From the Desk of Dr. Karl R.O.S. Johnson, DC.....

 How Proper Hydration Supports the Body

Most people recognize that drinking water matters, but not everyone understands the key reasons it is so vital. Water is essential not only for basic survival, but also for many critical processes that keep your body functioning at its best. This blog post will walk you through the most important highlights and some of the often-overlooked nuances.

Proper hydration is essential for regulating body temperature, transporting nutrients, removing waste, lubricating joints, supporting digestion, and maintaining cognitive function and energy levels. Water helps the body dissipate heat through sweating and breathing, maintains stable blood volume and circulation so oxygen and nutrients can reach your tissues, and supports the lymphatic system in clearing metabolic byproducts. Adequate fluid intake also allows the kidneys and liver to filter and remove toxins more efficiently, helps maintain the smooth, cushioned movement of joints, and supports the production of saliva and digestive juices, enabling food to be broken down and absorbed properly. In the brain, proper hydration supports clear thinking, attention, memory, and a more stable mood, and it plays a central role in sustaining steady, usable energy throughout the day rather than short bursts followed by crashes.

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For years I have been drinking green tea based on all the researched health benefits. Recently, however, I learned that a diet high in oxalates can cause a myriad of health problems. Since black and green tea are considered to be high in oxalates, I decided to stop drinking these types of teas and instead increase my intake of rooibos tea. Truth be told, I've had Rooibos tea in my tea cupboard for years, but didn't really investigate how many health benefits it possesses. Perhaps you haven't heard of this herbal tea. Maybe it's time you checked it out too. It is very healthy, delicious and very low in oxalates. Now that's a winning combination! 

Basic Differences Between Rooibos Tea and Green Tea

Rooibos tea and green tea are both known for their numerous health benefits, but they have some key differences that make them unique. One of the main differences between the two teas is that rooibos is low in oxalates, while green tea contains high levels of oxalates. In this blog post, we will explore the health benefits of rooibos tea and green tea and discuss the importance of oxalates in relation to health.

Rooibos Tea

Rooibos, also known as red bush tea, is a well-known herbal tea, consumed for centuries by the Khoisan people of South Africa, has displayed potent anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, redox modulating, anti-diabetic, anti-cancer, cardiometabolic support and organoprotective potential. This popular herbal tea that originated in South Africa is made from the leaves of the Aspalathus linearis plant and has a unique, slightly sweet and nutty flavor. Interestingly, rooibos tea only grows in the mountainous Cederberg region of South Africa.

One attractive feature of rooibos tea is that it is naturally caffeine-free. This makes it a great alternative to traditional tea or coffee for those who are sensitive to caffeine or for those who want to avoid caffeine for other reasons. Caffeine can cause jitteriness, anxiety, and trouble sleeping, and can also lead to dehydration.

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Some healthy foods can cause harm to our bodies

I developed an interest in this topic after my spouse and several patients were plagued with stalled improvement of their health challenges. Why were they not responding and being helped with tried and true methods that worked for so many others? When a patient has less than optimal healing, and is a highly compliant patient, this drives me to search out and acquire the healing puzzle piece(s) that will help that person recover as fully as possible.  

A recent patient told me about her health being harmed by oxalates in food. Before this, I really didn't know this substance was a component of many so-called healthy foods, while also being a little known health risk. As is pretty typical, this piqued my interest and lo and behold more information on this topic streamed my way. Currently our household is on a trial period of reducing foods high in oxalates to see if some stubborn health challenges diminish. So far, I can tell you we are quite pleased with the results...even after 4 days on eating a lower oxalate diet.

When a patient has less than optimal healing, and is a highly compliant patient, this drives me to search out and acquire the healing puzzle piece(s) that will help that person recover as fully as possible.

Dr. Karl R.O.S. Johnson, DC, BCN, FIFHI

What are Oxalates?

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