Gift Guide!
Every holiday and birthday, my husband and I have a tradition of gifting each other a fun, new health-related “toy.” We LOVE trying out supplements, upgrading our home and personal products, and adding new biohacking tools to our regimen. I get that it might not be for everyone, but for us, investing in things that make us feel good and that we know add to our healthspan is exciting and fun. Besides, anyone could appreciate a luxurious new set of sheets or delicious clean wine, am I right?!
Below, are some of my favorite gifts – these are either things I have, have tried and love, or that have been on my wish list! However you celebrate and whatever you are into, I wish you all the best this holiday season and beyond!
Happy shopping and here’s to good health, joy, and love!
Supplements:
Colostrum is a powerful bioactive whole food that rebuilds your immune barriers, strengthens your microbiome, and empowers your body with the blueprint to revitalize health from the inside out. Every serving of ARMRA Colostrum delivers over 400+ functional nutrients like growth factors, peptides, antioxidants, and countless more, that support cellular regeneration for whole body benefits, like strengthened immunity, a reinforced gut, and fuller hair. Add it to your daily smoothie, bake with it, etc. It is extremely easy to incorporate into your routine!
Silver Fern Stress Complex – Use This Unique Link and Code ALWellness for 10% off!
Stress is something you HAVE to get on top of if you are trying to lose weight, feel better, and live a happier life. Managing stress comes easier to some than to others thanks to genetic and lifestyle factors. I myself have found that I benefit tremendously from stress-busting supplements and find that they are a game changer for many of my clients as well. I am obsessed with Silver Fern products. I use them a ton in my practice and I am LOVING their new Stress Complex. It is formulated using a combination of some of my absolute favorite ingredients proven to increase serotonin levels, regulate the HPA axis, and promote feelings of calm. The best part is that it comes in both caffeinated and non-caffeinated versions, depending on whether you want to take it for increased focus and productivity as well. Try it for yourself and see if you can notice a difference!
SNIP DNA Testing & Custom Supplements – Use Code Give50 for $50 off Your Testing!
I have been doing DNA testing for my clients (and for myself!) for a long time. Understanding how your body works in its default state is imperative to knowing how to approach and overcome health obstacles. We are not talking about what color hair you have or who your relatives might be. We are talking about how various systems are set up to function within the body. Things that affect, for example, your anxiety levels, your sleep quality, your propensity to gain weight with different foods, how well your body can handle toxins or inflammation, body shape, hormone balance and more. What is incredible about SNIP is that not only do they give you a huge report that goes into how all of these systems function and where you need extra support to feel your best, BUT they actually provide the solution by creating an all-in-one customized supplement made exactly for you to support your body in functioning at its best. I personally use SNIP and swear by it. I have been able to see a difference in my metabolism, immunity, digestion, and heart-health markers just by switching over to my customized monthly supplement.
Clean Living
I am officially a Branch Basics convert! I was nervous to try this nontoxic whole house cleaning system, but have been THRILLED with it! One bottle of cleaning concentrate replaces all of your toxic house cleaning products. And yes, I mean ALL. Kitchen, dish soap, hand soap, vegetable and fruit wash, laundry detergent, glass and granite spray, bathroom cleaner, floors, fabrics, you name it! It will even get rust out of pans and pasta sauce stains out! The plant- and mineral-based formula contains gentle, natural ingredients, including organic chamomile, sodium citrate, and sodium bicarbonate, and is free of fragrance, hormone disruptors, and asthmagens, while also baby and pet-safe.
Finally! A science-backed, clean skincare line that works amazingly well! I have tried about 9 or 10 different non-toxic skincare products and was always disappointed until I tried Young Goose. The products work by increasing your skin cells’ levels of NAD+, a molecule needed so your skin cells can effectively produce energy, repair DNA, and defend against free radicals and toxins. AKA every time you use these products, you are bio-hacking your skin to aid in anti-aging, and skin regeneration and repair from the inside out. These products clearly made a difference to my fine lines and wrinkles, smoothness, glow, and complexion in only a couple of weeks. It is not cheap, but if you are wanting to ditch toxic skincare like me and are looking for a clean alternative that actually works, the results of Young Goose make it well worth the splurge.
Ever since visiting a Himalayan salt cave, I have been interested in the healing and relaxing benefits of salt therapy. Natural salt is full of negative ions which have a host of health benefits. They calm the nervous system, which in turn, lowers blood pressure, promotes relaxation and sleep, normalizes breathing, and relieves tension and stress. Why do you think it always feels so good and relaxing when you spend a day at the beach?! Salt exposure has also been shown to help address skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. Salt lamps have also been shown to purify the air by attracting and absorbing water molecules and trapping the contaminants while releasing the water back into the air as they warm. These beautiful lamps are so pretty to have in your home and are helping you feel better too! Win-win!
