Relish Health Gift Guide 2023

It’s that time of year again when we think about how to show our love to family, friends and community. Gifts don’t necessarily come wrapped in a little box to make a big difference. Consider some of these options:

The Gift of Time

Some of the most meaningful gifts are gifts of time.

• We can volunteer. Being deliberate about calling or visiting our elders, cooking for people with stressful circumstances, pitching in to clean a park, serving meals at a shelter are just a few examples. Volunteering is good for your community and good for your soul and health. 

• We can spend time with someone we love. Time with friends and family is precious. It is not only enjoyable, but also contributes to better health. Finding time to enjoy the simple pleasures of the season with loved ones can help us feel more connected. My family loves to wander the local Christmas market, drive the neighborhood to view holiday lights and spend afternoons baking together.

• We can make something for someone we love. Imagine how much your dear friend would love 2 quarts of soup or a soup assortment! Or a box of dark chocolate bark, a bag of homemade granola, delicious spiced biscotti or salted date caramel turtles all dolled up in a box with ribbon. A work of art, a lovingly knit cowl, or a hand-sewn sachet filled with lavender and rose petals fall into this category, too. 

The Gift of Health

The New Year is a perfect time to renew focus on health. Consider giving devices or experiences that can gently help your loved ones reclaim healthy habits.

• Wearable fitness devices are revolutionizing the way we monitor our health. I continue to marvel at the technology that is available for home use. If you or your loved one are driven by data, these devices can help you monitor and optimize your health trends. These are some of my top picks:

  • Created by neuroscientists and physicians, the Apollo wearable device delivers gentle, soothing vibrations, called Apollo Vibes™, that are like music your body can feel – higher vibrations improve your energy and focus, while lower vibrations reduce stress, help you relax and fall asleep.

  • The Oura Ring can be worn both day and night to capture activity, movement and sleep data. This data is used to calculate scores for “Readiness, Sleep, and Activity” giving you an accurate read on your overall health. The Oura Ring only uses Bluetooth during data downloads and can be safely used on a regular basis for those that are concerned about EMF exposure.

  • The Apple Watch has the capacity to monitor blood oxygen levels, electrocardiogram (ECG) and can provide notification for high and low heart rates or irregular heart rhythms. I personally use an Apple watch to monitor my steps, sleep pattern and daily heart rate variability (HVR).

• Comprehensive lab and lifestyle assessment At Relish Health I have many tools to provide detailed evaluations of one’s nutritional status, hormone balance and stress levels to help make a personalized plan for optimal wellness. Learn more about available tests here.

The Gift of Wisdom

As a bookophile I believe books are always a great gift. These are a few books on my recently enjoyed list and wish list.

• Creative Acts for Curious People “A delightful, compelling book that offers a dazzling array of practical, thoughtful exercises designed to spark creativity, help solve problems, foster connection, and make our lives better.”—Gretchen Rubin, New York Times bestselling author and host of the Happier podcast

• The Art of Fermentation "The bible for the D.I.Y set: detailed instructions for how to make your own sauerkraut, beer, yogurt and pretty much everything involving microorganisms."--The New York Times

• The Body Keeps the Score “Essential reading for anyone interested in understanding and treating traumatic stress and the scope of its impact on society.” —Alexander McFarlane, Director of the Centre for Traumatic Stress Studies

A GIFT For you… a jump start on a new you in the new year:

ProLon is a fasting mimicking diet system that gives you all the benefits of a 5-day fast while enjoying food. Increased focus, fat focused weight loss, enhanced cellular renewal and improved metabolic health are well documented benefits. (Learn more about the fast here.) Prolon kits can be purchased through Fullscripts or pick up at the Relish Health office.

Some gifts never go out of style. Check out the gift guides from
2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022

(This blog post is not sponsored by any manufacturer. However, at no cost to you, Relish Health may receive a commission on purchases made through an Amazon link.)

Relish Health Gift Guide 2021

It is that season! I’ve pulled together some of my favorite health-enhancing gift ideas, and hope this guide gives inspiration, relieves shopping frenzy, and enables you and your loved ones to savor the season.

