2018 Holiday Gift Guide for the Health Conscious
Your 2018 holiday gift guide for the health conscious is here!
As I've gotten older, the thought of giving and receiving "stuff" just for the sake of someone getting a gift stresses me out. The impetus for starting JESSI+CO was to create a shop of gifts for you to become the best version of yourself, however you might define that. I believe that the best gifts are intentional. Bonus points if they're good for you and the environment.
On brand, the theme of this guide is health and the products on the list will be perfect for your health conscious friend or family member. It also features some local makers because I love supporting local and small businesses when possible.
Gifts Under $20
Price: $12
If you know someone looking to stop drinking coffee but loves the ritual of it, this could be a great substitute. This herbal coffee is made of roasted figs, chicory root, dandelion root, lemon peel, orange peel, ashwagandha, shatavari. There are all sorts of great benefits from these herbs, including strengthening your immune system and improving sleep. You can brew it your favorite way, pour over, French press, etc. caffeine free, you can drink it any time of the day. Made with certified organic, fair-trade, plant-based ingredients that are naturally free of caffeine, GMO, gluten, processed sugar, dairy, MSG, chemicals, pesticides, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
2. Sundays Mani/Pedi or Nail Polish
Price: $18 for bottle of nail polish; $25 mani; $45 pedi
Sundays' founder Amy Lin created a nail polish free of the 10 most common toxic chemicals found in typical nail polishes. This brand has 50 beautiful colors for all seasons available. Treat your girlfriend to a mani/pedi at one of their salons in NYC. For the homegirl who does her own nails, or is into bringing her own to the salon, you can buy the polishes directly from them and other stockists. Even their packaging is minimalist and beautiful.
3. Food: What the Heck Should I Eat? by Dr. Mark Hyman
Price: $19
This book changed my life. Dr. Hyman, a functional medicine doctor, breaks down every food group and explains what we've gotten wrong, debunks misconceptions and breaks down the science behind everything in a super accessible way. Rather than introduce a new diet to the already saturated diet market, he focuses on what foods we should be eating and avoiding and why. He also includes easy to follow recipes.
Price: $17 for a dozen
Dryer balls are a great economical and an environmentally friendly way to do laundry. They can be reused over and over! You can add your favorite essential oil to them to provide a clean, custom scent. Here are some other benefits as well:
- Hypoallergenic - Great for babies laundry or for sensitive skin
- Replace dryer sheets
- Chemical Free
- Save money
- Decrease drying time
Pair this gift with an essential oil so your giftee is ready to go! I suggest lavender, orange or lemon oils for a fresh clean scent (great starter kit of 6 oils).
5. Subscription to Studio fitness app
Price: $15 for 1-month subscription; $99 for a year subscription
Studio is a boutique fitness app that offers running and sculpting classes. This is for the friend who wants to start running but needs some motivation. As in, constant motivation in the form of live instructors and music pushing you via your headphones in your own gym.
If you know me, you know I hate and suck at running. I once got lost during a run with my high school squash team through the trails in our woods because I was so far behind and I couldn't see the girls or the trails. I also got most improved mile because I went from like 15 to 10 min. I hate running, always have. But somehow, this app miraculously gets me to stay on a treadmill running for 30 minutes. It even got me to stay on for 45 min straight once (😱). If you have an Apple Watch, you get to see yourself on the leaderboard too for even more motivation throughout the class.
Gift a month or two. If they love it, they can sign up for a year for $99 ($8.25/month!).
Gifts $20-$50
6. Luxury Botanical Perfume by Thorn & Bloom
Price: $35 for cutie 4 ml roll on
For the girl in your life who loves wearing scents, check out Thorn & Bloom for beautiful fragrances made with natural aromatics. Their fragrances are comprised of 100% botanical aromatics, such as Essential Oils, Absolutes, CO2 Extracts and Tinctures in a base of triple-filtered USDA Organic Grape Alcohol. They don't use synthetic aroma chemicals, preservatives or GMOs. Their scents are so lovely and not overbearing at all. Each small batch is blended by hand in Charlestown, MA by the founder and perfumer, Jennifer Botto.
7. 30 Minute Infrared Sauna Session
Price: ~$20-$45
Check out this blog post to learn more about what an infrared sauna is and its benefits. Highlights: super relaxing, detoxifying, and great for your skin, improving circulation, and weight loss. The post also has links to my favorite places in Boston in NYC. The price for a 30 minute session varies by location and deal you get.
Price: $29.75
I just learned about the impact of microfibers that break out from our clothes when we wash them in the washing machine in this Critical Conversations podcast episode and my mind was blown. The GUPPYFRIEND™ Washing Bag is an amazing gift for the eco-conscious friend.
It protects clothes made of synthetic materials and reduces the amount of microfibers that may enter rivers and oceans from washing. After washing clothes in the GUPPYFRIEND, you remove the microfibers from the bag and throw them away in the trash.
Note: it's a German company that offers free shipping. If you want to avoid paying in Euros, you can buy one from patagonia, which offers free shipping for orders over $75 (and 2% cash back on Ebates - 10% right now as of 11/25/18!)
Gifts Over $50
9. Class Pack to Favorite Exercise Studio
Price: $100-$200
Does your giftee love a specific yoga, spin, boxing, pilates, barre, fill in the blank studio? These places aren't cheap, so they will appreciate this! Gift a class pack (there usually are 5 or 10 packs available for cheaper). Make sure your person doesn't already have an unlimited membership!
photo by @hollie.jade
10. Dr. Cabral's Functional Medicine Detox
Price: $99 for 7 days (cheaper if you get 14 or 21 day detoxes)
This functional medicine detox is a great way to end the year. This kind of detox is focused on detoxifying your liver and rebalancing the systems in your body that control inflammation, water retention, bloating, fat burning and metabolism.
7 days look something like:
I did a 14-day detox this summer and felt great afterwards. The rash I'd been having sporadically on my cheeks cleared up. While I also felt super lean, I didn't do it to lose weight. That said, many people who do it can lose 5-10 pounds in 7 days. Great way to just reset and rebalance your body.
Dr. Cabral recommends a seasonal functional medicine detox so you continue to empty your toxic load throughout the year as it builds up. I'm definitely doing another before the end of the year and welcome anyone to join me!