Dr. Ben Kim's blog

Generic brands of acetaminophen sold at major retailers like Wal-Mart, Safeway, and CVS have been recalled because of possible contamination with fragments of metal. Read more

Please take a minute to view the following video that describes the incredibly cruel practice of pulling sharks onto a boat, cutting off their fins for the Asian soup market, and throwing these finless sharks back into the water to die. A warning: this video contains actual footage of a shark having a fin cut off in gruesome fashion - I don't believe it's appropriate for children to view. Read more

A recent study conducted by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) indicates that some popular brands of guacamole contain only trace amounts of avocado, the health-promoting fruit that has traditionally served as the main ingredient in authentic guacamole recipes.

This finding is a terrible shame, since guacamole made with real avocados is one of the healthiest dips that we can eat. Avocados are abundant in vitamin E, lutein (extremely important for preserving eyesight), potassium, and dietary fiber. Avocados are also rich in healthy fats, which are essential to allowing our bodies to absorb fat-soluble nutrients such as beta-carotene and vitamin A. Read more

Ingredients:

2 1/4 pounds (1 kg) tomatoes
1 cucumber
1 red pepper, seeded and chopped
2 garlic cloves, chopped
Juice of 1 lemon and 1 lime
2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
Sea salt and ground black pepper (optional)
1 ripe avocado
1/4 red onion

Directions:

Peel cucumber, then cut it in half lengthwise and scoop out the seeds with a table or teaspoon. Chop remaining cucumber flesh into small, bite-size pieces. Read more

Please note that it's best to avoid eating persimmon skins as explained in the following post:

Persimmon Skins and Other Foods that Can Cause Obstruction in the GI tract

Crust:

Ingredients:

1 cup of almonds, soaked for 6 to 12 hours, then drained
1 cup of dates, soaked for 1 to 2 hours, then drained

Directions: Read more

Before I share a time-saving tip for garlic lovers, how about a quick review of the key health-promoting properties of garlic?

1. When uncooked and crushed or finely chopped, garlic produces a powerful antibiotic called allicin, and an anti-fungal compound called phytoncide.
2. Garlic helps to preserve needed aortic elasticity in the elderly.
3. Garlic can help to normalize blood lipid levels, thereby offering some protection against the development of atherosclerosis.

In reading through dozens of airplane safety tips posted on government and airline web sites, it's apparent to me that the two most important plane safety tips are:

1. Whenever possible, choose to fly in the largest plane available. Planes that seat 30 or more passengers are subject to the strictest safety regulations. They also have more "meat" to absorb energy upon impact, thereby increasing the chances of passengers surviving.

About a month ago, I greatly enjoyed reading a recently published book called The Man Who Heard Voices: Or, How M. Night Shyamalan Risked His Career on a Fairy Tale, written by Michael Bamberger. Read more

Ingredients:

2 large sweet potatoes or yams, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1 cup of cranberries, fresh or frozen
1 large granny smith apple, peeled and diced
2 tablespoons of maple syrup
1/2 cup of orange juice
1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Toss sweet potato or yam cubes with olive oil until evenly coated. Spread cubes out in a baking dish. Top with cranberries and diced apple. Read more

In a study to be published in this month's edition of the journal Pediatrics, researchers from the CDC say that approximately 33 percent of infant deaths can be attributed to premature births. This number is much higher than all previous estimates. Read more