With Father’s Day fast approaching, it’s tempting to fall back into familiar gift-giving habits.
Why not show Dad how much you really love him by breaking the circle of predictable presents, and with gifts designed with his health and wellness in mind?
Healthy Headlines is here to help with the mother of all healthy Father’s Day gift ideas.
Well-known gift: Necktie
Well-being gift: Massage
Let’s be honest, what’s going to make his neck feel better? A couple feet of fabric with images of Mickey Mouse playing golf, or a therapeutic massage to work out the kinks?
According to St. Elizabeth Healthcare’s partners at The Mayo Clinic, the benefits of massage may extend beyond relief of stress and tension or sports injuries. Studies have suggested massage may also be beneficial for digestive disorders, fibromyalgia, headaches, stress-related insomnia and temporomandibular joint pain. And, bonus, a massage doesn’t get coffee stains.
Well-known gift: Tools for your grill
Well-being gift: Essentials for your grill
Dads love grill gewgaws. It’s in our DNA. But as cool as the latest tongs, LED lights and insert-favorite-team-logo spatulas are, keep in mind that happy grilling starts with healthy grilling.
All backyard chefs should always be sure the grilling surface is free of charred food, which can contain not only bacteria but possible cancer-causing compounds – polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic amines (HCAs). If you want to get Dad something beyond the traditional wire brush, you can steam cleaners and other more elaborate devices that allow you to clean grill racks without removing them.
You also can reduce harmful compounds by paying attention to how food is chosen and prepared. Vegetables, for example, don’t retain harmful compounds in the way that meat, poultry and fish do. If Dad wants to grill meat, consider buying the leanest cuts available to reduce flare-ups and charring. Also, marinades help prevent meat from drying and becoming susceptible to charring.
Well-known gift: Cologne or after-shave lotion
Well-being gift: Sunscreen
There’s so much more to skin care than smelling great. The American Academy of Dermatology estimates there will be 161,790 new cases of melanoma diagnosed in the United States in 2017, with invasive melanoma projected to be the fifth-most common cancer for men this year. So what better way to show Dad you care than with a high-end sunscreen? Popular protective potions, according to Men’s Fitness, include Skinbrella by Kintara, Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch Sunscreen by Neutrogena, Jack Black Sun Guard Sunscreen and Beyond Coastal Active Face Stick. All these have an SPF of 30 or more; make sure you choose one rated at least SPF 30.
Well-known gift: Craft beer, single-malt scotch
Well-being gift: Red wine
If you raise a glass to Dad’s health, remember that not all alcoholic drinks are created equal. Studies have suggested some benefits to moderate (!) consumption of red wine, including antioxidants that may increase high-density lipoprotein (“good” cholesterol) and a substance called resveratrol that may help prevent damage to blood vessels. But remind Dad that moderation is key to keep from outweighing any potential benefits with alcohol’s detrimental affects. Men 65 and younger are advised to have no more than two drinks per day (defined as a 12-ounce beer, 5-ounce glass of wine or 1.5-ounce glass of liquor).
Well-known gift: Fuzzy golf-club covers
Well-being gift: Fitness tracker
Because at the end of the day, making fun of your buddy’s drive or winning that $2 Nassau are only part of a good day on the links; it’s also about the exercise. Help Pop count his steps with wearable technology, the No. 1 fitness trend of 2017 by the American College of Sports Medicine (more than 100 million units were shipped last year, according to International Data Corporation, which tracks sales of wearables). Holdover brands like Fitbit, Garmin and Apple have been joined by newcomers like Xiaomi to offer a multitude of features and price points.
