can lead to nutritional gaps. A multivitamin supplement offers a broad spectrum of essential vitamins and minerals that the body requires for various functions, serving as my backup plan to ensure adequate intake when natural dietary sources aren't sufficient. The product that I am currently taking goes beyond a basic multivitamin and includes various compounds thought to be overall beneficial for men's health and was specifically designed for physically active individuals like myself.

In-depth article and information: Multivitamin Supplements and Longevity.

After trying countless multivitamins, including combinations of multiple products, I have now settled on VITAFORM from Allmax Nutrition as my product of choice. However, because I primarily see this as my nutrient insurance policy, I only take one of them every morning instead of the recommended serving size of two.

Nicotinamide Riboside/Mononucleotide

NAD is an essential building block during energy production. But we lose up to 50% of our NAD levels between the ages of 40 and 60. Scientists have known about the important role of NAD since 1906. Since then, they’ve learned that NAD is found in every living cell, and that it fuels the mitochondria, which keeps almost every tissue in the body healthy.

In 1963, Chambon, Weill, and Mandel reported that nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) provided the energy needed to activate an important nuclear enzyme. This discovery paved the way for a series of remarkable discoveries on a type of protein called a PARP. PARPs play crucial roles in repairing DNA damage, regulating cell death, and whose activity is associated with changes in lifespan.

In 1976, Dr. Martin Rechsteiner and his colleagues found convincing evidence NAD+ seemed likely to have "some other major function" in mammalian cells, beyond its classical biochemical role as an energy transfer molecule. This discovery made it possible for Dr. Leonard Guarente and his colleagues to discover that proteins called sirtuins use NAD to extend lifespan by differentially keeping some genes inactive.

In 2004, a landmark study by Dr. Charles Brenner discovered that a unique form of vitamin B3 called nicotinamide riboside (NR) could increase NAD levels to support cellular health.

Since then, interest has grown in NAD and its intermediates, NR and NMN, for their potential to ameliorate a number of age-related health issues. Low NAD levels have been linked to health concerns and chronic illnesses, such as diabetes, heart disease, Alzheimer’s disease and vision loss. Interestingly, animal research has found that raising NAD levels may help reverse signs of aging and lower the risk of many chronic diseases.

In-depth article and information to follow!

For my NR supplementation, I strongly prefer the original TRU NIAGEN for cellular health. I take this in the morning. Additionally, in the evening, I take the NMN Flavonoid Complex from California Gold Nutrition.

Pterostilbene

Pterostilbene, is a natural compound related to resveratrol and found in blueberries, grapes, and certain tree woods. Originally discovered as a component in traditional Asian medicine, it gained more recognition due to its similarities to resveratrol and its superior bioavailability and bioactivity compared to its counterpart. This compound's history traces back to scientific research exploring its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and potential anti-aging properties.

Pterostilbene exhibits significant promise in various areas, such as potentially supporting cardiovascular health by improving cholesterol levels and lowering blood pressure. Additionally, it may aid in managing blood sugar levels by enhancing insulin sensitivity and reducing oxidative stress, showing promise for individuals dealing with diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Its neuroprotective effects also suggest potential in supporting brain health by safeguarding against age-related cognitive decline and promoting memory and mental acuity. Moreover, some research indicates its role in potentially inhibiting certain cancer cell growth, although more extensive studies are required to confirm its efficacy.

As a dietary supplement, pterostilbene is available in capsule or powder form, and its use continues to grow as people seek natural means to support overall health and well-being. However, like with other polyphenols, researchers don’t fully understand how pterostilbene works. As Dr. Jose M. Estrela, a professor of physiology at the University of Valencia, Spain who has studied pterostilbene says "the good thing is that pterostilbene works, but the bad thing is that we cannot fully explain its potential health benefits with the information that we have."

In-depth article and information: Resveratrol & Pterostilbene, Effects on Longevity.

There are several viable options for pterostilbene, also in combination with resveratrol - for now, I have settled on the Jarrow Formulas 50mg Trans-Pterostilbene capsules, taking one of them in the morning and another one in the evening. I am debating switching back to a product that contains both pterostilbene and resveratrol, which I used to take in the past, and might do so eventually.

