Wellness is the greatest gift anyone could ask for. While you can’t exactly give the men in your life good health, you can show them how much you care with eco-friendly gifts that promote a healthy and sustainable lifestyle.
The editorial team at Gaia Herbs has put together this list of carefully curated and affordable holiday gift ideas that include top-selling herbal extracts and health-oriented gifts that any man will love — even hard-to-please dads, husbands, partners, boyfriends, brothers, and sons.
Gifts for Good Nutrition
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“Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual,” by Michael Pollen
Nutrition is the cornerstone of good health and vitality. Our physical well-being is directly related to the food we consume. But with so many books about food, how can anyone be sure what makes a healthy diet? In this easy-to-read handbook, Michael Pollen cuts through the noise and provides a simple guide, with one food rule per page and an explanation of how that rule contributes to good nutrition.
According to one New York Times reviewer, “In the more than four decades that I have been reading and writing about the findings of nutritional science, I have come across nothing more intelligent, sensible, and simple to follow than the 64 principles outlined in a slender, easy-to-digest new book called “Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual.”
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Organic Produce Box Subscription
Give the gift of farm-fresh organic produce with a weekly delivery of local fruits and vegetables. Choose a subscription program from a national company with relationships with local farms across the country or go directly to a local farm in your area. There are even companies that specialize in imperfect (ugly) produce that is fresh and delicious but would otherwise go to waste.
Generally, you can select from different-sized boxes, and the gift recipient can customize what he receives from week to week. Some vendors even allow you to add on packaged organic snacks or other food, like meat and seafood. Once the subscription has been started, it can usually be put on hold if the recipient is out of town. To get started, this review provides a range of options for delivery services.
Gifts for Men’s Good Health
With the winter season upon us, building a strong immune system is the best defense against illness. Immune Shine™, an award-winning supplement from Gaia Herbs, combines maitake and Chaga mushrooms, elderberry, ginger, and astragalus to help support your wellness all year long.*
The fruiting bodies of the maitake and Chaga mushroom contain polysaccharides, specifically a type called beta-glucans, which have been studied to support immune health and overall wellness, as well as normal, healthy cell growth and turnover.* Maitake promotes cellular health for immune support and offers synergistic support for other mushrooms.* Chaga offers antioxidant support and is considered a tonic mushroom to support overall wellness.*
Elderberry is rich in polyphenols, which have antioxidant activity. Oxidative stress is often produced during an immune response. Having sufficient antioxidant storage in the body may help to maintain the health and integrity of tissues.
Numerous clinical trials have shown ginger to support a healthy inflammatory response and calm occasional nausea. Astragalus contains astragalosides (antioxidants), which support the integrity of the respiratory tract. In addition, the polysaccharides found in astragalus are known for their immune-supporting properties.
The supplement is a delicious powder that can be added to any beverage.
Mushrooms are quickly becoming a favored supplement amongst the health conscious for their potential to improve memory, focus, immune function, and energy.*For the man who can’t be bothered being sick this winter, Gaia Herbs offers a blend of five mushrooms — Reishi, Cordyceps, Turkey Tail, Shiitake, and Chaga — that are known for their health benefits.
All the mushrooms used in this proprietary mushroom extract are organically grown and sustainably sourced. The vegan capsules contain fruiting body extract from each of the five mushrooms, with no fillers or by-products.
Reishi mushrooms support cardiovascular health, a healthy stress response, healthy energy/stamina, overall wellness, and immune health.* Chaga, Shitake, and Turkey Tail mushrooms support immune health and overall wellness.*
Cordyceps is considered to be an immune modulator and adaptogen that promotes overall endocrine health, and it is used to support the liver and kidneys.* Cordyceps provides antioxidant support, and it also has been used to support normal, healthy male fertility.*
Immune Mushroom Blend comes in a 40-day supply of vegan capsules.
Gifts for Men’s Serenity
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Calming Tea and Temperature-Controlled Mug
A warm cup of Sleep and Relax Herbal Tea will prepare the body for a good night’s sleep.* Tuck a box of this calming blend of passionflower, lemon balm, and chamomile into a gift bag with a smart temperature-controlled mug that lets him regulate the temperature of the tea to his liking. Any gadget-loving man will love being able to set the temperature of his drink remotely through his phone and keep it warm as long as it takes to finish it. Drink capacity varies depending on the brand and model you purchase.
