Dr. Ben Kim's blog

Over the past two months, my wife and I helped my Aunt start a small but quaint cafe in the city that we live in. After three years of hoping that one or more of our relatives would move up to our city from Toronto, to finally have it happen was a cause for celebration! Read more

Green peas are full of many health-promoting nutrients, the most abundant one being vitamin K1, which is needed for optimal bone mineralization. Green peas are also abundant in folate, manganese, dietary fiber, vitamin B1, beta-carotene, and vitamin C.

Enjoy the following recipe for a traditional Italian green pea and basil soup (the quantities listed in the ingredients section will produce approximately 4 servings). Read more

During times of reflection, I regularly think about Stephen Covey's suggestion to find the right walls to climb before I spend my limited days climbing.

Spending time to identify the right walls to climb can sometimes require more energy than the actual process of climbing; it can bring about much frustration and second guessing. Still, my experience has been that working hard to carefully choose which walls we want to scale is worth the effort, and is an important part of striving to develop the ability to live with wisdom. Read more

A recent article in the New York Times provides an important dietary warning:

Green potatoes often contain high levels of a toxin called solanine, which can cause any of the following gastrointestinal and/or neurological symptoms upon ingestion: Read more

In last week's newsletter, I shared a quick and simple dessert recipe that requires only three ingredients: raw chocolate nibs, raw pecans, and liquid honey. Enough people wrote in thanking me for this recipe that I thought it would be a good idea to post it here on our blog for visitors who don't receive my weekly health newsletter. Read more

If you love burgers but can do without large amounts of red meat, you'll love this recipe for thick and juicy grilled Portobello mushroom sandwiches. Portobello mushrooms are rich in niacin (vitamin B3), potassium, and selenium.

Be sure to make the basil-lemon pesto sauce that accompanies this recipe; it adds loads of tangy flavor to these awesome sandwiches.

Ingredients: Read more

Varicose veins are enlarged and often swollen veins that can become visible under the skin of your legs. Prevention of varicose veins best begins with understanding how your veins work. Read more

This delicious and healthy roasted tomato soup with fresh basil is best served with a green salad and a slice or two of toasted, multi-grain bread.

The quantities listed in the ingredients section are meant to produce 4 large servings. Read more

On June 10th, 2007, the New York Times published a story about a high school track star who died after overusing an over-the-counter cream that is commonly used to treat sore muscles and joints. The official cause of death was determined by a New York City medical examiner after a two-month investigation.

The athlete died after her body absorbed toxic levels of methyl salicylate, a compound that is found in sports creams like Icy Hot and Bengay. Read more

This light and tangy rice dish is perfect for a satisfying summer meal. Try it with a side of sliced avocados or a tossed green salad with a balsamic vinaigrette dressing. The quantities listed in the ingredients section are meant to produce about four main dishes or six to eight smaller side dishes. Read more