Blogs

Although it's been close to eighteen years since I dissected my first cadaver in anatomy class, I still remember being surprised when I got my first glance at a pair of kidneys - they were much smaller than I had expected. Up until that point, I had imagined the kidneys to be quite large, given the amount of work that they are responsible for.

Each of your kidneys is about 4 to 5 inches long and about 1 inch thick, weighing in at about 4.5 to 5 ounces. To put it into easy-to-visualize terms, each of your kidneys is a bit larger than a deck of cards. Read more

Looking for a light but filling summer salad while doing our full body cleanse program? Look no further than this colourful medley of antioxidant and protein-rich plant foods. Many thanks to Kristen for showing us the way. - Ben Kim Read more

To keep your blood homocysteine level within a range that's optimal for cardiovascular health, try including leeks in your weekly menu with this restaurant-quality soup.

Leeks are a good source of both folate and vitamin B-6, both essential to preventing buildup of homocysteine throughout your body. 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

This savory bell pepper soup recipe is rich in a number of antioxidants, most notably, carotenoids and vitamin C. The Yin-Yang presentation is created by pouring red and yellow bell pepper soups into each serving bowl at the same time. 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

A story at cbc.ca highlights the importance of being cautious in giving acetaminophen to youngsters, as overdosing is "the most common identifiable cause of acute liver failure in children," reports researcher Dr. Rod Lim of the Children's Hospital in London. Read more

A study that was published in a 2006 issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology suggests that exposure to loud noises over many years can increase your risk of developing a non-cancerous tumour called acoustic neuroma, which can cause hearing loss. Of important note is that the study found that this risk holds true of any loud noise, not just work-related noise. Read more

Just stumbled upon the hauntingly lovely video that Ben Breedlove posted to YouTube about a week before he passed on from a chronic heart condition. His family learned of the video from friends who discovered it the day that he left. Read more