Healthy Eating Resources

Updated on November 10, 2008.

If you're not sure how to choose healthy oils for cooking, it's important that you understand the essential differences between saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Once you understand the basic characteristics of these fatty acids, you'll know which commonly available oils are good for your health, and which ones you should avoid whenever possible.

If you've ordered any Artisana coconut butter-based products from our natural health shop, please note that coconut oil and coconut butter become harder at temperatures below 76 F, and they become softer at temperatures above 76 F.

I'm often asked to name just one simple action step that people can take to improve their health. My answer is usually this: Eat more green vegetables.

I'm not talking about adding a few florets of broccoli to your dinner. For measurable improvement in your health, you need to eat at least the equivalent of about 5 big handfuls of dark greens every day. Start doing this on a daily basis, and I'm confident that you'll feel stronger and healthier within a month.

If you're looking for a truly healthy food that is rich in protein that your body can easily digest and use, look no further than quinoa. Called the "mother of grains" by the Incan empire, quinoa is native to South America, and is naturally rich in all nine essential amino acids - these are amino acids that we humans can't make from other nutrients, and must obtain from our diet.

Health & Beyond editor Josh Day recently sat down with Dr. Kim to ask him a few questions on a topic that's always hot in the health food world. We're talking about soy... what it is, what it does in your body, and why you see soy this and soy that on almost every aisle of your local health food store.

Let's jump straight into the interview, shall we?

Josh: What exactly is soy?

To optimally support your cardiovascular system, it may be helpful to regularly eat foods that are naturally rich in folate and an omega-3 fatty acid called EPA. Folate primarily protects your cardiovascular system against disease by keeping your blood homocysteine level in check. And though we aren't certain of how EPA reduces risk of cardiovascular disease, a number of studies have found a strong relationship between EPA consumption and a decrease in heart disease.

As I mentioned in my post on eating calcium-rich plant foods to promote optimal bone health, sesame seeds are an excellent source of calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, all of which your body needs to build and maintain healthy bones and teeth. So if you want to ensure that you optimally nourish your bones and teeth as you age, consider mastering the following Asian-style sesame sauce recipe. Depending on how much water you use, this recipe can produce a light salad dressing, a dip for raw vegetables, or even a rich alternative to mayonnaise.

Until a few months ago, I was under the impression that coconut oil and coconut butter are the same thing. So I was one surprised chap when I tried a coconut butter product made by a company called Artisana.

I now know that true coconut butter is made by carefully blending whole coconut meat - when done properly, the result is a sweet, creamy butter that has the wonderful fragrance of coconut oil, along with healthy protein and fiber that naturally occur in coconut.

One of the most common health concerns that people consult with me for is how to prevent osteoporosis. I routinely review bone scan results and food diaries of people who diligently follow conventional recommendations on calcium intake, and are discouraged by worsening test results.

In my experience, the most common mistake that people make is eating too much dairy. Many health practitioners routinely advise their patients to get anywhere from 1200 to 1500 milligrams of calcium every day, and many people turn to milk, yogurt, cheese, ice cream, and other dairy products to meet this requirement.

Did you know that half a cup of sesame seeds contains three times more calcium than half a cup of whole milk? In addition to being an excellent dietary source of calcium, sesame seeds are also a good source of manganese, copper, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, vitamin B1 (thiamin), zinc, vitamin E, healthy protein, and fiber.

Sesame seeds also contain sesamin and sesamolin, two substances that are thought to prevent high blood pressure and protect the liver against oxidative damage.