Don’t let holiday stress block your gifting pleasure. We’ve curated a holiday wellness gift guide for simple, joyful, and useful presents that will delight anyone on your list.
Dark chocolate delight
Indulging in this sweet treat is encouraged! In fact, sports cardiologist John Higgins, MD, recommends that his patients eat dark chocolate every morning – in moderation of course.
High in fiber, iron, potassium, and magnesium, the cocoa bean is packed with benefits.
“It also has serotonin in it, which is a ‘happy hormone,’” said Higgins, a professor with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. “When you’re happy, your blood pressure is lower, and you release other happy chemicals that are also heart-healthy.”
Just ensure you’re gifting chocolate that’s around 70% cocoa, meaning it has less sugar. The darker the chocolate, the better the benefits.
Spice it up
From kitchen connoisseurs to recipe rookies, sharing herbs and spices this season will bring fragrant flavor to your menu along with goodness for your gut.
“Spices are often overlooked for their nutritional properties, and it’s one of the most important things they offer,” said Gabriela Gardner, registered dietitian manager with UT Physicians Multispecialty – Bellaire Station.
From a beautiful jar of turmeric to a fresh oregano plant, these are the five spices with superpowers that Gardner uses weekly: cinnamon, cocoa powder, ginger, oregano, and turmeric.
Blood pressure monitor
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease and stroke are the two leading causes of death for Americans.
Tracking your blood pressure at home could catch a problem early.
“Home measurements provide a more accurate baseline for daily stressors,” said Tony N. Roshan, DO, a family medicine physician with UT Physicians – Texas Medical Center. “Regularly checking blood pressure at home could find trends over time that a single clinic visit might miss.”
This holiday season, make blood pressure a priority by purchasing an at-home blood pressure cuff for a loved one or yourself.
Roshan, an assistant professor at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, recommends a bicep cuff validated by the American Medical Association.
Children’s wellness gifts
When it comes to children’s toys, focus on quality over quantity.
“Don’t spend too much money,” said George V. Golod, MD, a family medicine physician with UT Physicians Multispecialty – Cinco Ranch. “Expensive toys and popular toys usually aren’t the most educational.”
Golod recommends buying toys that follow their developmental play milestones, like exploratory, interactive, imaginative, and peer play.
- Toys that improve imagination include dolls, cars, and cooking playsets.
- Toys that improve fine and gross motor skills include building blocks, sorting shapes, magnetic tiles, and puzzles.
- Toys for language development include board games and books.
- Toys that promote bonding include puppets, science kits, arts and crafts, and outdoor sports.
When purchasing gear for outdoor sports, always buy accompanying safety elements like helmets, pads, and other protective accessories.
“No matter what you get your child as a gift, ensure you play together,” said Golod. “They may not remember the toy, but they’ll remember the experience.”
Reusable water bottle
About two-thirds of the human body is water.
“It’s the base fluid in our body, and we need it for all our cellular functions,” explained Deepa A. Iyengar, MD, a family medicine physician with UT Physicians Family Medicine – Texas Medical Center and UT Physicians Family Practice – Bellaire Station.
Keeping that balance to maintain efficient body systems means lots of replenishing, says Iyengar, professor of family and community medicine and Stanley G. Schultz, MD, Endowed Professor in Global Health with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. Gifting a reusable water bottle can be a great idea for the body and the planet.
To calculate how much water you need, follow the hydration equation.
Satisfy this daily necessity with water on the go!
Pickleball gear
America’s newest favorite game also gets two thumbs up as the perfect way to stay active from Andrew Li-Yung Hing, MD, an orthopedic physician with UT Physicians Orthopedics – Pearland.
Pickleball offers a wide range of health benefits. The short sprints provide a cardio workout and osteoporosis prevention, while the hand-eye coordination stimulates the neurological system.
Win or lose, this social game will leave you or the person you’re buying it for smiling as a natural mood booster.
“When you participate in something you enjoy, you stimulate those endorphins that help relieve anxiety, stress, and depression,” said Li-Yung Hing, an associate professor of orthopedic surgery with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.
