The Gifts We Need: 10 Doctor-Approved Picks for a Healthful New Year
If caring is sharing, immunity is community is 2020.
*Affiliate disclosure.
These days, it’s even harder to know what to give your loved ones at the holidays. Not only have our friends and family developed the pesky habit of warding off boredom and guaranteeing at least some socially distanced human contact by ordering all their little heart’s desires off the Internet, but with Covid-19 continuing to rage, it can be hard to know exactly what our friends want and need this holiday season.
That’s why we’ve tapped the best resource this holiday season: six medical experts, each of whom has shared what they’re giving their friends and family. Here are their top picks.
Dr. Dawn Desylvia
1. Peptides
Peptide therapy is a cutting-edge, science-based medical treatment where amino acids are used to promote the body’s natural healing processes. Dr. Dawn De Sylvia, M.D. calls peptides “some of the most powerful tools I’ve found lately that support our minds, hearts, bodies, and immune systems.” She recommends Semax and Selank for their support on focus, memory, anxiety and depression. Both come in the form of nasal sprays and are the perfect stocking stuffer in these trying times.“With brain fog, anxiety and depression at an all time high right now, we all could use something that we can feel helpful in real time when we need it most,” she says.
Buy Semax on Nootropicsource.com.
2. NAD
DeSylvia also recommends NAD, a co-enzyme of Niacin (B3) that is made in the body but, according to DeSylvia, not in nearly the quantities most of us need.
“NAD allows for transfer of energy from the food we eat to every cell in our body, especially our brains,” she says. “But as we age, our NAD levels decline, which can be a factor in many of our health issues, but also a huge factor in our cognition, memory and moods.”
Her favorite oral form of NAD is Nadovim, but she finds that a prescription for the nasal spray and injections of NAD are often needed to deliver the boost of energy and healing we desire.
Buy Nadovim on Amazon.com.
Dr. William Li
3. Fresh Organic Citrus
Remember in the 1994 version of Little Women when Amy (baby-faced Kirsten Dunst) got super excited about oranges as a Christmas gift? Well Dr. William Li, physician scientist and author of Eat to Beat Disease, is all about bringing that excitement back – and frankly, we can’t help but agree.
“Winter is citrus time, and the vitamin C and a natural bioactive called hesperidin can lower inflammation while building immunity,” explains Li. Whether its Cara Cara, mandarins, or clementines, this is a gift that juices up your health.
Try the organic mixed citrus from Frog Hollow Farms, or select your own local fruit and arrange in a beautiful wicker basket.
Buy Eat to Beat Disease on Amazon.com.
4. Dried Gourmet Mushrooms
For the foodie in your life, Li recommends a selection of dried mushrooms that can be used to make soups, stews, risottos, and more.
“Edible mushrooms contain a fiber called beta-glucan that helps gut health and boosts immunity,” Li explains.
With Mycological, you can choose a selection of organic dried mushrooms including porcini, cremini, and shiitake. Slip in a handwritten recipe – like our wild mushroom and black truffle risotto – and your giftee is sure to be over the moon.
Buy Mycological Mushrooms on Amazon.com.
Dr. Terry Wahls, M.D.
5. Cooking Lessons
If you’re looking for a fun, healthy gift this holiday season, why not try cooking classes? Dr. Terry Wahls, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in Iowa City, Author and Creator of The Wahls Protocol: A Radical New Way to Treat All Chronic Autoimmune Conditions Using Paleo Principles, recommends these lessons from The Holistic Chef as just one option to help your giftee up their skill level and get some new ideas for the kitchen.
“You can even create your own personal version of cooking lessons on Zoom and save on spending,” she says. “This way it’s more personal. Something like teaching your grandkids on Zoom how to cook a dish with rich history and tradition is a great way to further connect them to their heritage. Plus, you’ll both have fun while doing it.”
Buy The Wahls Protocol on Amazon.com.
6. Sauerkraut or Kimchi
Give the gift of a healthy gut microbiome with this idea from Dr. Wahls, who notes that both sauerkraut and kimchi “are terrific for resetting the microbiome.”
“There is also a study that found societies that ate more sauerkraut, kimchi, yogurt and kefir had lower rates of COVID related hospitalizations and death,” she adds. (For more about this study, check out our article on whether kimchi can reduce COVID mortality rates.)
You can either purchase a great brand like this Biona Organic Kimchi or make your own at home – for ideas, check out our top 10 fermented food recipes.
Buy Biona Organic Kimchi on Amazon.com.
Dr. Kien Vuu, M.D.
7. Liposomal Vitamin C
“The holidays are filled with feelings of joy and time spent with loved ones, but they also happen during flu season,” says Dr. Kien Vuu, Concierge Performance and Longevity M.D., Author of Thrive State: Your Blueprint for Optimal Health, Longevity, and Peak Performance. “This year in particular, it is crucial to promote immunity over the holidays.”
That’s why Vuu suggests stuffing stockings with Liposomal Vitamin C from LiVon Labs, which he says may be better absorbed than other vitamin C supplements.
“I simply love how each serving is individually packed, making them super easy to share and stuffed into any stocking.”
Buy Liposomal Vitamin C on Amazon.com.
Dr. Josh Axe, D.N.M.
8. Organic CBD Hemp Golden Chai Powder
To say this has been a stressful year is perhaps the understatement of all understatements. And for Dr. Josh Axe, D.N.M., C.N.S, founder of Ancient Nutrition and author of the upcoming book Ancient Remedies, Ancient Nutrition Hemp Golden Chai Powder is just the thing to help counteract some of its effects on your body. The powder support restful sleep and improved emotional wellbeing with a combination of 20mg of organic, full-spectrum CBD with cinnamon bark, turmeric root, black pepper, and ashwagandha. (For more about the healing powers of this adaptogen, look no further than our guide to the stress-busting benefits of ashwagandha.)
Buy Organic CBD Hemp Golden Chai Powder on Ancientnutritionpractitioner.com.
Dr. Elizabeth Trattner, A.P.
9. Gua Sha
For friends looking to perk up their skin, Gua Sha is a traditional Chinese treatment that can work wonders for reducing fine lines, stimulating blood circulation, and increasing production of collagen and elastin.
“It is very important to purchase your gua sha from a licensed doctor of Chinese medicine,” says Dr. Elizabeth Trattner, A.P., noting that the doctor selling you the stone can teach you the proper technique for using it. Trattner sells a gua sha on her site that is both ethically sourced and easy to use for a novice.
Buy Gua Sha at Elizabethtrattner.com.
10. Holi Trinity by Agent Nauter
Trattner also recommends the Holi Trinity, a three-step skin regimen containing water rich in pearl powder and pitaya to gently exfoliate as well as lavender and cucumber alleviate irritation. A potent blend of calcium and vitamin C supports cell regeneration and fights acne, while the oil fortifies skin with nutrients and antioxidants to rehydrate.
“I love this combination as it is so gentle,” says Yule, noting that even though we’re not ready to travel yet, the travel size pack is a great way to give the products a try.
“This set is on my list for everyone,” she says.
Buy Holi Trinity by Agent Nauter on Nordstrom.com.
Related on Organic Authority
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The 7 Best Stress Busting Gifts to Save Your Sanity
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