Dr. Ben Kim's blog

Almost every person who sends me a letter or calls our clinic requesting help asks some form of the following question: what can I do right now to get better?

Although I usually end up providing unique recommendations in accordance with each person's health condition(s) and life circumstances, there are six fundamental recommendations that I share with everyone who asks for help with their health: Read more

One of the reasons why my wife and I decided to have a home birth was to ensure that our baby would go straight where he belonged as soon as he entered the world: to my wife's chest. It saddens me to know that providing newborn babies with immediate physical contact with their mothers is not always given the priority it deserves in today's health care system. Read more

Ingredients:

1 cup green or yellow split peas
1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
3 shallots, finely chopped
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
1 large clove of garlic, chopped
4 tablespoons of organic butter, softened
Sea salt and ground black pepper (optional)
6-8 sage leaves, roughtly chopped (if available)
1 bay leaf

Directions:

Put split peas in a bowl and cover with plenty of cold water. Soak overnight on kitchen counter, rinse and drain before preparing dish. Read more

What's the most powerful step you can take to dramatically improve your health?

My answer is this:

Learn how to effectively manage emotional stress

All of my clinical and personal experiences over the years have me convinced that no other factor has more influence over your health.

Not diet, not exercise, not even how much you sleep. Read more

Ingredients:

2 large sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed
1 and 1/2 tablespoons of unsalted, organic butter (omit if dairy-free)
1 garlic clove, minced
Sea salt and ground black pepper (optional)

Directions:

Boil sweet potatoes for approximately 15 minutes or until quite tender. Drain sweet potatoes and put them in a big bowl. Read more

Ingredients:

1 cup bulgur wheat
Handful of choped flat leaf parsley, fresh
1 bunch of green onions (about 4-6 rods), sliced
1/2 cucumber, diced
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
Juice of 1 large lemon
Sea salt and ground black pepper (optional)
4 wheat tortillas Read more

Earlier this year, I wrote an article that included several steps that you can take to reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

I just read a study in the September 2005 issue of Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers & Prevention which suggests that eating at least five portions of certain vegetables and fruits each day can reduce your risk of developing pancreatic cancer by 50 percent. Read more

Ingredients: 

4 zucchini, halved
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 (8 ounce) package button mushrooms, sliced
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin, or to taste
1 (15.5 ounce) can chick peas, drained and rinsed
1/2 lemon, juiced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Sea salt to taste
Ground black pepper to taste

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Read more

An interesting study in the September, 2005 edition of the journal Heart provides useful guidance on how to use music to decrease stress and promote good health. Read more

This crunchy and tasty salad is best made with a good vegetable shredder called a mandolin. If you don't have a mandolin but want to buy one, try your local asian food supermarket. Almost all Korean supermarkets carry an excellent one for around twenty-five dollars.

Jicama is a white-fleshed root vegetable that is a good source of vitamin C. It adds a great crunchy component to salads.

Ingredients: Read more