Dr. Ben Kim's blog

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

Ingredients:

1 large ripe avocado
1 cucumber, peeled and cut into chunks
2 tablespoons of cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon of lemon juice
2 teaspoons of dried dill
Sea salt, to taste

Directions:

Blend all ingredients in a strong blender until smooth. Enjoy this refreshing and healthy dressing on fresh salads, steamed vegetables, and whole grains.

Keeps well in an airtight bottle or container for a few days. Read more

The following is an excerpt on marriage from Letters to My Son: A Father's Wisdom on Manhood, Life, and Love , by Kent Nerburn. Many thanks to Mr. Nerburn for graciously encouraging us to share his thoughts with our guests.

*** Read more

Ingredients: 

2 large acorn or 1 butternut squash
1 large spanish or any yellow onion, roughly chopped
1 clove of garlic, finely chopped
3 cups of vegetable broth
Sea salt, to taste (optional)

Directions:

Cut squash into halves and place skin side down in a casserole dish. Cover with foil and bake at 375 degrees Farenheit, or until tender. After it cools enough for you to handle, scoop out the flesh.

In a fair sized pot, boil onions and garlic in vegetable broth until tender. Add the cooked squash and sea salt. Blend all ingredients with a hand held blender or in a conventional blender if you like a smooth, creamy soup.

Serves four. Read more