You’d probably be a bit confused if the best gift your true love could come up with was a partridge in a pear tree...followed by a daily display of turtle doves, calling birds and French hens. Whether for true love, family, friends or cohorts, virtually every religion and culture participates in gift giving to celebrate end-of-year holidays. But the tradition has clearly evolved over the years.
In ancient Rome gifts exchanged to celebrate the winter holidays were likely to be symbolic–evergreen twigs to signify long life, dried fruits for abundance, coins for prosperity, a lamp to guide you on your journey through life. In a different way, the symbolic can still outweigh the practical for gift-giving. And what better symbol than continuing good health?
GOOD HEALTH BASKET: In the days when fresh produce was rarer than it is today, our grandparents opened their Christmas stocking excitedly to find one fresh orange and a handful of walnuts and pecans. Children today might poke fun at such presents, but they are symbolic in a good way.
For an adult, consider a gift basket overflowing with fruits and nuts–apples, pears, bananas, pomegranates, papayas, dried peaches and apricots.
The DASH diet for control of blood pressure calls for five servings of fresh or dried fruit every day. That’s because most fruits have ample quantities of vitamins, minerals and other substances that keep the heart and cardiovascular system strong. Apricots and bananas are rich in potassium; apples are a good source of pectin and soluble fiber; pomegranates, according to some, are the ultimate heart-healthy food.
Nuts are equally nutritious–full of vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, selenium, zinc and B vitamins. Because of their relatively high fat content, nuts were once considered off-limits to dieters. Most of the fat in nuts is unsaturated, however; if replaced for saturated fats, rather than just added to the diet, nuts actually have a helpful effect on a person’s cholesterol profile.
Olive oil is another monounsaturated fat that offers health benefits when eaten as part of a heart-healthy, moderately low-fat diet. One study found that men consuming five teaspoons of olive oil daily showed a drop in blood pressure averaging three percent. Rich in complex flavors and nuances, olive oil is great in salad dressings or for dipping with fresh baked country style bread.
An eye- and palate-pleasing gift basket might also include two or three bottles of high-quality olive oil with some loaves of whole grain bread that you’ve baked yourself or picked up from your favorite bakery.
If you simply cannot resist the sweet tooth tradition, think about dried cherries or cranberries coated with dark chocolate. A small German study found that adults eating 30 calories a day of dark chocolate showed a two to three point drop in blood pressure. However, eating more than that amount, of course, you might expect a corresponding weight gain.
MEDITERRANEAN DREAMING: There are many health-oriented cookbooks available: The New American Heart Association Cookbook, and The AHA Meals in Minutes Cookbook. They are useful books, but, in the spirit of the holidays, they may seem a bit plain.
The Mediterranean diet, which has been gaining favor among health professionals, offers a lot more pleasure. The focus is on vegetables, fruits, olive oil, garlic, whole grains and, if you wish, a glass or two of wine.
Of numerous cookbooks oriented to the Mediterranean diet and lifestyle consider those of Marcella Hazan (Classic Italian Cook Book, Marcella’s Kitchen) or Patricia Wells (Trattoria, Patricia Wells at Home in Provence).
As Wells writes in the introduction to one chapter: “Give me vegetables, vegetables, and more vegetables. As a side dish, as the main course, as a solo player, as part of a symphony of wholesome gifts from the earth. Serve them hot, serve them cold, bathe them in olive oil and garlic, grill them, roast them, braise or saute them.” What better way to celebrate good health?
In our fast-paced world with little time for gourmet cooking, a counter top grill might also be a more welcomed gift. For a quick meal, grills are as easy to use as a fry pan, but they are designed to let the grease drain away while preserving the flavors of grilled food.
Or how about an attractive teapot with a selection of teas from around the world? Both black and green teas have been linked to reduce cholesterol and a lower risk of stomach, colon and breast cancer. The antioxidants in green tea are even more powerful than those in red wine. Catechins, the antioxidants in black tea, are associated with better functioning of blood vessels and a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke.
One Boston doctor found that his heart patients who drank four cups of black tea daily showed a 50 percent improvement in blood vessel functioning compared to patients drinking four cups of water.
RELAXATION: In our fast-paced world, relaxation is important. Consider giving your true love–or friend–a gift certificate for a massage. Or treat the person to a month of upgraded service at the health club, offering massage, whirlpool or sessions with a personal trainer.
EXERCISE: If your loved one likes to exercise, there are many health-oriented gifts to choose from:
• exercise clothes that will wipe away moisture and offer protection from the cold and wind;
• a heart rate monitor to help keep workouts at an appropriate intensity;
• exercise mats, dumb bells and a bench, a balance ball.
But what if your gift recipient does not exercise? What you consider encouragement may well come off as nagging–which is definitely not part of the holiday spirit. A better way to encourage exercise may be through companionship: a hiking or canoeing trip together or nine holes of golf every weekend.
For the same reason, a gift certificate to Weight Watchers might not be a welcome gift. Instead, consider a pedometer accompanied by The Step Diet Book by James O. Hill, John C. Peters and Bonnie T. Jortberg. It’s advertised as a way to “count steps, not calories, to lose weight and keep it off forever.”
FOR THE KIDS: Kids are easily pleased with gifts...well, sometimes. If you are trying to choose between video games, CDs, a soccer ball, skateboard or tennis racquet, the healthy choice should be obvious. There’s nothing wrong with music or video games, but why not give your children a gift that tells them to keep on being physically active? Obesity among children is on the upswing, and physical inactivity is one major reason.
As with adults, the best presents are often experiences, which create a bond between the person who gives and the one who receives the gift. More important than what the gift costs is what it says.
Written By: Kerri Musselman, Pharm.D.