Multi Collagen Complex

Multi-collagen complexes containing types I, II, III, V, and X represent a comprehensive blend of collagen varieties sourced from diverse animal sources, each offering unique benefits to human health. Collagen, the most abundant protein in the human body, is essential for maintaining the structure, strength, and elasticity of connective tissues, skin, bones, and more. The inclusion of multiple collagen types - like type I, found in skin, tendons, and bones; type II, prominent in cartilage; type III, in skin and blood vessels; type V, a component of cell surfaces and hair; and type X, present in forming new bone - creates a more comprehensive supplement.

Collagen supplementation dates back centuries, originating in ancient cultures that utilized animal parts to enhance joint health, skin elasticity, and overall vitality. Today, multi-collagen complexes are utilized as a supplement to support joint health, improve skin elasticity and hydration, aid in bone strength, and contribute to overall connective tissue health.

In-depth article and information: Collagen, Vitamin C and Healthy Skin.

The Multi Collagen - Type I, II, III, V, X from Codeage is one of the few products that I found from a reputable brand that offers this broad spectrum of collagen. There are others, but they are either from a brand that I don't know and/or come in powder form instead of capsules which isn't something that I want to deal with.
While it would be possible to simply add collagen powder to a protein shake, I find it much more convenient to organize my supplements with pills and capsules.

Vitamin C+

This one probably requires the least explanation. Vitamin C is one of the safest and most effective nutrients, experts say. Though it may not be the cure for the common cold, the benefits of vitamin C may include protection against immune system deficiencies, cardiovascular disease, eye disease, and even skin wrinkling.

I first started taking daily high doses of vitamin C after my PRK laser vision correction. In contrast to the more common and popular LASIK method, PRK (photorefractive keratectomy) surgery is a form of laser vision correction in which a laser eye surgeon completely removes the surface layer of the cornea (i.e. the epithelium, essentially a very thin and transparent layer of skin) and then reshapes the corneal bed with a laser. The main drawback of PRK, compared to LASIK, is that it is a lot more debilitating and takes longer to heal. The main advantage of PRK, compared to LASIK, is that the surface layer of the cornea heals back entirely scar free and the end result is essentially as if the surgery never happened, other than now having perfect 20/20 vision. To support this healing process and the formation of collagen required to regenerate skin, my eye surgeon recommended that I take 1000 mg of vitamin C throughout the day, every day, for 6 months.

In-depth articles and information: Multivitamin Supplements and Longevity & Collagen, Vitamin C and Healthy Skin.

After initially using other, even higher dosed products, I now prefer Solgar Ester-C Plus 500 mg Vitamin C because I found that the Ester-C® calcium ascorbate formulation is extremely well tolerated by my stomach, even when using consistently high doses.

Ginseng Blend - Korean/American/Siberian

Ginseng, a renowned herb that has been used for centuries in traditional medicine, comes in various forms such as Korean, American, and Siberian ginseng, each with distinct properties and historical applications.

Korean ginseng, known as Panax ginseng, holds a prominent place in Eastern medicine and cultural heritage, valued for its adaptogenic qualities that are believed to enhance vitality and overall well-being. American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is revered for its milder nature, often sought for its potential to reduce stress and support immune function. Siberian ginseng, technically Eleutherococcus senticosus rather than a true ginseng, is utilized similarly to Korean and American ginseng, lauded for its adaptogenic properties and potential to combat fatigue and stress.

Ginseng's roots trace back to ancient Chinese medicine, where it was regarded as a symbol of health and vitality. Across different cultures, it has been used to address various ailments, ranging from fatigue and stress to immune support and even supporting cognitive functions. As a supplement, ginseng is often consumed in various forms, including capsules, powders, or teas, to harness its potential benefits, such as boosting energy, improving mental clarity, and supporting the body's stress response.

In-depth article and information: Ginseng, the Primordial Longevity Herb.

I tried a variety of different types and combinations of Ginseng.
I usually take Korean Red Ginseng in the morning and, currently, Siberian Tiger Ginseng in the evening - sometimes I switch things up a little and take American White Ginseng in the evening instead.
All the Ginseng products I currently use are made by Organika.

Omega-3 & Coenzyme Q10

Combining omega-3 fatty acids and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) represents a fusion of two influential components with diverse health benefits.