Our world is so toxic. It’s enough that our bodies naturally produce toxins, but unfortunately, we are also now exposed to thousands of environmental toxins as well. From the air we breathe, to the products we use, to the food we eat – it is totally unavoidable. That is why I like to upgrade where I can. Green Pan made that simple for me. I was definitely one of those people who relied on my Teflon pans back in the day. Green Pan saved me when they came out with a PFAS-free version of non-stick cookware. If you aren’t familiar, PFAS are a group of manmade chemicals (there are thousands of them!) commonly used in a ton of different industries. These chemicals are highly toxic to the body and have been linked to things like hormonal imbalance, obesity, changes in development, impaired liver, kidney, and thyroid function, impaired immune response and other cellular changes. Scary stuff. Like I said, chemicals and toxins are unavoidable, which is why it’s so important to minimize exposure where you can. Green Pan makes it easy to do!
Cozy Earth Sheets, Bedding & Clothing
Speaking of harmful chemicals, they are often used in bedding materials too. I was originally attracted to Cozy Earth Sheets because I was reading reviews on how extremely soft and breathable they are, but the fact that they were made out of 100% natural bamboo sold me. I am obsessed with these luxurious-feeling sheets that also help to keep you cool as you sleep and highly recommend them as a gift to yourself or others! Cozy Earth also makes pjs, bathrobes, clothing, and other bedding textiles that I am sure you will love!
This one speaks for itself! LOL. But seriously, nothing will upgrade your kitchen and health routine like investing in the best blender out there. Just trust me on this one! Your smoothie, soup, puree, baking, and ease of meal-prep game will thank you!
Biotech
Higher Dose Infrared and Red Light Products
I have been using an infrared sauna for years now and am obsessed with it’s power to help you sweat out toxins, burn calories, reduce stress, boost mood, increase blood flow and circulation, improve heart health, and promote glowing skin. Yes, they are that awesome! I love Higher Dose because they came out with a sauna blanket which gives you all the benefits but is portable and much more cost-effective than a stand-alone sauna. They also make an awesome red light mask I have been wanting to try! If you are not familiar with red light therapy, it is just as powerful. For skin, it will reduce fine lines and wrinkles, boost collagen and elastin, reduce redness, and promote skin glow. Like I said, awesome products here!
Oura has been out for years and is one of the leading biohacking tools on the market because of its accuracy, features, and wearability. It’s advanced sensors track important biomarkers like blood oxygen, resting heart rate, heart rate variability, steps, and of course sleep. Why do you care? Because when interpreted correctly, these markers give you important information about things like your activity, recovery, sleep quality, stress levels, heart health, hormone cycles, and illness detection. If you believe information is power, like me, you will love the Oura ring!
This wearable continuous glucose monitor is such a cool device because it gives you incredible insights into your health and how different foods are affecting your body. Because it is a wearable, yes, it involves sticking on a device that uses a teeny, tiny, hair-like needle in your skin to continuously monitor your glucose. But I swear you cannot feel it and it does not hurt Why should you care about your glucose? Well, your metabolic health regulates your sleep, appetite, weight, and energy levels and also predicts your propensity to develop many chronic conditions like high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, dementia, and even some cancers. While metabolic health can be challenging to measure, the most straightforward way is by tracking your glucose levels. Levels provides real-time feedback on how your diet and lifestyle choices impact your metabolic health through biosensors called continuous glucose monitors (CGM’s). They’ve taken the world of blood glucose monitoring to an entirely new level with a simple system that allows you to fine-tune your fueling, dial in your diet, enhance your exercise, and much more by using intelligent analysis of your real-time blood sugar measurements so that you feel your best. If you know me, you know how obsessed I am with blood sugar control. It is the best way to keep your waistline, hunger, and cravings in check and to prevent chronic disease. Yes, please. I use Levels a few times a year just to check out how my diet and lifestyle is affecting my blood glucose so I can make better decisions for myself and my health. It is really easy and fun to use and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to get an edge up on their health.
I have been eyeing JOOVV for years. These medical grade devices deliver red light and near-infrared light, which is absorbed by your tissues, leading to enhanced cellular energy, healing, and regeneration. Better cellular performance means better mental acuity, circadian rhythm, performance and recovery, sleep, inflammation, blood flow, pain management, skin health, mood and more.
It’s no secret that the constant bombardment of blue light impacts our health – everything from our mood, to our sleep, to our metabolism. Ra Optics has a great selection of various forms of blue-blocking lenses for both daytime and nighttime wear depending on your goals. Wear them during the day to relax the focusing system, lift your mood, protect your eyes from screens. Wear them at night to enhance melatonin production, aid in better sleep, and relax your mind before bed. I wear mine every night when I watch TV or am looking at my phone and it makes such a difference in how fast I am able to fall asleep.
