Dr. Ben Kim's blog

When I began learning the Korean language, I decided that a great way to go about it was to read some of my favourite books that had been translated to Korean. One of the first books that I read was The Diary of Anne Frank, translated directly from German to Korean. Read more

Please note: This article has been updated and incorporated into the following page:

Authentic Tibetan Goji Berries Read more

Almost all store-bought mayonnaise is made with vegetable oils that are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids, like soybean and safflower oil. Regular consumption of vegetable oils that are rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids leads to a decline in health over the long term because of their high omega-6 to omega-3 fatty acid ratio. Read more

Do you know that using lipstick or lip balm can increase your risk of developing cancer and autoimmune diseases? If you use lipstick or lip balm on a regular basis, I highly recommend that you visit the Environmental Working Group's online safety assessment catalogue for dangerous chemicals in personal care products. You can type the names of cosmetics that you use into the EWG's search engine and learn how safe or dangerous they are. Read more

Did you know that carrying a wallet in your backpocket can dramatically increase your risk of having a chronic lower back problem? Sitting down with one side of your pelvis slightly elevated because of a wallet can cause instability in your pelvic joints, which can cause intermittent lower back sprains and strains. Please think of people you know who still carry their wallets in their back pockets and pass this tip along. Read more

Ingredients:

2 quarts vegetable broth
1 carrot, chopped
2 pounds Swiss Chard, chopped
1 red bell pepper, chopped
1 zucchini, sliced
1 cup of brown rice, already cooked
Sea salt and black pepper, to taste

Directions: Read more

Ingredients:

1 large cucumber, peeled
12 ounces of organic yogurt
1 clove of garlic, pressed or minced
2 tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice
Sea salt, to taste

Directions:

Slice peeled cucumber down the middle, length wise, and use a spoon to scoop out all the seeds. Then, chop cucumber into large chunks and blend together with all other ingredients in a blender or food processor until smooth.

Enjoy this cool and delicious cucumber sauce over a fresh vegetable salad, or with any slightly spicy dish that you enjoy. Read more

Ingredients:

1 large ripe avocado, mashed
6 medium Yukon gold or red potatoes
1/2 cup chopped red onion
2 ribs of celery, chopped
1/2 cup sweet red bell pepper
Sea salt, to taste

Directions:

Steam and cook the potatoes until tender but not too soft. Mix thoroughly with all other ingredients. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Enjoy this simple and delicious avocado-potato salad.

This recipe was adapted from a similar recipe found in the May/June 1999 issue of Health Science. Read more

Ingredients: 

2 ripe avocados, scooped out and cut into bite-size pieces
2 oranges, peeled and sectioned
2-4 leaves of dark green lettuce like romaine or red leaf
1 tablespoon of chopped green onions (optional)
House Dressing, to taste

Directions:

Put avocado and oranges on a plate lined with lettuce, sprinkle with chopped green onions, and add dressing. Enjoy this simple and delicious salad. Read more

Recently, I had to take my mom to a local hospital for a painful hip condition. I hope that the following account of our experience will help you and your loved ones when faced with a need for medical care.

About a week and a half ago, my mom woke up in the middle of the night with a sharp pain in her right hip area. Based on the nature of her pain and some neurological and orthopedic tests that I did, my feeling was that she had a severe case of hip bursitis, an inflammatory condition of the outer hip area that normally gets better with rest and pain management. Read more