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Books I enjoy:

The pandemic gave me extra time to read this past year and it also gave authors extra space to be creative. There are many new, great books on the market this year. Here are a few I enjoy:

For the gluten and dairy free baker in your life

This is an encouraging reminder how the “everyday” can be sacred and celebrated

Beautiful recipes to nourish your brain

Tips for women wanting to follow a low carb lifestyle

AMAZING resource for anyone wanting to understand and improve hormone balance

Fun musings from an episcopal minister about food, faith and the art of a proper dinner party

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Green Kitchen Gadgets:

For the nespresso lovers in your life

For the nespresso lovers in your life

Freeze your soup or stock in perfect portions

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Gifts for better mood:

Everyone with a brain should know how to properly feed it

Research suggests that “Dawn Simulators” significantly reduce the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder

Full spectrum light to chase away the winter blues (Learn more about treating Seasonal Affective Disorder)

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Some gifts never go out of style.
Check out the gift guides from 2018, 2019, and 2020.

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(This blog post is not sponsored by any manufacturer. However, at no cost to you, Relish Health may receive a commission on purchases made through an Amazon link.)

Relish Health Gift Guide 2020

It’s that time of year again when we think about how to show our love to family, friends and community. What shall we give after this very challenging year? Gifts don’t necessarily come wrapped in a little box to make a big difference. Consider some of these options:

The Gift of Time

Some of the most meaningful gifts are gifts of time.

• We can volunteer. Being deliberate about calling (or visiting if appropriate) elders, cooking for people with stressful circumstances, reading virtually to elders or children, pitching in to clean a park, serving meals at a shelter are just a few examples. My family will be collecting supplies for Outreach, a local organization that supports homeless youth. Volunteering is good for your community and good for your soul and health. 

• We can spend time with someone we love. The pandemic has changed how we socialize leaving many people feeling lonely. Spending time with friends and family is not only enjoyable, but also contributes to better health. Be creative with ways to safely interact. Consider a virtual board game or music recital together. Consider reading a play aloud on Zoom after assigning parts. Or make a kitchen date with people in your COVID circle. Make 3 pots of soup and split the proceeds to stock your freezer. There’s nothing like laughter to season the soup to perfection. This Morrocan lentil soup is a family favorite.

• We can make something for someone we love. Imagine how much your dear friend would love 2 quarts of soup or a soup assortment! Or a box of dark chocolate bark, a bag of homemade granola or salted date caramel turtles all dolled up in a box with ribbon. A work of art, a lovingly knit cowl, or a hand-sewn sachet filled with lavender and rose petals fall into this category, too. 

The Gift of Health

The New Year is a perfect time to renew focus on health. 2020 has taken a toll on physical and mental health for many people. Consider giving devices or experiences that can gently help your loved ones reclaim healthy habits.

• Wearable fitness devices are revolutionizing the way we monitor our health. I continue to marvel at the technology that is available for home use. If you or your loved one are driven by data, these devices can help you monitor and optimize your health trends. These are some of my top picks:

  • The Oura Ring can be worn both day and night to capture activity, movement and sleep data. This data is used to calculate scores for “Readiness, Sleep, and Activity” giving you an accurate read on your overall health. The Oura Ring only uses Bluetooth during data downloads and can be safely used on a regular basis for those that are concerned about EMF exposure.

  • The Apple Watch has the capacity to monitor blood oxygen levels, electrocardiogram (ECG) and can provide notification for high and low heart rates or irregular heart rhythms. I personally use an Apple watch to monitor my steps, sleep pattern and daily heart rate variability (HVR).

• Comprehensive lab and lifestyle assessment At Relish Health I have many tools to provide detailed evaluations of one’s nutritional status, hormone balance and stress levels to help make a personalized plan for optimal wellness. Learn more about available tests here.

The Gift of Wisdom

As a bookophile I believe books are always a great gift. These are a few books on my recently enjoyed list and wish list.

• The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron. I’ve taken Enneagram questionnaires in the past but this year felt like a good time for more self discovery and reflection. The Enneagram is an ancient personality typing system with an uncanny accuracy in describing how human beings are wired, both positively and negatively. The book allows you to learn more about yourself, but also start to see the world through other people's eyes, understanding how and why people think, feel, and act the way they do.

• The End of Alzheimer's Program: The First Protocol to Enhance Cognition and Reverse Decline at Any Age by Dale Bredesen. Memory loss and brain fog are not a part of normal aging. This book gives hope to the millions of people who may be suffering from cognitive changes. As a certified Bredesen Protocol provider, I can help you or your loved one implement this life changing program.

• Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle by Emily Nagoski. This may be a gift for yourself. 2020 has left many of us feeling burnout as a results of the challenges of the year. This book offers solutions to complete the biological stress cycle—and return your body to a state of relaxation.

• The Longevity Kitchen: Satisfying, Big-Flavor Recipes Featuring the Top 16 Age-Busting Power Foods by Rebecca Katz. Start the new year with more inspiration in the kitchen. Rebecca Katz is a fellow graduate of my culinary alma mater, The Natural Gourmet Institute. Her books provide inspiration and well researched, science-based, nutritional advice.

Some gifts never go out of style. Check out the gift guides from
2018 and 2019.

(This blog post is not sponsored by any manufacturer. However, at no cost to you, Relish Health may receive a commission on purchases made through an Amazon link.)

Who will you be after COVID-19?

The world looks very different today than it did two months ago.  It is safe to say that we will never return to many habits of the past. Our social interactions will be different for the foreseeable future. Our economy has changed, and for many of us, the work that we use to define ourselves looks very different in practice. 

The Name by Jason Dorsey

The silver lining in this economic and social disruption is that we have the time and opportunity to ask some very intimate and probing questions of ourselves. In all the upheaval, we can reinvent and redefine ourselves. In my practice of medicine, I have come to believe that our biography becomes our biology. Indeed, own stories and life experiences have such a profound impact on us that the science of our bodies are forever changed. The sum of our experiences, good and bad, our changing purpose and meaning in life, and the pursuits we follow can all influence our health as much as the medication we may take. When patients understand the effects of their life on their health, it is only then that lifestyle modifications can begin to assist in healing.

Several years ago, I had my own epiphany of self. I was unhealthy in body and spirit. I didn’t feel well and was burnt out in the traditional practice of medicine. I ultimately made radical decisions to change my lifestyle and transition my career to functional medicine. I left behind a secure practice in conventional medicine to attend culinary school, pursue training in functional medicine and start an independent medical practice that treats people holistically. This helped heal me physically and emotionally. Part of my evolution was to recognize the role and purpose that I have in this world. I have a unique and particular impact to my health, family, community, work and environment. You, too, have a unique and particular role to play in this world. Identifying my purpose was transformative in my health and my career and I know it can be transformative in others as well. 

Making this drastic change in life did not come easy. We humans are spiritual, philosophical and social beings. We are not meant to figure out life on our own nor to go it alone. It is helpful to have wise counsel to help us determine our path. I found wise counsel to determine my purpose by working with two amazing coaches. Jason Dorsey, a Presbyterian pastor, has written a book entitled “The Name” which leads individuals through a process of mapping their core identity and setting goals for each sphere of their life including personal, family, work, community and place. Marcia Newman is a gifted life coach that listens and is an excellent teacher and sounding board as one works out their purpose and goals in concrete details. They can help you too. 

In this unique pandemic time, I invite you to ask the hard questions. What is your purpose? Why are you here? Do you want to continue life as it is? How can you transition to a different lifestyle or career to better embrace your purpose? 

Note that this is not a sponsored post, nor do I receive anything from this endorsement. There are many talented coaches that can speak into your biggest life decisions, and I suggest everyone explore a coach that works for them. However, I do recommend Jason Dorsey and/or Marcia Newman because they are talented, good and decent people that want you to live into your purpose to find joy, contentment and fulfillment. I, too, want this for my patients because it is good for your soul and ultimately, your health. 

Jason Dorsey’s Book “The Name”

Jason Dorsey’s Counseling Service

Marcia Newman and Associates Life Coaching Services

Curious how your biography is affecting your biology? Schedule an appointment with Relish Health to address your health.

Boost Your Immunity with Functional Medicine

Relish Health Gift Guide 2019

Happy Holidays from our home to yours! The season of gift-giving is officially here, and few things are sweeter to me than finding the perfect gifts for loved ones - gifts that make them feel known and loved. I’ve pulled together some of my favorite health-enhancing gift ideas, and hope this guide gives inspiration, relieves shopping frenzy, and enables you and your loved ones to savor the season.

For the environmentalist:

In our family we love to give experiences. Museum memberships, annual zoo passes or my personal favorite: the annual pass to the National Park System. These passes help make memories while fostering health promoting love and connection to each other and nature.

If you are looking for something to wrap and put under the tree, consider reusable, non-toxic food storage. All of these options are perfect for a picnic at the museum or park!

