Blogs

Do you know anyone who suffers from chronic low back pain? As simple as it seems, many people with chronic low back pain can improve and even fully heal their backs by doing one simple thing: stretching their hamstrings.

I consider Krispin Sullivan to be the world's foremost expert on the relationship between vitamin D and human health. Many thanks to Krispin for taking the time to update and educate me on the latest in vitamin D research and what we can do to ensure appropriate levels for excellent health. You can read more about Krispin's work and upcoming book at her website. - Ben Kim, D.C. Read more

With greater awareness of the many health problems associated with pasteurized dairy products, many people are turning to vegetarian milk substitutes like soy milk and rice milk. I’m not a big fan of either. Here are some reasons why I don’t think soy or rice milk should be staples in your diet:

1. Many brands of soy and rice milk contain polyunsaturated vegetable oils which can contribute to an imbalance of essential fatty acids in your body. As harmless as this might sound, I am convinced that a chronic imbalance of essential fatty acids caused by regular consumption of polyunsaturated vegetable oils is a major cause of cardiovascular disease. Polyunsaturated fats that contribute to this harmful imbalance are found in safflower, corn, soybean, sunflower, and cottonseed oils. I recommend that you stay away from these oils completely. Read more about healthy vs. unhealthy fats here.

2. Some brands of soy and rice milk contain rice syrup, evaporated cane juice, or some other natural sweetener. Natural or not, most sweeteners put significant stress on your pancreas and liver. They also raise your insulin level, which significantly increases your risk of suffering from unhealthy weight gain, high blood pressure, heart disease, premature aging, and several other negative side effects.
3. While fermented forms of soy like miso, tempeh, and natto can be healthy choices for some people, non-fermented soy products can cause a variety of health problems if consumed in large quantities on a regular basis. I will discuss the details of when soy can be good and when it can be bad in a future newsletter.

Ready for some good news?

You can make a rich and creamy alternative to cow’s, soy, and rice milk with raw almonds and a good blender. Here is how we make it at our clinic:

All-Natural Almond Milk

1 ½ cups of raw almonds, soaked in water overnight
4 cups of filtered or spring water
3-5 dates (optional)

Blend 1 ½ cups of raw almonds that have been soaked overnight in 4 cups of water. Blend with dates if you like your milk with a hint of sweetness. Strain once to remove almond granules. The result is a delicious, creamy milk that is free of harmful vegetable oil, concentrated sweeteners, and the problems associated with cow’s milk and soy. It keeps for 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Read more

I know it seems almost silly to have a recipe for boiled eggs, but I have found that many people boil their eggs for too long, decreasing the quality of protein and fat that properly cooked and raw eggs provide.

Here's how to boil an egg to preserve as much of its health benefits as possible:

Place your eggs in a pot and add enough cold water to completely cover eggs. Allow this pot to sit on medium to medium-high heat until the water is just ready to boil. Read more

We recently had a guest stay with us for a 30-day water fast. This particular guest is an engineer with extensive experience in designing and inventing various machines like forklifts. Having a detective-like mindset and being highly trained to understand how things work, he asked numerous questions during his stay, his goal being to understand all of the variables that influence human health. Read more

While it is good to be aware of the negative health effects of obsessing over dietary purity, some foods don't deserve to be included in the philosophy of "everything in moderation." Want to know three foods that will destroy your health the quickest? Here they are:

1. Doughnuts

Doughnuts are moist paddies of sugar, trans fat, and white flour. The sugar and white flour will fill you up but provide little nutritional benefit. Trans fats are known to cause cancer and contribute to every chronic degenerative disease known to man. Finally, frying carbohydates causes acrylamide formation, known to contribute to cancer development. Read more

Ingredients: 

1 1/4 cups loosely packed fresh basil
1 clove garlic
3 tablespoons vegetable or chicken broth
1 tablespoon blanched slivered almonds
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons freshly grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
2 teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 pound skinned pacific wild salmon fillet, cut into 4 pieces
lemon wedges (optional)
basil sprigs (optional)

Directions: Read more

Ingredients: 

2 cups of raw pecans
1 and 1/2 cups of dates
Spring or filtered water

Directions:

Soak pecans and dates for 1-2 hours in water. Drain well and blend together in a food processor or strong blender until it turns into a coarse paste. Use your hands to form paste into bite-size balls. Enjoy these delicious treats right away, or save them in a container in the refrigerator for later. They keep well for up to three days in the refrigerator.

Save these date pecan balls for occasional treats, as dates are extremely concentrated in sugar and can contribute to health problems if eaten in large amounts. Read more

Here is a list of eight of the healthiest foods you can eat:

Leafy Greens
Romaine lettuce, red leaf and green leaf lettuce, spinach, kale, collards, Swiss chard, turnip greens, and bok choy provide an abundance of vitamins and minerals, particularly folate, vitamin B6, iron, calcium, magnesium, and zinc. Leafy greens are also high in several different antioxidants and chlorophyll, which help to lower the risk of cancer, heart disease, macular degeneration, and cataracts. Read more

Ingredients: 

1 pound (2-3 large handfuls) fresh green beans, washed, trimmed, and cut in half
1 medium onion, cut in half and then sliced into thin strips
1/3 cup water or Vegetable Broth
1 tablespoon naturally brewed soy sauce
1 tablespoon rice vinegar

Directions: Read more