Omega-3 fatty acids have a rich history in the realm of nutritional supplements, renowned for their cardiovascular and cognitive advantages. Derived primarily from fish oil, and sometimes from flaxseed or certain nuts, omega-3s are celebrated for their anti-inflammatory properties and contributions to heart health and brain function.

CoQ10, an antioxidant naturally produced by the body, has gained attention for its role in cellular energy production. Over time, researchers and health enthusiasts have recognized the potential synergy between omega-3s and CoQ10, often combined in supplements to amplify their respective benefits. This combination is believed to support heart health, augment cellular energy production, and bolster antioxidant capabilities, potentially aiding in managing and preventing conditions like high blood pressure, heart disease, and promoting overall vitality.

In-depth article and information: Omega-3 & CoQ10, Effects on Longevity.

Nothing too fancy or special here; I find Webber Naturals Omega-3 with CoQ10 to be a very solid product. Yes, the capsules are large, like basically all fish oil capsules, but easy to swallow and without any fishy aftertaste.

N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine & Liver Health

N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) is a compound that has gained recognition in the realm of health supplements and nootropics due to its multifaceted properties. Originating as a derivative of the naturally occurring amino acid cysteine, NAC has a storied history, initially finding its place in the medical field for its role as a mucolytic agent, helping to break down mucus. Over time, researchers began exploring its broader therapeutic potential beyond respiratory issues.

NAC's uses as a supplement expanded to encompass its antioxidant properties, supporting liver health, and its influence on brain function. As a nootropic, NAC has shown promise in promoting mental wellness - its ability to modulate glutamate levels in the brain contributes to its recognition for potentially improving mood, controlling impulsivity, and reducing symptoms associated with certain neurological disorders. Moreover, NAC's antioxidant nature is thought to protect the brain from oxidative stress, which could help safeguard against age-related cognitive decline.

Additionally, NAC may reduce heart disease risk by reducing oxidative damage to tissues in the heart. It has also been shown to increase nitric oxide production, which helps veins dilate and improves blood flow. This expedites blood transit back to the heart and can lower the risk of heart attacks.

In-depth article and information: N-Acetyl-L-Cysteine as a Dietary Supplement.

I currently use the NAC product from Source Naturals. It provides a high dose of NAC although as a result the capsules are quite large, which is something I used to dislike, but I've gotten used to them, they have a coating that makes them easy to swallow, and I only take them in the morning on weekends - not too bad. My multivitamin of choice also contains a small dose of NAC for daily intake.
Related to this topic, I am also taking the Liver Health product from Webber Naturals in the evening on a daily basis.

Nootropic Complex

Nootropics, often referred to as "smart drugs" or "cognitive enhancers", encompass a diverse range of substances known for their potential to improve cognitive function, memory, creativity, motivation, and overall brain performance. The concept of nootropics dates back to the 1960s when Romanian psychologist and chemist Dr. Corneliu E. Giurgea coined the term. He defined nootropics as compounds that could enhance learning and memory without causing significant side effects.

These substances are believed to work by influencing neurotransmitters, enzymes, and other factors related to brain function. Over time, nootropics have gained popularity due to their potential to support mental clarity and focus, particularly among individuals seeking improved productivity, students aiming to enhance learning capabilities, professionals navigating demanding workloads, and even older adults interested in maintaining cognitive health.

The uses of nootropics vary widely, with a spectrum of compounds categorized as natural (such as caffeine and certain herbs) to synthetic substances (like racetams and modafinil). Natural nootropics like caffeine and L-theanine, found in tea, are known for their stimulating and calming effects, respectively. Meanwhile, synthetic nootropics like racetams are thought to modulate neurotransmitter activity, potentially enhancing memory and cognitive functions. Additionally, adaptogens such as Rhodiola and Ashwagandha are believed to help the body adapt to stress and improve mental performance. Some nootropics also focus on specific neurotransmitters, like dopamine or acetylcholine, to support mood, motivation, and memory.

In-depth article and information to follow!

Previously, all supplements on my plan were heavily weighted towards the physical and I wanted to add a product that would balance that out with the mental. After spending a lot of time researching nootropics and trying a few things, I decided on ebrain from Iron Kingdom. It offers a comprehensive blend of substances, however, I only take 1 capsule during weekdays instead of the recommended serving size of 4. I'm more interested in the effects of regular long-term use than a short-term boost to my productivity.
On weekends, I only take a high dose of Vitamin B12 from Jarrow Formulas instead.