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Calm A.S.A.P.®
Consider a gift that promotes feelings of tranquility when occasional stress is unavoidable. What man wouldn’t welcome that?
Gaia Herbs’ award-winning Calm A.S.A.P® offers the calming effects of meditation when meditation isn’t an option. Featuring passionflower, chamomile, vervain, lavender, holy basil, skullcap, and oat, this harmonious mix is the supplement to have on hand during trying times. Thirty vegan capsules provide a 10-day supply of welcome serenity.*
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SleepThru®
Recent polls show that men experience lower sleep quality than women. If the man in your life tosses and turns all night, give him the gift of better sleep with SleepThru®.* This supplement includes Ashwagandha, Passionflower, and Jujube Date, a harmonizing blend of nervine and adaptogenic herbs for a healthy night of rest*. It is intended for occasional sleeplessness and has been reported by users to take the edge off so they can sleep well and wake up ready to face the day.*
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Ashwagandha Root
Revered for over 2,000 years for its ability to smooth out the body’s stress response cycle and help individuals cope with life’s challenges, Ashwagandha Root is an excellent supplement that provides beneficial effects on testosterone, fertility, stress, fitness, muscle mass, libido, weight management, and more.* It is a nervine, which supports the nervous system, and an adaptogen, which helps the body adapt to daily physical, mental, and emotional stress.*
Gifts For Grooming and Hygiene
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Carbon Fiber Comb
Every man with hair needs a good comb. But plastic combs are not sustainable. A carbon fiber composite comb is a unique and affordable gift that is lightweight for easy handling and naturally anti-static, which eliminates static shock and calms the frizz. It’s heat- and chemical-resistant, making it an ideal styling solution for use with hair dryers and hair products.
A carbon fiber comb also helps detangle wet and dry hair without pulling it out. Most brands offer styles for different hair thicknesses, beards, and mustaches. Buy one style or buy a whole set for face and head.
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Sharp Nail Clippers
When you think of men’s feet, socks are an obvious gift choice. But for the man who appreciates gadgets over clothing, move beyond the obvious and gift the perfect set of nail clippers. The best nail clippers maintain their sharpness, finishing the job in less time without crushing or cracking the nail. They are durable, medical-grade, have ergonomic handles, and are rust-free.
Some even come with a nail catcher feature so that the clippings don’t go flying all over the bathroom. You can buy different clippers for fingernails and toenails. Some clippers come with straight blades, while others have curved blades. Some models are designed especially for thick nails. You might even consider a full manicure set with scissors and nail files.
Gifts for the Active Man
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Portable Utensils for Picnics and Camping
From folding knives to full sets of cutlery, eco-friendly utensils are essential for anyone who loves to unwind in the great outdoors. A compact set of lightweight forks, knives, and spoons can be stored in the glove box of the car or tucked in a backpack or picnic basket for easy access. If you’re buying a gift for the solo backpacker or biker, a well-made, durable spork (essentially a spoon with short prongs) may fit the bill. Folding knives handle different outdoor functions, from gutting a fish to handling all camping tasks. Whether upgrading your father’s old camping equipment or giving your son his first folding knife, you’ll find new developments in portable utensils that make this the perfect gift.
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Straw Water Filter
A straw water filter is an excellent gift for any man who loves to trek off the beaten path. Straw water filters come in a range of shapes and sizes that differ in their capacity and the speed at which they filter water. Look for a straw that filters out contaminants, sediments, waterborne protozoans, and bacteria. It should meet the quality standards of the EPA. The most sustainable water filter straws filter up to 1,000 gallons of water, are easy to clean, and do not require batteries to function.
Since the beginning, Gaia Herbs has been guided by our values and our commitment to people, planet, and purpose. In putting together this gift guide, we focused on gifts that serve a purpose, promote a healthy lifestyle, and are certain to be used and enjoyed. We hope it helps you select the perfect gift for the men on your list this holiday season.