Healthy Gifts for Mind and Body

We always think of needing healthy foods and beverages for our bodies, but we mustn’t forget that we also need healthy thoughts and ideas for our minds as well. Sending a special friend a gourmet gift basket for their birthday, anniversary or other celebration is always a much-loved gift. Exercise is a great way to keep that body healthy so a gift certificate to a gym might be a healthy gift as well.

Everyone likes fresh fruit, gourmet coffees and teas, low-fat crackers and calcium-filled cheeses. And who doesn’t love chocolate? Especially dark chocolate with all its potent antioxidants as well as its ability to help lower blood pressure. So be sure to include these types of foods when gourmet gift baskets are on your friend’s gift list, and they’ll not only enjoy eating these items, but their body will enjoy the after effects of all these healthy goodies and thank you as well.

Moving into another realm, how about giving someone a healthy gift for a healthy mind? You might purchase a book of poetry, a good mystery or romantic novel, perhaps a devotional guide, or even a magazine subscription to a health magazine. This way you’ve covered both a healthy mind and a healthy body with your thoughtfulness. An exercise DVD can lead to a new life style and even possible weight loss if this is one of your friend’s goals.

People spend lots of time and money on exercise equipment and gym memberships. They spend time walking on treadmills or down suburban streets in an effort to build a healthier body. But most people don’t think about what they read or watch on TV as needing to contribute to a healthy mind. And, sorry to say, but a good portion of what is shown on TV today does not contribute to a healthy mind, but rather just the opposite.

Many of today’s books and TV shows don’t contain subject matter that improves your outlook on life, teaches you something useful, or helps in your spiritual journey. Actually, instead they bombard you with graphic scenes of violence and crime and can even leave you in a foul mood for no other reason than what you just saw on TV.

Remember when Lassie, Rin Tin Tin or Beaver Cleaver were what you watched on TV? "I Love Lucy" was a very popular show, and in spite of her silliness, Lucy’s husband really did love her. Not so today, however, when the theme of too many shows is hatred, violence and disrupted families. Having a caring heart or giving gifts of sympathy has dwindled away.

Buy yourself or a close friend or relative healthy gifts next time. A new study Bible, a subscription to a daily devotional guide or a DVD of an uplifting family show can do more towards making your day more pleasant and lowering your blood pressure than eating a whole box of dark chocolate. Exercise is still important and healthy foods are too, but a healthy mind and outlook contribute to your overall health and well-being as well. And with a lot less calories! Catchlife.org is a great resource for healthy minds and healthy bodies.