Christmas is upon us, and many are busy attending get-togethers, children's programs, holiday baking, decorating, and trying to find last-minute gift ideas to fill an empty stocking. The title Giving the Gift of Health is wishful thinking because health, in general, isn't something that can be purchased or given; good health needs to be achieved. However, there are some gift ideas that one could think about that spark a person to lean towards a healthier lifestyle. If you read this article regularly, you will know that I write about this topic almost yearly, trying to encourage readers to go to better health.

The first ideas revolve around fitness and exercise. Workout equipment can be a great idea. You can think big when buying an exercise bike or a treadmill, but a gift can be as simple as dumbbells, a jump rope, or exercise bands.

Making exercise complicated or expensive can be a barrier to starting the process. Whether the gift is a big item or a small one, either one may be the thing that inspires a person to start exercising.

Membership in a health club is a great gift idea. Our community has many options to fit everyone's needs, from small facilities specializing in group fitness to extensive facilities with many amenities. A gift certificate to hire a personal trainer to help you exercise correctly and motivate you in a one-on-one setup might be an excellent gift for someone just starting. 

It is not unheard of to receive a bottle of vitamins in your stocking on Christmas morning in our house. Giving a multivitamin is the easiest thing you could do for someone who doesn't have an optimal diet. 

Most people in our country do not eat right, and a multivitamin can fill in the gaps in our deficient areas. You may not want to come out and say that you don't think they are eating right, but a better avenue would be that you are concerned about their health.

Keep in mind that taking a multivitamin doesn't replace the need for a good and healthy diet. Cooking can be challenging; for many, it doesn't come easy. Knowing how to start may be the biggest hurdle.  Fortunately, tons of videos can walk you through the necessary steps of cooking, beginning with cutting up food. Many of these videos are free, and some have subscriptions, which is a great gift idea as the gift of cooking is priceless.

Some simple food-related stocking stuffers can include health snacks like beef jerky, nuts and seeds, dark chocolate, granola, herbal teas, kitchen knives, or utensils from renewable sources such as bamboo.

Health trackers are an excellent option for a gift idea. If a person doesn't have a watch that keeps track of their health markers, fit bits, and health tracking rings are great options to get people to track their heart rate, blood oxygen, and sleep quality.  I've recently discussed continuous blood glucose monitors; this is another excellent gift idea.

Testing kits are another great gift option. I have stated in previous articles that "if you don't measure it, you can't improve it," with that in mind, here are four excellent testing ideas for family and friends that might influence them to make changes in the upcoming year.

Number one is an at-home Vitamin D test. The cost is $50 (on special for December only for $40), an excellent price point versus a treadmill. The test can be done in the comfort of your home and anytime; however, now is the best time of year because we have limited amounts of sunlight, and the sun's potency cannot make vitamin D in our bodies.

The second area of testing is a gut barrier test, which will show if you have a leaky gut. The test looks for IgG antibodies toward zonulin, occluding, lipopolysaccharides, and candida, which should be in the gut, not our blood. The test is another at-home finger stick test that can provide information regarding the integrity of your gut lining. I didn't have gut issues until I did the test. Cost for the test is $125.

If you think food may cause your health issues, you could add food sensitivity testing to the Gut Barrier Test for an additional fee. Food sensitivity testing looks for IgGs toward specific foods, which can then be eliminated from your diet in conjunction with a gut healing protocol in hopes that would decrease inflammation and improve your overall health.

Omega 3 fatty acid testing is the third option. We check the oil in our car and change it every 5000 miles; why not test the fat in our bodies? Testing involves a blood spot being mailed in, analyzed, and retailed for $75. Results include omega 3 status, omega 6 vs. omega 3 ratio, arachidonic acid vs. omega 3 ratio, and trans-fats. The second and third tests give you an idea if inflammation is an issue, if you are deficient or your ratio is out of balance, and if eating more fish or supplementing may be warranted.

The Omega 3 test is one of my favorites because it gives a great snapshot of what is happening in your body when looking at fatty acids. We need omega 3s and 6s in our diet, but we need them in a balanced ratio that doesn't set us up for inflammation. In keeping with the theme of giving the gift of health, I am giving my staff both the vitamin D and omega-3 tests for Christmas this year. I'll see if they let me share some of those results in a January article.

I hope this article gave you some ideas for your last-minute shopping. All these ideas are great Christmas presents and gifts and ideas that can be shared throughout the year.  Remember, climbing the mountain starts with a single step, and testing can be the first step.

The staff at Irsfeld Pharmacy wishes you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, and we look forward to serving you and the community in 2024.  Our mission statement is "To help our patients attain optimal wellness in an environment where we treat each person with kindness and respect." We do this by utilizing conventional medications, compounded preparations, and nutritional products, allowing us to design custom solutions and individualized protocols, ultimately empowering our patients to achieve their wellness goals.

If our mission statement aligns with your 2024 goals, call the pharmacy at 701-483-4858 or stop in to schedule a consultation. Please visit my website at www.irsfeldpharmacy.com to view this and other health-related articles in the blog section.

Until next time, be vigilant about your health!!