Dr. Ben Kim's blog

A study that appears in the October 1, 2008 edition of the journal Cancer indicates that breastfeeding for at least six months may decrease a woman's risk of developing "triple negative" breast cancer, thought to be the most aggressive form of breast cancer.

Triple negative cancer is more common among younger women, and a number of published studies indicate that triple negative breast cancer is more likely to recur when compared to other forms of breast cancer. Read more

In February of 2008, we started a fund raising campaign for a special, not-for-profit organization called Operation Shanti. Located in Mysore, India, the folks who run Operation Shanti are dedicated to empowering the poorest and neediest children and elderly people in their area.

As reported in our first update following the launch of our campaign, our readers responded spectacularly, surpassing our goal within a week. Read more

Many years ago, a patient of mine who had traveled extensively around the world told me about a group of people he encountered that ate red beets, carrots, and sweet potatoes almost every day to help protect their skin against sunburn. Read more

What do toe pain, mid-foot pain, heel pain, ankle pain, knee pain, hip pain, lower back pain, mid-back pain, upper back pain, and headaches all have in common?

You guessed it - they can all be caused by wearing high heels on a regular basis. Read more

The headline is correct - brain tumors now claim more children's lives than any other type of cancer. There aren't any published studies in the medical literature that all epidemiologists can point to and offer as proof that regular use of a cell phone can increase a child's risk of developing a brain tumor. And there never will be such a study, as definitive proof in the research world requires a double-blind, randomized control trial; how can you conduct a trial in which you ask a group of children to use a cell phone for 'x' number of hours per week? Read more

Koreans have long enjoyed the health benefits of seaweed soup, called mi-yuk gook.

In Korean culture, seaweed soup is considered a must for pregnant and nursing women, as eating seaweed is an effective way of stimulating healthy breast milk production.

Seaweed is also given to students, usually without fail on the night before an important exam, as seaweed is believed to support optimal brain function. Read more

One secret to making flavorful, creamy smoothies is to use frozen fruit rather than ice. We almost never add ice to our smoothies, choosing instead to use frozen banana slices. We buy several pounds of bananas at a time, and once they're ripe, we peel them, slice them into 1/2 inch portions, and freeze the slices in an air-tight bag or container in the freezer. Read more

If you enjoy cream cheese, I encourage you to give the following dairy-free and healthy cream cheese recipe a try. It calls for sweet cashews, a touch of fine olive oil, lemon juice, and fresh herbs as an optional ingredient.

Cashews are rich in a number of health-promoting nutrients, including magnesium, copper, tryptophan, and healthy fatty acids. A diet that is rich in high quality cashews can help keep your teeth and bones healthy, and help prevent high blood pressure. Read more

According to a study published in the August 1, 2007 issue of the journal Sleep, rotating shift workers have significantly lower levels of serotonin (precursor to melatonin) than people who work regular day shifts. A total of 683 men of European ancestry were evaluated for this study; 437 were day workers, and 246 were rotating shift workers.

Serotonin is a hormone that circulates throughout your body. It is also a neurotransmitter in your central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). A chronically low level of serotonin is associated with many health challenges, the most common of which are: Read more

If keeping your heart healthy is a top priority, consider adding lentils to your diet. Lentils are inexpensive legumes that come in a variety of colors, and every color is good for your heart and overall health.

Lentils are rich in folate, a vitamin that is essential to keeping your blood homocysteine at a healthy level - this is likely the main reason why eating lentils on a regular basis can keep your cardiovascular system healthy as you age. Read more