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Good morning. It’s Friday, December 13th.

🍀 No bad luck here - it’s going to be a great day!

In today’s email:

• Inspire: 2024 Thrive25 Holiday Gift Guide

• In the News: Use PT to Your Advantage

• Cook: Mix-and-Match Stir-Fry

• Enjoy: Dick Van Dyke

• Brain Games: Sudoku

Stat of the Day

The amount of money the average American plans to spend on gifts this year. Let’s get at least some of those dollars to be spent on health! (Gallup)

Inspire

2024 Thrive25 Holiday Gift Guide

For those subscribers that have been with us for more than a year, you may recall our gift guide from 2023 - CLICK HERE.

Most of those gifts are still relevant and great choices for this year. But we also added 40 NEW ideas so there’s no way you’ll be stuck trying to figure out what to get anyone on your list:

🦶 Feet First

We wrote a lot (Issue 357 and Issue 358) about how to take care of your feet - they are the foundation of our health and mobility.

Vivobarefoot - minimalist shoes can correct your posture and movement - your feet get information from the ground that we lose from too much cushioning in modern shoes.

Achilles Stretch Board - you want to have at least a 30° angle of flexibility of your ankle and Achilles tendon.

Toe Spacers - when else are you going to buy these? Best to put these in a stocking or under a tree, otherwise you’ll probably wait until next year.

🌳 Get Outside

NatureDose - last year we recommended the AllTrails app. This year - check out the award-winning app that gets you to spend more time outside.

Walking Pants - get excited about a walk instead of always feeling the need to run with these awesome joggers from Vuori.

Running Pants - but, we gotta run too - get these pants so that cold weather isn’t an excuse to skip today’s run. Great options from On Running for Men and Lululemon for Women.

Running Pullover - I live in quarter zips when the temps get below 70°F. Here’s the best for running, for Men (Patagonia) and Women (again, Lululemon).

Golf Cart Heater - for the sunrise tee times or when you’re playing late into the evening sometimes you need to keep the hands warm for your next tee shot.

🛏️ Good Sleep

Momentous Sleep Pak* - a combination of Magnesium Threonate*, L-Theanine, and Apigenin to help me fall asleep after a stressful day of work.

Keetsa Mattress - our king size bed is awesome. No better investment than a mattress where you spend 30% of your life.

Cozy Earth Sheets - just got a pair of these bamboo sheets and they’re some of the best we’ve ever slept on.

⌚ Health Tech

Oura Ring 4 - a pretty big upgrade from one of the world’s best wearables (they just raised another $75M). It’s more accurate than ever - especially when it comes to measuring sleep quality.

Smart Watch - the best running watch is probably the Garmin Forerunner, but if you’ve already got an iPhone, it’s tough to beat the Apple Watch 10 as a health tracker.

Levels CGM - spending a month tracking how specific food, exercise, sleep, and stress affected my glucose levels was a game-changer (see Issue 289). Great way to personalize your approach to metabolic health.

🚰 Clean Water

AquaTru Water Filter - we just upgraded from the countertop to under sink filter so that we can get clean reverse osmosis water all the time. Check your water!

Kitsch Shower Filter - it’s not just the water we drink, but the water all over our skin and hair too. Great filter that takes out the junk and you can keep your original shower head.

☀️ Morning Routine

Happy Light - if you’re an early riser and up before the sun is, might want to use this to get light in your eyes to boost your energy and get a better start to your day.

Cold Plunge - more and more of my friends swear by the morning cold plunge. If you’re hooked, go big with this outdoor tub by Sun Home Saunas, stay indoors with this one by Plunge, or if you’re willing to get your own ice check out this one for under $200.

Electric Water Kettle - I use this every morning to quickly get my hot water with lemon and pink Himalayan salt to start my day.

🍎 Nutrition

David Protein Bar - my new go-to. If you’re going to eat a processed bar - this one’s got the best nutritional profile.

Nordic Naturals Complete Omega - for the days I don’t have enough fish and need to boost my omega-3.

Mocktails - I don’t drink as much anymore - drink Hiyo* (use THRIVE at checkout for 15% off) instead or bring a six-pack of Athletic Brewing to the party.