Eat, Drink, and Be Merry!
Dry Farm Wines Subscription – Use this link to get an extra free bottle for a penny when you sign up!
Dry Farm Wines are legit the only wines I will drink (ok, except for when I was in Santorini this past fall!) because I never feel hung-over from them the next day. All of the wines from Dry Farm Wines are not only tasty but are organically farmed without pesticides, herbicides, or other harmful chemicals that are found in most bottles of wine on the shelves today. A low-alcohol, lower-sulfite wine, Dry Farm Wines are also statistically sugar-free, making them paleo, keto, and low-carb friendly. I don’t drink a ton, but when I do, I want it to be something that tastes amazing, isn’t full of extra toxins for my body to deal with (the alcohol is toxin-enough) and that doesn’t make me feel like crap the next morning. As I get older, I find my liver just doesn’t work like it used to, folks! Ha. So Dry Farm really has saved the day!
Fresh Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil Subscription
Extra virgin olive oil has long been touted as the holy grail of health and longevity and for good reason! It’s particular polyphenols and other anti-oxidants have been shown to have significant brain, cardiovascular, energy, hormonal, and anti-aging benefits. Not to mention, pure extra virgin olive oil also tastes incredibly and will truly enhance whatever you are cooking or eating. The problem, however, is that most supermarket oils can sit on shelves for many months, growing stale, musty, and even rancid. Additionally, most extra virgin olive oils you will find at the store are not pure (yes even if they advertise as such), but are laced with harmful vegetable oils. I have been getting Fresh Pressed Olive Oil for years and it blew my mind the first time I tried it because it tastes so different than any oil I had tried before. Fresh Pressed Olive Oil is an olive oil delivery service that gets rushed to your door straight from award-winning artisanal farms at the peak of harvest-fresh flavor, and every oil is independently lab-certified to be 100 percent extra virgin olive oil. The result is an oil that not only delivers significant health benefits, but has a highly superior taste.
Thrive Market Subscription – Sign up at this link to get 40% off your first order!
What’s better than a box of upgraded treats, proteins, pantry staples and clean home products delivered to your door?! Love that Thrive offers tons of great brands I can’t find at my local store and all my favorite brands but at lower prices.
The purity, quality and science-backed formulations of these gorgeous teas take them to the next level. They have a variety of delicious flavors and teas to choose from, all with unique health benefits such as immune support, relaxation, radiant skin, digestion and more.
MUD\WTR – use this link to get $10 off your first subscription!
Oh MUD\WTR, what would I do without you?! I absolutely love this coffee alternative made with 100% organic ingredients and adaptogens like cacao, masala chai, lion’s mane, cordyceps, chaga, and reishi and spiced with a dash of cinnamon. It tastes like a hot chocolate-chai-latte and gives you energy, focus, and a ton of health benefits without the crash you would get from caffeine. Have it in place of your morning cup of coffee, or as an afternoon treat/pick-me-up like me!
Four Sigmatic Functional Mushroom Coffees, Elixers, & More
LOVE these products so much!!! Four Sigmatic reishi hot cacao is a nightly ritual for me. But I also have and use their coffees, teas, creamers and supplements daily. When I consume something, I try to choose something appropriate for how I want to feel. When I want that extra calm or focus, I always choose Four Sigmatic products. They taste amazing and I know they are doing amazing things for my brain power, my stress levels, and my overall immunity, nervous system, and health. It’s a no-brainer to add in the power of adaptogens to your daily routine and Four Sigmatic makes it so easy to do.
Kava is an awesome replacement for alcohol for those looking to cut back. Many of my clients switch over to Kava and I also drink it a lot. It allows you to relax and be social when you aren’t in the mood for the extra calories and toxins that alcohol provides. Kava is a natural drink prepared from the roots of a plant native to the islands of the South Pacific and promotes feelings of relaxation, connection and focus. TRU KAVA’s patented form of traditional kava also helps you cope with things like anxiety, stress, and poor sleep quality. I like TRU KAVA because they are committed to high quality and safety standards, so it contains no pesticides or industrial chemicals, and each batch is independently lab-tested. It comes in delicious sparkling drinks, flavored shots, and full-spectrum oils. And the best part is, unlike alcohol, kava is wholly non-addictive. Finally, a drink that makes you feel good but doesn’t bring your body down! Truly love this stuff.
Ready to Take Action?
Are you sick of waking up feeling exhausted, overweight, and uncomfortable in your own body? It’s time to realize YOU are the greatest factor when it comes to your health, how you feel, and how you look. Say goodbye to yo-yo dieting, food guilt, and confusion over what to eat FOR GOOD. Life is complicated…but your health doesn’t need to be. Take charge of your health journey today!