Dr. Ben Kim's blog

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Originally posted on May 13, 2019

Dear Dr. Kim:

For years I had the impression that coffee was not a good beverage for people due to its caffeine content. Read more

Schadenfreude is a German word that refers to the human capacity to experience pleasure in another person's suffering. It's an unhealthy form of envy that is highly damaging to the person who feels it. Read more

In caring for our health and relationships, I find value in understanding our innate level of happiness and natural strengths.

Dr. Albert Brooks uses a simple 20-question quiz to determine one's natural level of happiness, and what types of personalities mesh well. Read more

Most of us know what we need to do to be healthier. And yet many of us don't follow through on what we know. Why the struggle?

In most cases, our level of dedication to taking care of ourselves is strongly related to the meaning we assign to our existence. Read more

I know that this post will get some members of the food police upset with me, but I continue to find that in some cases, when taken in moderation, cooked white rice can be a health-enhancing food choice. Read more

I've long held the view that it is good to be mindful of the finiteness of our days. In fact, I find value in having in mind the year that I will pass on according to life expectancy calculators - by having an exact year in mind, I'm naturally inclined to make the most of my days. Read more

For those who have a tendency to experience a sluggish colon, bloating, or constipation, one simple suggestion often yields positive results:

Eat 2 kiwis daily. Read more

Where there isn't a physical obstruction of the intestines or regular intake of medication that can affect autonomic nervous system tone, I find that the vast majority of people who struggle with constipation benefit from light bouncing.

While a brisk walk can be helpful in this regard, I've found that there is more benefit from purposeful and bouncing up and down whereby the contents of the abdominal and pelvic cavities are gently jostled in place.

Doing jumping jacks, skipping rope, and even controlled bouncing on a trampoline are all effective. Read more