Holiday Shopping - Budget Buys for the Health Conscious

1) Dagoba Organic Chocolate New Moon Bar ($32.00/box of 12): Great news! The cocoa phenols in dark chocolate can actually lower blood pressure, and dark chocolate itself is a potent anti-oxidant. Show that special someone you really care with a token for the spirit and the body this season.

2) Balm Balm Rose Geranium Face Balm ($12.00): Winter can be really harsh on skin. This rose geranium face balm not only quenches thirsty skin but is also Soil Association Certified Organic. For your loved ones with extremely dry complexions, gift that post-facial feeling with this gentle and petroleum-free face balm.

3) ToeSox Yoga/Pilates Toe Socks, Organic Cotton ($13.50-$15.00): Do you have a yoga and/or pilates enthusiast on your list? Here's a great stocking stuffer to keep their tootsies toasty while still giving them a firm grip on the mat.

4) Organic Tea ($15.00): Indulge the tea-loving aficionados on your list with this beautifully packaged boxed set of organic teas. Each silken tea pouch is filled with tea varieties including Organic Earl Grey, Organic Green Dragon, Organic Spring Jasmine, Organic Detox Infusion and Organic African Nectar. Infuse their mornings with this thoughtful, healthful and beautiful gift.

5) MARRIKAS Pure Silk Travel Pillow ($16.00): There is no reason for the road warrior in your life to compromise on cleanliness or luxury. Give them a sweet spot to lay their head for car and plane rides. Your traveler can sleep soundly and not have to worry about sharing germs with everyone else.

6) Personal Toothbrush Sanitizer ($20.00): I'll bet you didn't know that your humid travel toothbrush case is not unlike a petri dish of bacteria! This sanitizer uses UV radiation and ozone to eliminate the germs and bacteria that otherwise make its way directly from your toothbrush into your mouth. It's a practical gift for friends and family on the go.

7) Thermos Fashion Travel Tumbler ($20.00): Unfortunately, those convenient plastic lexan bottles made with polycarbonate plastics may leach Bisphenol A. BPA is a xenoestrogen, a known endocrine disruptor, meaning it disturbs the hormonal messaging in our bodies, leading to breast and uterine cancer in women and decreased testosterone levels in men. It is particularly devastating to babies and young children. BPA has even been linked to insulin resistance and Type 2 Diabetes. Switch out those plastic bottles with stainless steel. This one from Thermos is safe and stylish!

8) Plane Sheets ($13.00): If sharing sheets with other airline passengers gives your loved one insomnia, then give the gift of a clean sleep while flying. Plane sheets are an affordable and portable solution. They come in a variety of prints and are sized to fit both Coach and First Class seats. Buy them as gifts and for yourself!

9) Ribbed Bamboo Hand Towels ($27.50): These lush towels are made from bamboo, which thrives naturally without the use of pesticides, and are naturally anti-bacterial due to a bacteriostasis bio-agent. After using anti-bacterial hand soap, wipe hands dry with your anti-bacterial towels!

10) Odor Resistant Yoga Tank Top ($35.00): What's so special about this yoga top? It's made out of bamboo, which is naturally hypoallergenic, antimicrobial, anti-static, temperature-regulating AND naturally odor-resistant! It's softer than silk or cashmere, so it feels great on your body, but it's good for your body, too, because it's made from organic, pesticide-free and sustainable resources. The top comes in seven color choices.

11) Better Life Organic Cleaner Starter Kit ($40.00): Developed by two dads in St. Louis who left the corporate world to find ways to make homes less toxic for our children, Better Life is a sweet-scented yet effective alternative to harsh toxic cleaners. Practical and well packaged, the Starter Kit is a great health-conscious gift for anyone on your list.

12) Plantronics Voyager 510 Bluetooth Headset ($38.00): Why is a headset a health-conscious gift? Because the growing body of research around the risk of brain illness from electromagnetic exposure from cell phones and cordless phones is becoming more compelling every day. (In fact, one of our Expert Mommies cites it as one of her top three dangers in her book, Dangerous or Safe). For under $40, protect your loved ones from electromagnetic waves AND the more obvious risk of driving one-handed!

13) Think Baby Feeding Set ($38.00): Think Baby provides safe, sustainable, functional and elegant products for little ones. The company has designed this BPA-free feeding system that is also free of other harmful chemicals and toxins like phthalates, nitrosamines, lead, PVC and Melamine. Early laboratory research has shown melamine-based tableware to leach melamine at various temperatures, and when combined with other chemicals (such as formaldehyde and cyanuric) it has the potential to pose a health risk. No need to add that to baby's lunch, right?

14) Organic Soap Gift Box Set ($48.00): This gift oozes health-conscious pampering. Exquisitely packaged in a "book" box, it comes with six bars of Skinny Skinny organic soaps. All the packaging is recyclable too.

15) Yoga Toes ($50.00): Gift a spontaneous and convenient foot massage with Yoga Toes. Not only does it feel good and rejuvenate feet but it provides the stimulation that toes and feet muscles need to stay strong and flexible. Yoga Toes can help treat and prevent bunions, hammertoes, fatigue, poor circulation and varicose veins.

16) Periwinkle Bloom Organic Modular Turtleneck ($56.00): Did you know that 4 lbs. of chemicals go into the processing of each traditionally made cotton t-shirt? And that children's thinner skin absorbs all those chemicals more easily than adults? These facts are what inspired a mom to design a line of children's apparel that is 100% organic. And yet, all pieces are comfy cozy for the winter! This turtleneck is a great gift for your pint-sized loved ones. Bonus: you're supporting homegrown and handsewn in the US.

17) Ecoballs Laundry Detergent-alternative ($60.00): By adding an ionic charge to the water that pulls dirt away from clothes, ecoballs are a great and effective alternative to laundry soap. Although they seem pricey, they are reusable for up to 1,000 washes. Using no detergent also shortens the rinse cycle, saving water and electricity. The ecoballs are also anti-bacterial and won't fade or damage clothing.

18) Yamuna Total Body Workout Beginner's Kit ($62.00): This new fitness ritual has been all the buzz among yoga and Pilates enthusiasts this fall. Yamuna Body Rolling is a health and fitness therapy that creates positive, long-lasting changes in your body using specially designed 4-9 inch balls which are used in various routines that match the body's own logic and re-educate muscles and stimulate bone. The Beginner's Kit comes with a ball, a pump and The Total Body Workout DVD.

Ria Sharon is a writer and marketing consultant, as well as the owner of MyMommyManual.com. Reach Ria on Viewpoints at PracticalMommy.