Om Mushrooms - there’s so much value in mushrooms (see Issue #370) and Om puts them all together into a single serving.

Microgreens - have trouble getting enough veggies throughout the day? Grow your own garden and you’ll have clean, organic greens 24/7.

🧴 Personal Care

Deodorant - I steer clear of aluminum, but stay clean and fresh with Every Man Jack (prefer the Sea Salt scent) or try our friends at Huron*.

Hyaluronic Acid - most studies are inconclusive if this works or not, but got this from my wife and I’ll be honest it makes a big difference for the skin on my face.

📝 Stay Connected

Personal Stationary - people love getting real mail; it’s way different than a text or email. If you set a goal to connect with people by actually writing to them, get the supplies (it’s just like buying running shoes as step 1 to actually running). Pro Tip: Get stamps too!

Post-It Notes: Loved this from Chris Yandle (Issue #225) who has written almost 1,500 notes to his kids. Get the post-it notes to write stuff down for yourself, your partner, your kids, your colleagues - anyone.

💪 Stay Strong

Foam Roller - I hate rolling out my quads, but wow it feels so good afterward, and helps with recovery. Don’t waste money on anything fancy - save the money, any roller will do.

Kettlebells - sometimes you can’t make it to the gym. Whether you already work out at home or need a back-up plan, everyone should own some kettlebells.

Walking Treadmill - last year we suggested the sit-stand desk, go the next level with the walking desk. Just don’t be too annoying about it on Zoom calls.

Pilates Board - this has gone viral on Instagram and is an all-in-one workout that folds up to fit anywhere when you’re done. Note to guys: this might be a gift for the women in your life, but give it a try - it’s really hard!

Momentous Vanilla Protein* - still my go-to brand for the highest quality protein in my daily smoothie.

🎄 Stocking Stuffers

Hostage Mouth Tape - stop snoring and start sleeping! Thanks to BoomBoom CEO, John Pinto, for the recommendation of this brand!

Jump Rope - no more efficient workout than the calories you can burn in just a few minutes jumping rope.

Resistance Bands - you can do so much with these to power your legs and should always have on hand to use anywhere.

Cooling Towel from Arctic Cool - best cooling towel to lower your body temp after a crazy workout in the summer heat (or hot gym).

LMNT - get your electrolytes without the sugar. Take these packets with you wherever you go to never get dehydrated. Orange Salt is my favorite flavor (Mango Chili for Max).

That’s all for this year - no excuses to not get some great gifts this year!

* Support these brands and support our mission to develop products that simplify the science to make health and longevity approachable for everyone.

Thrive25 Partner Spotlight

Goodbye Meal Kits, Hello Hungryroot

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H&L in the News

Unlock Bilingual Brains Early: Supporting bilingual development in children enriches their cognitive and cultural lives. With better societal and parental support, kids can embrace multilingualism for a brighter future. (Knowable)

Heal Stronger, Feel Better: Physical therapy isn't just for injuries. A skilled PT can help you prevent pain, boost performance, and improve overall mobility. Discover how to find the right PT and maximize your sessions. (NYTimes)

Rethink Leadership - It's Everyone's Role: Leadership alone won’t save companies or define success. It’s time for everyone, not just those at the top, to shape a thriving workplace culture that lasts. (Big Think)

Cook

Mix-and-Match Stir-Fry

This versatile recipe transforms a refreshing salad into a cozy stir-fry, perfect for any season! Packed with DNA methylation adaptogens like leafy greens, cruciferous veggies, and herbs, this dish supports optimal health. Customize with your favorite protein and veggies - we went with salmon and our greens mix. Enjoy the benefits of nutrient-dense, flavorful meals!

Enjoy

Dick Van Dyke + Chris Martin

Brain Games

Sudoku

This puzzle is rated medium - so get out the old fashioned pen and paper to solve this one. Good luck!

Credit: Brainzilla

** For answer, scroll to the bottom of the email

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Brain Games Answer

We’re 40-something dads that felt our bodies and minds start to slow down and we’re not ready for that. We found too much information on every subject. So we started Thrive25 to transform what we’ve learned into something useful for the rest of us to spend just 5 min a day to optimize our health & longevity.

This newsletter is for you and we truly value your feedback. Never hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected].

To health!