For the foodie and chef in your life:

ruffage was named a Best Cookbook for Spring 2019 by The New York Times and Bon Appetit. It is a how-to cook book detailing how to cook 29 types of vegetables. Relish Health is all about promoting more veggies on the plate! “Author Abra Berens—chef, farmer, Midwesterner—shares a collection of techniques that result in new flavors, textures, and ways to enjoy all the vegetables you want to eat. From confit to caramelized and everything in between—braised, blistered, roasted and raw—the cooking methods covered here make this cookbook a go-to reference. You will never look at vegetables the same way again.”

For the health conscious reader:

Sara Gottfried, MD is a multiple New York Times bestselling author and Harvard-MIT educated women’s health expert. Her latest book, Brain Body Diet, explains the latest science on how to reconnect the brain and the body. She lays out practical strategies to address mood changes, weight loss and hormone balance. An excellent read!

For the fitness enthusiast or someone looking for more calm in their life:

Monitoring heart rate variability with a fitness tracker provides insights into managing mood and planning an optimal workout.

For your kind neighbors:

Heartfelt, homemade gifts are always in style. These granola recipes are simple and full of heart healthy goodness.

The Ultimate Nut Lovers Granola

Chocolate Strawberry Granola

For you… a jump start on a new you in the new year:

ProLon is a fasting mimicking diet system that gives you all the benefits of a 5-day fast while enjoying food. Increased focus, fat focused weight loss, enhanced cellular renewal and improved metabolic health are well documented benefits. Use PROLON20 for a 20% discount through https://relishhealthmd.gethealthy.store or pick up at the Relish Health office.

Some gifts never go out of style. Check out the gift guide from 2018.

(This blog post is not sponsored by any manufacturer. However, at no cost to you, Relish Health may receive a commission on purchases made through an Amazon link.)

Relish Health Gift Guide 2018

Happy Holidays from our home to yours! The season of gift-giving is officially here, and few things are sweeter to me than finding the perfect gifts for loved ones - gifts that make them feel known and loved. I’ve pulled together some of my favorite health-enhancing gift ideas, and hope this guide gives inspiration, relieves shopping frenzy, and enables you and your loved ones to savor the season.

For the Baker:

This gorgeous cookbook from the owners of Sweet Laurel Bakery is a winner. The desserts are equally beautiful and delicious. And since they are also grain-free, dairy-free and refined sugar-free, these recipes satisfy every sweet tooth, regardless of food sensitivities. The chocolate cake is amazing!

For the Chef:

Bold and adventurous flavor combinations are Ottolenghi’s specialty. His plant-forward cookbooks inspire restaurant chefs and home cooks alike. This book would be a welcome addition to any cook’s library.

For the Foodie:

Whether you are looking for a culinary high note for your own holiday table or a gift for your healthy foodie friend, pomegranate molasses is a great choice. This Middle Eastern staple has a unique flavor that is both tart and sweet. For a pop of culinary brightness, it can be added to salad dressing or drizzled on desserts or roasted veggies (think cauliflower or eggplant).

For the Coffee Connoisseur:

For the health-conscious coffee connoisseur, consider introducing them to mushroom coffee. Mushrooms’ earthy flavor complements roasted coffee beans, providing a smooth flavor and antioxidants. It’s an excellent way to fortify your morning boost! The hot chocolate flavor is delicious.

For the Tech Lovers and Night Owls:

Research shows that blue light exposure before bedtime can compromise sleep quality. Putting devices away 2-3 hours before bed is hard for many to swallow. Luckily there is an alternative. A study showed that volunteers who wore blue light-blocking glasses for the three hours before bedtime reported better sleep quality and mood than those who didn’t. Great stocking stuffer!

For the Spa Lover:

Dry skin brushing has a number of health benefits and is simple to do. Creating a ritual of regularly brushing your skin is a great way to exfoliate, stimulate your lymphatic system, and support a natural (and beautifying) detox.

For the Host and Hostess:

Stock up for party season! Nearly every host loves to receive a beautiful bottle of wine. Dry Farm Wines curates wines that are natural, organically-grown, free of chemicals and additives, sugar-free, low in sulfites, mold-free, and sustainably grown. Every curated wine is lab tested by an independent certified enologist so you can be assured you are getting a clean and delicious product.

Click here to claim a bottle for a penny.

(This blog post is not sponsored by any manufacturer. However, at no cost to you, Relish Health may receive a commission on purchases made through an Amazon link.)