Holiday gifts that keep the heart in mind
For gifts that keep on giving, consider presents that encourage healthy eating and exercise.
- Reviewed by Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
Need some holiday gift ideas for loved ones and friends — or maybe even yourself? Here are some suggestions from two Harvard experts that may help inspire heart-friendly habits.
Kitchen tools and gadgets
Eating home-cooked meals made with fresh ingredients is a good way to make sure your diet benefits your heart and overall health. Gadgets that make food prep easier, quicker, and safer can help, says Kate Mitchell, a dietitian at the Lipid and Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Clinic at Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "The No. 1 tool I recommend is a food chopper, which you can use to dice onions and many other vegetables and fruits," she says. They often come with adjustable blades for different cutting styles, such as a very small dice or thin slices.
A high-quality chef's knife is an essential tool for home cooks. For an extra-thoughtful gift, pair it with a knife sharpener and a cut-resistant metal glove, says Mitchell. Made of flexible stainless steel mesh, this kind of glove protects your hand from nicks and cuts. Another small but handy gift is a set of silicone freezer food molds, which makes it easy to store single servings of soups and stews.
Food-related gifts
Having fresh produce readily available is another great way to support healthy eating. You can provide a friend with a one-time box of fresh fruit or send a "fruit of the month" for up to a full year from various online sources, if you're feeling generous. A sampler of spices and salt-free herb blends could be good for someone with high blood pressure who's trying to eat less salt. A basket filled with Mediterranean-inspired treats is yet another option (see "A Mediterranean gift basket").
A Mediterranean gift basketLong recognized as a heart-healthy style of eating, Mediterranean cuisine features many tasty, nonperishable foods that would work well in a gift basket, such as
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Gifts to encourage fitness
With New Year's just around the corner, gifts that help people keep their resolutions to get in shape may be especially appreciated. Because strength-based exercises can improve cardiovascular health, consider home workout equipment, such as a set of dumbbells or various types of stretchy, elastic bands (called resistance bands). Shawn Pedicini, a physical therapist with Harvard-affiliated Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, recommends elastic straps you can attach to a door frame to perform Pilates-based exercises, which are especially good for strengthening your core muscles.
Does the person you're shopping for have a favorite activity or sport? He or she might welcome related gadgets, gear, or clothing — think cycling gloves, swim goggles, or a yoga mat. Pedicini also has suggestions for people who enjoy two popular sports, pickleball and golf. "Pickleball requires direction-changing movements, and an agility ladder can help them practice those skills," he says (see photo below). Exercising with a medicine ball — a grippable, heavy ball — can help improve a golfer's driving distance. Pedicini recommends a 4- to 8-pound padded ball, which can be lifted as a weight or thrown forcefully to the ground or against a wall to strengthen the upper body.
Image: © LoveLife/Getty Images
About the Author
Julie Corliss, Executive Editor, Harvard Heart Letter
About the Reviewer
Christopher P. Cannon, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Heart Letter; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing
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