NEW YEAR NEW HEALTH GADGETS
A €168 gym-in-a box. The mirror that looks after your skin. Your loved ones deserve . . .
AFTER the excesses of the festive season, maybe it would be wise to spend those vouchers on boosting well-being and not waistlines. JINAN HARB picks a selection of health-friendly options. . . SENSIBLE BUYS
Infrared heated blanket, €41, goodlifeguide.co.uk MARKETED as a ‘portable hug’, this fleece blanket has infrared technology to keep you warm and relieve muscle pain. Just plug it into a wall or car socket.
Varidesk Pro Plus 36 desk, €405, uk.varidesk.com FOR a workaholic or someone who works from home, it is easy to spend hours sitting and in one position — which has been shown to be bad for health. This desk encourages you to move as it has a lifting mechanism which turns any desk into a standing desk. Research suggests standing engages muscles in your back, which improves posture. It is also said to cut the risk of heart disease and cancer.
XCEED by MP goggles, €25, wiggle.co.uk DEVELOPED by US Olympic champion Michael Phelps, these swimming goggles have curved lenses for wide vision and a comfortable seal without pinching.
HoMedics gel shiatsu massage pillow, €89.99, boots.ie THIS heated massage cushion is activated with a remote control — the gel-filled nodules heat up and turn to create a kneading massage to relax tense muscles in your back or neck when sitting or lying down.
Oral-B Genius 9000, €154.99, boots.ie A SWANKY electric toothbrush is a festive must — this one has a visual sensor to alert you when you are applying too much pressure, to prevent gum problems; and six cleaning modes, including ‘sensitive’ and ‘whitening’. Currently on offer (RRP €390).
FOOD AND DRINK
Vorrei diabetic friendly gift box, €54.35, vorrei.co.uk PACKED with ingredients that are low in sugar and carbs, this would suit those controlling their sugar intake. It includes wholegrain black rice, biscuits and sundried tomatoes and 5% of the price is donated to JDRF, a charity for children with type 1 diabetes.
Wasserstein nutrition scale, €22.40, amazon.co.uk THIS set of food scales can help
you keep a check on your intake — it weighs your food and you then look up the food code among 999 in the accompanying manual, enter the code into the scale; it then tells you the calories, salt, fat, protein and carbohydrates.
Ullo wine purifier, €76, amazon. co.uk THIS gadget is said to remove sulfites — the artificial chemicals added as a preservative, which in some people can trigger symptoms such as wheezing, coughs and hives. It comes with disposable single-use filters you place inside the funnel-like device, then place the whole thing on top of a decanter or glass you plan to use, and pour the wine through it. Each filter purifies a standard 750ml bottle of wine.
T2 Remedy Ready and mug with infuser, €24.40 and €27.75 respectively, t2tea.com FOR the tea-lover, five herbal loose leaf teas including a ‘Tummy Tea’ which contains peppermint, liquorice root, and marigold petals. The beautifully designed mugs have an infuser inside so that you can make the tea without a teapot.
The Less Sweet Sleekster, €25.45, hotelchocolat.com A CLASSIC box of Hotel Chocolat chocolates but slightly healthier, these contain more cocoa and less sugar than its other products.
EXERCISE AIDS
FITT Cube multi gym, €167.99, highstreettv.ie THIS ingenious cube incorporates different exercise equipment, for example, a builtin step machine for cardio and endurance training and pull ropes for developing upper body strength. The manufacturer says you can do more than 100 different exercises with it — with a booklet to show you how. There is also a calorie and step counter to track your progress.
30 Day fitness challenge, from €13.50 to €11, oliverbonas.com A BOX of cards, each with a different exercise — do one a day to build up your fitness levels over a month. Not for the beginner — daily activities include ‘run 25 mins’ or ‘60 squats’.
Garmin Vívofit junior 2, Now €74 reduced from €92, harveynorman.ie GET children into good habits
with their own fitness tracker. Suitable from age four, this works with a free parent-controlled app and tracks steps and sleep.
V-fit G-RC recumbent magnetic cycle, €224, amazon.co.uk A RECUMBENT bike is a good way to keep fit with age — these are said to encourage better posture and be gentler on the joints than other exercise bikes. This has eight levels of resistance, padded handlebars and arge pedals with adjustable foot straps.
BETTER SLEEP
Dodow sleep aid, €49.75, amazon.co.uk THIS small, plastic gadget projects a ring of blue light that gently expands to cast a large, circular glow on the ceiling, before contracting back to a pinprick of light. The idea is that you synchronise your breathing with it — inhaling as the ring expands, then exhaling when it contracts — to help you drift off.
DermaTherapy bedding, from €22.15, esperehealth. co.uk THIS range of bedding has been made
with special fibres that dissipate heat and wick moisture away from the skin. Said to help with acne, eczema, hot flushes, night sweats and pressure sores.
Bedtime Stories for Stressed Out Adults, €15.50, omahonys.ie A 2009 study by the University of Sussex suggested six minutes of reading can reduce stress and prepare the body for sleep. This book contains classic stories and poetry said to help you switch off.
LIFE-SAVERS
Kinetik X2 blood pressure monitor, €43.99, argos.
ie Designed in association with St John Ambulance, this can detect irregular heartbeat and high blood pressure — it can also alert patients to take their blood pressure regularly.
Pivotell advance automatic pill dispenser, €159.71, complete careshop.co.uk NOT the most exciting but useful, this batterypowered device can be pre-loaded with up to 28 pills and programmed release each at a set time. It sounds an alarm when it’s time to take a pill and switches off once it has been removed.
DK First Aid Manual, €14.70, eason.com ARGUABLY a staple for every household — this book has step-bystep first aid advice for many conditions, from splinters to sprained ankles and strokes. It even teaches you how to use equipment such as defibrillators.
FOR YOUR SKIN
O’Keeffe’s dry skin gift set, €12, half-price at tesco.ie until January 13 O’KEEFFE’S products are highly-concentrated and developed to relieve severely dry skin and provide long-lasting moisturisation. This set includes the Working Hands cream, Healthy Feet cream and Lip Repair Balm.
HiMirror Mini Premium, €259, himirror.com THIS mirror has software that analyses your complexion — for wrinkles, fine lines, dark circles, spots and pores, for example — and gives personalised skincare recommendations on the mirror itself such as creams or serums that would be helpful. The efficacy of products can be monitored over time with photos.