Written by Nia Davies for Doctify
Black Friday has been and gone. The Christmas shopping season has officially begun. But are you still wondering what to buy? The festive season doesn’t have to mean weeks of gluttony, so start your new year’s resolutions early with our healthy Christmas gift guide.
23&Me £129
What could anyone want more for Christmas than to unwrap their own DNA? 23&Me is an FDA approved genetic testing package. A DNA collection kit arrives to your door. You can send a sample of your saliva to 23&Me who extract your DNA and run over 100 tests on it. Once it’s ready you download your report from the comfort of your home. Then you hold your breath and cross your fingers and toes as your genetic disease risk factors, drug responses and genetic ancestry are revealed.
LightBox prices vary, see SADA for retailers
Doctify GP, Dr Martin Saweirs recommends a simple yet effective product for boosting mood during the dark winter months. “About 1 in 15 people in the UK suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, whereby their mood dramatically suffers in the winter months. Many of my patients have had quite impressive improvements from using SAD therapy lamps on a daily basis, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them. So called ‘natural light alarm clocks’ are another great item – these have helped several of my patients wake up feeling more refreshed during the dark winter months.”
FitBit Charge 2 from £109.99
The latest version of Fitbit is one of the top fitness trackers money can buy, according to sites such as
TechRadar and WeAreWearable. The stylish model monitors exercise, heart rate and sleep, which you can read at any time of day at the tap of a finger. It has a comfortable strap, available in a variety of colours such as black, pink and blue. Although this isn’t water-proof (get the FitBit Flex 2 if you need this), it is water-resistant allowing it to withstand a sweaty workout or doing the dishes – so there’ll be no excuse not to help with clearing up on Christmas Day.
SkinMedica TNS Essential Serum from £157
Doctify Dermatologist, Dr Justine Kluk, recommends knocking back the years with her favourite serum. ‘SkinMedica TNS Essential Serum is one of my favourite anti-ageing solutions because it combines several cutting edge ingredients in just one bottle: growth factors, collagen-building peptides and potent antioxidants to prevent free-radical damage. Pricey, but worth every penny!’
ClassPass from £55 a month; gift cards avaialble
Why not discover fitness classes near you with ClassPass’s popular monthly subscription service.
Depending on the price plan purchased, you can choose up to 10 classes a month from hundreds of local gyms or studios. Schedule on the go using your phone and sample spin, pilates, barre, boxing, yoga, rowing, dance or simply book a gym session slot. Recommend a friend and you’ll both be rewarded with a discount for getting fitter together.
