By Karla Walsh
What do dietitians, doctors, trainers, and dermatologists want for Christmas? These wellness-related gifts that make healthy-living easier, tastier, and more fun. Read on for some wishlist inspo, then ask for these presents that keep giving all year long.
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An Instant Pot
“The principles of both my personal and professional life are built on making food, nutrition, and overall health as uncomplicated and enjoyable as possible, so I owe it to myself and my audience to test this baby out,” says Laura Burak, MS, RD, CDN, a registered dietitian and owner of Laura Burak Nutrition in Roslyn, New York. “As a busy mom, if I can find a few healthy one-pot meals to make with this tool that require minimal time and effort, then it’s one more gadget in my nutrition toolbox.” (Psst, we suggest these 13 surprising and healthy Instant Pot meals?) $79, amazon.com
(Photo: Amazon)
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Blue Light Glasses
Anthony Youn, MD, a plastic surgeon and the author of Playing God: The Evolution of a Modern Surgeon, is all about keeping his vision as close to 20/20 as possible. “I would love to get a pair of blue-light-blocking glasses. We are exposed to so much blue light from our phones and tablets, and studies show that it can affect our circadian rhythms, which can impair our sleep,” he says.
Turns out, excessive blue light exposure (six and a half hours or more each day) decreases the production of the sleep-inducing hormone melatonin for about twice as long as the same amount of green light exposure, according to research performed at Harvard University. Luckily, blue-light-blocking glasses can nearly eliminate the impact. He’s looking forward to using these Andwood Blue Light Blocking Glasses in the operating room to counter the overhead fluorescent lights. $14, amazon.com
(Photo: Amazon)
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Black Leggings
For everything from sweat sessions to errand runs to brunch, athleisure is always appreciated, according to Jackie Vick, a Gold’s Gym certified personal trainer in Riverdale Park, Maryland.
“I’m constantly purchasing new black leggings,” she says. “You can only wear them so many times before they start pilling and losing that sense of freshness.” You can also extend the length of time between laundry days if you have a handful of pairs to rotate through. $47, amazon.com
(Photo: Amazon)
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An Air Fryer
“Admittedly, I already have this, but I would recommend it to pretty much anyone,” says Jenna A. Werner, RD, creator of Happy Slim Healthy, noting that her air fryer was worth every penny. “It’s perfect if you love to try new things or if you’re short on time.” $70, amazon.com
(Photo: Amazon)
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Cookbooks
Bergen Wheeler, director of fitness innovation and talent and teacher at Exhale in New York City, is aiming to mix up her meals in the new year. “I’ve recently gone all plant-based, so I’m in search of cookbooks that help me stock my kitchen full of nutritious ingredients—and stock my brain full of recipes that I need for this new path of eating,” she says. (By the way, have you seen The Nutritious Guide to Cleansing?!) $18, amazon.com
(Photo: Shutterstock)
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An Antioxidant Serum
What does Nicole Magryta, RDN, an integrative nutritionist and the author of Nourish Your Tribe have her eyes on this year? A refill of her favorite magic potion.
“I’m a huge fan of face serums, and my favorite is Skinceuticals C E Ferulic,” she says. “I’ve used this antioxidant serum for years to protect against environmental damage, and it’s helped keep my skin firm and my complexion smooth. It’s the one product in my beauty regimen that has stayed constant for 16 years.”
While it might be a bit pricey, this serum is a dermatologist fave. Plus, the bottle lasts a good three months or so. $100, amazon.com
(Photo: Amazon)
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A Photofacial
“Mid-winter is the perfect time to receive a photofacial to erase age spots and summer sun damage,” explains Tsippora Shainhouse, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at SkinSafe Dermatology and Skin Care in Beverly Hills, California. “Intense pulsed light targets brown spots and helps them fade or completely resolve, evening out skin tone. Plus, there’s minimal downtime and results are noticeable in as early as five days.” Prices usually fall between $350 and $750. Contact your local spa for prices, gift cards, and availability.
(Photo: Shutterstock)
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An Air Purifier
Moving on from clear skin, Mary Stewart, RD, LD, owner of Cultivate Nutrition in Dallas, Texas is wishing for clearer air this year. “Research tells us that indoor air quality is up to five times—and in some cases, up to 100 times—more polluted than outdoor air,” she says. “Being exposed to indoor air pollutants like mold, bacteria, viruses, endotoxins, and VOCs certainly plays a role in our health.”
RELATED: How Breathing Incorrectly Affects Your Body in Major Ways
She’s particularly fond of the Molekule Air Mini. “It’s the first air purifier to safely destroy pollutants and not emit ozone or harmful byproducts” she says. $319, molekule.com
(Photo: Molekule)
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A Multipurpose Indoor Grill
Any day can be a great day for grilling when Rania Batayneh, MPH, owner of Essential Nutrition for You and author of The One One One Diet: The Simple 1:1:1 Formula for Fast and Sustained Weight Loss gets her wish. She’s asking for the Ninja Foodi 5-in-1 Indoor Grill with Air Fryer. “As a busy mom, preparing healthy meals is really important to me,” she says. “I can make healthier fries for my son and grill or bake delicious dinners all in the same small appliance. Grilled salmon and steak in the winter months? What a treat.”
From roasting and grilling to dehydrating and air frying, Batayneh appreciates the versatility of this tool. “It’s super-convenient and a timesaver,” she says. $200, amazon.com
(Photo: Amazon)
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A Clarisonic
Jeffrey Fromowitz, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Dermatology of Boca in Boca Raton, Florida is pining for a new Clarisonic facial-cleansing device. It’s not just for scrubbing off make-up—although it’s a star at that, too. “The Clarasonic is great for cleansing and preparing the skin for the application of anti-aging products and sunscreen,” he says. “It’s a gentle and effective way to maintain clean, acne-free skin.”
Add the gift set to your wishlist and you’ll score the brush, plus a daily radiance brush head, an awakening eye-massager, a foundation brush, and a wrinkle-fighting firming massage head. $269, amazon.com
(Photo: Amazon)