Forex Trading Journal - Calendar Week 43, 2020

2020-10-24T21:00:00.013-04:00

I am down 43.92$ / 4.4% after my first week (actually more like a week and a half) of Forex trading. I am quite happy with this, given that I am fully prepared to lose the full 1,000$ that I used to fund my account with.

Before I started trading, most of the general advice I came across usually boiled down to:

Learn as much as you can about how the market and trading works.
Paper trade first, don't use a live account.
Develop your own strategy that works for you.
Document and refine this strategy.
Once you are able to be consistently profitable, switch to live trading.

I now understand where this advice is coming from. I scoured the net for free Forex tutorials and courses and took a couple of months to learn as much as I could. At some point I started paper trading, to better understand some of the concepts in those courses. I developed a trading plan and strategy based on a couple of principles and indicators - primarily GMMA, Stochastic, RSI and a few other moving averages. I researched brokers, platforms and chose one. Then I continued with paper trading for another 2 weeks, mostly to familiarize myself with various the trading platforms, mostly MT4.

It all made sense in theory.

However, I had a hunch that once I actually start trading live with real money, things would be completely different; real emotions, fear, greed and other factors are significantly more pronounced when real money is on the line versus practicing in demo mode. I wanted to find out and that's exactly what happened. All the concepts, strategies, plan, and so forth went out the window the moment I had MT4 open with a live account...

There are a couple of things that didn't work, several of mistakes I made, but fortunately also one key element of my strategy that did work exactly as intended.

This is the overview of my first week, based on currency pairs:

I won 6 out of 21 trades, which represents 29%.

AUDUSD and EURAUD were both great for me this week, both with 100% win rate.
GBPUSD and USDCAD were both the worst, I lost 7 out of 8 trades on those pairs.

I also have all of this is publicly available on Myfxbook: https://www.myfxbook.com/members/rbnrch

Overall, my approach is to risk 1% of my account per trade to make 2%. Meaning that with a balance of 1,000$, my default is to use 0.1 lots per trade with a stop loss of 10 pips and a take profit of 20 pips.

Here is the more detailed overview of all trades this week:

Some of the mistakes I made:

I held a position over the weekend. This cost me 17.85$ / almost 1.8% of my account. It was a test in a sense and helpful to understand how the market can gap up or down significantly during off hours, which might trigger take profit or (like in this case) stop loss orders. It seems the same is true, to a lesser extent, when the trading day rolls over.

I became greedy on some of the trades I was winning. I moved my take profit level in hopes of letting my profit run, just to see the trend reverse and miss out on my profit entirely. I do believe there is a time and place for this, but I will need a lot more practice and experience to distinguish legitimate opportunities from being greedy.

I tried to liquidate half an open position. This worked fine, but it changed the lot size in the MT4 trading interface from 0.1 lots to 0.05 lots. Then, when entering a new position, I didn't pay attention and didn't change it back to 0.1 lots. Twice. In both cases, I opened another 0.05 lots position shortly after I realized this, but ended up loosing all 4 of those trades.

I became fascinated by the market and started to be awake and trade all over the place in terms of my hours. Eventually I ended up moonlighting, starting my trading day at 5pm ET when the Sydney market opens, taking a look but mostly waiting until the Tokyo market opens at 7pm. Then taking a nap until 3am, when London opens to start trading for real. This is not going to be sustainable nor healthy, I definitely will have to find my rhythm eventually.

For most of my trades I looked only at short term price action and didn't properly consider the bigger picture. I feel like that significantly contributed to my very low win percentage of 29%. In order to remedy this, I now opened an account with TradingView to constantly have certain charts open to better understand the overall trend:

These charts show Bollinger Bands over the last 2 days and have a Stochastic over RSI indicator. Even though the data source of TradingView is different from that of my broker Global Prime (which uses raw A-Book market data directly from their liquidity providers) it's not much of an issue on these 30 minute charts. I found them to be a good indicator to help me understand general, short-term market conditions and to see when these major currency pairs are in overbought or oversold territory. It would definitely be helpful to have a second monitor for this, so that I don't have to minimize MT4 all the time to look at these charts - that's something I will have to look into eventually.