Dr Ruscio’s Holiday Gift Guide
Written by 
Dr. Michael Ruscio, DC on
November 5, 2024
Looking for thoughtful, health-conscious gifts for your loved ones this holiday season? This year, why not skip the typical sweaters and scented candles and give something that truly supports the health journey of your loved ones? Whether they’re focused on gut health, building energy, or managing stress, this health-focused holiday gift guide has you covered.
These gifts are perfect for helping people feel better from the inside out—literally.
Hydration Helpers
LARQ Water Purifying Bottles
This high-tech water bottle doesn’t just hold water—it purifies it using UV-C light, so your friends or family can have clean, safe water wherever they are. This is perfect for anyone who’s on the go, loves hiking, or just wants to cut down on plastic waste. Plus, proper hydration supports digestive health by ensuring smoother digestion and promoting regular bowel movements, particularly beneficial for those more prone to constipation.
LMNT
We all know hydration is key, but it’s not just about drinking water. If your loved ones are sweating it out at the gym, hiking, or just living in a hot climate, they might need a little extra. LMNT makes staying hydrated easy and tasty by adding essential electrolytes without the junk (like sugar and artificial ingredients). Plus, proper hydration can help keep things moving—it’s great for digestion and preventing constipation.
For the (Gut Sensitive) Foodies
Digestion-Supporting Firebelly Teas
For the tea lover who struggles with bloating or constipation, Firebelly’s teas are not just delicious but functional. This tea features fennel, a herb known to alleviate digestive issues. Studies show that drinking fennel tea can help manage constipation as effectively as some over-the-counter medications, with fewer side effects 1. Fennel also helps reduce bloating and gas, making it a soothing, digestion-friendly drink after meals.
Shop Internal Combustion Tea Here
Ginger is a time-honored remedy for digestive issues, and this tea is a great way to introduce it into your loved one’s daily routine. Whether they deal with nausea, indigestion, or constipation, ginger is known for calming the digestive tract 2.
Fody Foods Low FODMAP Pantry Pack
For anyone who has digestive sensitivities or is following a low-FODMAP diet (often recommended for gut issues like IBS, SIBO, and leaky gut), this pantry pack is like a care package full of gut-safe goodies. It makes following a special diet easier and more delicious, without triggering bloating or discomfort.
Fody has a wide variety of fun and gut-friendly foods, from infused olive oils to ranch seasoning. Their whole line is a great place to get delicious stocking stuffers.
Shop the Low FODMAP Pantry Pack Here
Gourmend Sampler Bundle
This gourmet bundle is perfect for someone who loves to cook but struggles with food sensitivities. Everything is low-FODMAP and delicious, so they don’t have to worry about eating the wrong thing. It’s thoughtful, flavorful, and perfect for the foodie in your life.
Shop Gourmend Low FODMAP Sampler Bundle
Gourmend Taco Seasoning
This fun seasoning lets anyone enjoy tacos without the bloating or digestive upset that can come from high-FODMAP ingredients like garlic and onion. It’s a fun stocking stuffer for someone who loves bold flavors but needs a little gut-friendly twist.
Sleep Optimizers
Oura Ring
Everyone could use better sleep, right? The Oura Ring is more than just a tracker—it gives real insights into sleep patterns, stress, and recovery, helping the wearer make changes for better health. If you have someone in your life who’s always looking for ways to improve their wellness routine, this is a next-level gift that’s as thoughtful as it is high-tech.
And it has a leg up on other trackers. A study conducted by researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, evaluated the accuracy of three popular wearables, Oura Ring, Fitbit Sense, and Apple Watch, and found that Oura Ring was the most accurate sleep tracker in four-stage sleep classification.” 3
Drowsy Deep Sleep Collection
A thoughtful gift for improving your friends’ or family members’ sleep hygiene. The combination of a luxurious sleep mask and calming sleep spray helps set a peaceful environment, signaling to your brain that it’s time to rest. Quality sleep is vital for digestive health, as it regulates the body’s stress response and reduces inflammation in the gut, both of which affect digestion.
Shop the Drowsy Deep Sleep Collection
Shop more Drowsy Sleep products
Gut Reset Essentials
Elemental Heal
For someone who has been dealing with stubborn gut issues like IBS, SIBO, or chronic inflammation, Elemental Heal can be a total game-changer. It’s a pre-digested meal replacement shake that helps the gut rest and heal. This is the ultimate gift for anyone needing a digestive reset, allowing them to start feeling better from the inside out. It also works great as an addition to any existing regimen (yep, just add to smoothie for extra health perk).
Healthy Gut Healthy You
This book is like a roadmap for anyone who wants to take control of their gut health. Bundle it with Elemental Heal, and you’re giving someone the tools they need to follow a proven approach to healing the gut. It’s a perfect way to show you care about their health journey.
Wellness for the Long Run
Sunlighten
Infrared saunas are amazing for detoxification, reducing inflammation, and boosting overall wellness. If you have a loved one who’s into health optimization or just needs some relaxation, this portable sauna is a unique and luxurious gift that can be used right at home.
Shop Sunlighten Portable Sauna
Bon Charge Mini Red Light Therapy Device
Red light therapy is having a moment because it works wonders for so many areas of health—from pain relief to boosting skin health to supporting thyroid function. This mini device is easy to use and incredibly versatile, making it a perfect gift for someone who’s serious about their health or dealing with chronic pain or inflammation.
It also has promising effects on thyroid health. A 2020 study showed red light therapy, with vitamin D and selenium, was effective in reducing TPO antibodies after 3 months, even leading to 29% of participants no longer needing thyroid medication 4.
Shop the Bon Charge RLT Device
With these gifts, you can give your loved ones the tools they need to take control of their health, improve their gut, get better sleep, and feel amazing. Whether you’re buying for the health optimizer in your life or someone who’s just looking for a little health boost, these thoughtful and practical gifts are sure to bring some holiday cheer.
Dr. Michael Ruscio is a DC, natural health provider, researcher, and clinician. He serves as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Bridgeport and has published numerous papers in scientific journals as well as the book Healthy Gut, Healthy You. He also founded the Ruscio Institute of Functional Health, where he helps patients with a wide range of GI conditions and serves as the Head of Research.➕ References
- Azimi M, Niayesh H, Raeiszadeh M, Khodabandeh-Shahraki S. Efficacy of the herbal formula of Foeniculum vulgare and Rosa damascena on elderly patients with functional constipation: A double-blind randomized controlled trial. J Integr Med. 2022 May;20(3):230–6. DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2022.03.001. PMID: 35339396.
- Foshati S, Poursadeghfard M, Heidari Z, Amani R. The effects of ginger supplementation on common gastrointestinal symptoms in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis: a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2023 Oct 27;23(1):383. DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04227-x. PMID: 37891539. PMCID: PMC10605938.
- Robbins R, Weaver MD, Sullivan JP, Quan SF, Gilmore K, Shaw S, et al. Accuracy of three commercial wearable devices for sleep tracking in healthy adults. Sensors. 2024 Oct 10;24(20). DOI: 10.3390/s24206532. PMID: 39460013. PMCID: PMC11511193.
- Ercetin C, Sahbaz NA, Acar S, Tutal F, Erbil Y. Impact of photobiomodulation on T3/T4 ratio and quality of life in hashimoto thyroiditis. Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine, and Laser Surgery. 2020 Jul;38(7):409–12. DOI: 10.1089/photob.2019.4740. PMID: 32186976.
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