Dr. Ben Kim's blog

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In a suburb of Ottawa, there's a river that mostly freezes over in the winter and becomes a trail for snowmobiling enthusiasts. This river narrows as it runs past the backyard of a friend of mine. Narrowing translates to faster water flow, which makes it less likely that the river will freeze over in that location.

My friend tells me that just about every year, one or two unsuspecting snowmobilers come ripping down the river trail and end up going through thin ice and drowning. Just a few years ago, a man and his young daughter tragically died in this way.

Even if you aren't into snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, ice fishing, or other popular outdoor winter activities, it doesn't hurt to know how to maximize your chances of surviving if you fall through ice.

In the following videos, Dr. Gordon Giesbrecht - a thermo-physiologist and professor at the University of Manitoba - shares tips on how to survive after falling into icy cold water. Below the video, you'll find a summary of a few key points to share with loved ones. Read more

Updated on October 19, 2020

Approximately 11 million people in the United States and Canada use some form of sleep aid on a regular basis, with alcohol and antihistamines being two popular choices.

Contrary to popular belief, having a nightcap - 5 ounces of wine, 1-2 ounces of a distilled spirit like tequila, vodka, or whiskey, or 8-12 ounces of beer - does not improve sleep quality. In fact, having a nightcap actually takes away from the amount of restful sleep we experience. Read more

Look at the people you spend time with and consider which of them don't care how much money you have or don't have, what kind of car you drive, what you wear, what you've accomplished, or what you look like. Read more

Most children who grow up with immigrant parents have a few memories that they carry for the rest of their days. Read more

Ingredients:

Miso or Dwen Jang (Korean version)
Vegetable or Chicken Broth
Cabbage, chopped into bite-size pieces
Onions, chopped into bite-size pieces
Firm Tofu, cubed into bite-size pieces Read more

1. What can I eat or drink to make me feel full so I don't overeat snacks and gain weight?

Foods that are abundant in protein rate highest on the satiety scale. Foods that are rich in sugar, flour, and inexpensive vegetable oils that are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids rate lowest on the satiety scale.

The best way to prevent overeating is to prioritize foods that are abundant in healthy protein like organic eggs, smaller varieties of cold water fish, healthfully raised flesh meat, nuts, seeds, and legumes. Read more

1. You have soy recipes on your site. I thought that soy is bad for us?

In moderate amounts, I feel that soy can be a part of a healthy diet mostly because of its easily digested protein content. Moderate intake seems to have positive effects on bone health, cardiovascular health, and menopausal symptoms. Those with a family health history of hormone-sensitive breast cancer shouldn't have unfermented soy on a regular basis. Read more

1. What should I have my primary care physician check along with my regular blood work?

If you have your vitamin D status under control via healthy sun exposure and/or supplementation with vitamin D-3, I would suggest checking homocysteine. High homocysteine is a reliable risk factor for a number of degenerative conditions including heart disease, dementia, and chronic inflammation.

For more information on homocysteine, please feel free to view:

https://drbenkim.com/articles-homocysteine.html Read more