Dr. Ben Kim's blog

One of the topics that I am frequently asked about is acupuncture. What is acupuncture, exactly? How does it work? What conditions are acupuncture helpful for? How is it different from acupressure? Does it hurt?

What follows is a summary of how I typically answer these questions. Read more

If you're around incense on a regular basis, you should know that a study published in the September 2001 issue of the Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology indicates that burning incense can expose people to dangerous levels of cancer-causing chemicals. Read more

Swimmer's ear, also known as otitis externa, is an infection of the outer ear canal. It's a condition that parents of children and teenagers want to understand because it's often confused with a middle ear infection, also known as otitis media. Read more

Just stumbled upon the story of Aaron Collins' final wish to have his family leave a waiter or waitress an unforgettable tip. As Aaron's family has shared via major media outlets, few life experiences bring as much fulfillment as offering a gift to a stranger without expecting something in return. Read more

I've long believed that our greatest power is the ability to choose our thoughts. Being a father of two young boys, I'm not in the same peaceful warrior-like state that I consistently embodied when I was in my mid to late 20's. Still, despite having few opportunities to be alone with a clear blue sky, I have this visceral memory of how blissful it can be to choose a stream of compassionate and grateful thoughts. Read more

If there's a truly must-see film for all parents and children who are about 10 and older, this is it. I stumbled upon "Trust," directed by David Schwimmer, at our library the other day and barely blinked through this story of a good family that is devastated by their 14-year old daughter falling prey to an online pedophile.

Please have a look at the trailer here: Read more

On January 12, 2007, a 28-year old Californian wife and mother of three children died from drinking too much water. Her body was found in her home shortly after she took part in a water-drinking contest that was sponsored by a local radio show. Entitled "Hold Your Wee For A Wii," the contest promoters promised a free Wii video game machine to the contestant who drank the most water without urinating. Read more

Addendum on August 18, 2013: Please note that there is more recent data on acrylamide content in common foods - you can view some of this data here: What About Acrylamide In Coffee? Read more

In a previous article on acrylamide, I wrote that potato chips and French fries are best avoided for their high acrylamide content. What follows are answers to a few questions on acrylamide that were submitted by readers:

What other foods are high in acrylamide and should be avoided? - Tyler G. Read more