Healthy Gift Giving Ideas for Everyone on Your List

It’s that time of year again. And if you’re like me, you’re searching high and wide for the best gifts for your friends and family. Instead of reaching for yet another boring sweater or an uninspired box of chocolates, why not give them the gift of health this holiday season. To really show how much they mean to you, here are some healthy gift giving ideas for everyone on your list. Give a healthy cookbook Eating right can be a challenge. And with so much on the go, taking the time to plan and cook nutritious meals can fall by the wayside for many folks. If you know someone with takeoutitis (always eating take-out food), a healthy cookbook might motivate them to switch things up a little in the meals department. Put a de-stress kit together Who couldn’t use some stress relief, especially during the busy season? Even if you are not particularly “crafty,” you can still whip up a thoughtful de-stress package to show how much you care. There are tons of awesome things you can put in your de-stress kit, including essential oils, bath salts, relaxing music, super soft blanket, stress squeeze ball, colouring book, and eye mask. You could even offer no-cost items like a handmade gift certificate for a foot massage or a promissory note to “do one chore for you.” Set them up with a massage Speaking of great stress-relieving gift ideas, most of us love the idea of beating the holiday mayhem with a relaxing massage. A massage promotes relaxation, improves sleep, and boosts circulation—perfect for all those active people in your life. Give out a fitness class pass Getting your sweat on over the holidays is great way to burn off calories and meet new people at the same time. And for those who are wanting to get out of a rut at the gym, trying different fitness classes will help breathe new life into their exercise routine. Yoga class passes will also help de-stress while getting strong and flexible, and there are classes available or adaptable for those recovering from injury or managing pain. Give a tea gift basket Tea is a delicious, healthy gift for anyone on your holiday list. Green, white, black, and herbal teas are not only loaded with antioxidants, but also taste great. And because tea comes in so many flavours, your loved ones will have fun trying out all the options you can assemble in their tea basket. A supplement for healthy joints It’s a safe bet that you are looking for a gift for someone who happens to suffer from joint pain. After all, about 15% of Canadians aged 12 and older and 23% of U.S. adults suffer from arthritis, just one of many causes of joint pain. Even without a diagnosis, recovery from joint injury, poor posture, repetitive movements, and chronic inflammatory issues up the chances that a good supplement to relieve joint pain will be a welcomed gift. SierraSil comes in capsules or powder form for internal use and spray for topical use, so pop this into their stocking or tie a bow around it for an easy and healthy gift. And, don’t forget man’s best friend. SierraSil also offers soft chew dog treats! Dr. Melissa Carr is a registered Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine with 15 years of clinical practice and a B.Sc. in Kinesiology. In addition to using acupuncture, Chinese herbs, supplements, biopuncture, and nutrition to treat pain, digestive issues, stress, fatigue, hormonal imbalance, and more, Dr.Carr is also a natural health and nutrition consultant, lecturer, and writer. www.activetcm.com.