Gadgets & Gifts

Elliptigo 3C

$1,799, www.elliptigo.com

The Elliptigo combines the comfort of a bike with the ease of an elliptical machine. Its three gears make it ideal for flat terrain and mild hills, but an eight-gear is also available for more challenging courses. The machine provides a cardio workout and is available in green, orange and black.

Check out these health and fitness gift ideas

Tranquil Moments Sleep Sound Therapy System

$129.99, www.brookstone.com

For a deeper, more relaxing sleep, try this sound machine from Brookstone. The device features 12 sounds that have been clinically engineered by the Center of Neuroacoustic Research. Choose from sounds such as “summer night,” “ocean surf” or “white noise” – all of which can be set to automatically turn off after 30, 60 or 90 minutes.

SPI Leash

$19.95-$29.95, store.spibelt.com

Do you ever want to take your dog for a walk or run, but get tired of holding the leash? The SPI Leash attaches to your waist, leaving your hands free while keeping your pup safe. It also comes with an attached Solo Pocket, which is large enough to hold your keys, cash, cards and even a treat for your furry loved one.

CamelBak Ultra LR Vest

$130, www.camelbak.com

Stay hydrated with this wearable water reservoir. Perfect for long-distance running, the vest carries 70 oz. of liquid that is easily accessed through a wide-mouthed PureFlow tube. The vest also features front cargo pockets for storing small items.

Cuisinart SmartStick Hand Blender

$34.95, www.cuisinart.com

Ditch your regular blender for this easy, fun-to-use kitchen tool. Designed with a simple one-touch control, this powerful stainless steel mixer will stir up a smoothie, soup or batter right in the cup or bowl. The blender is available in a wide variety of colors and comes with a plastic beaker. It is also available at several local stores.

Striiv

$99.95, www.striiv.com

If you have a love for games, this unique pedometer is the gadget for you. With each step you take, Striiv tallies up your points, which are then applied to MyLand – a goal-oriented game that’s set on an enchanted island. Striiv also allows you to count your steps toward a charity donation or simply set personal goals and challenges through its touch-screen interface. You can measure your progress through charts and share accomplishments online with friends.

Healthy Surprise Starter Box

$33/month, www.healthysurprise.com

Test out some nutritious snacks with this monthly subscription service. Each box comes packed with a variety of vegan, gluten-free snacks such as fruits, nuts, bars, crackers, chocolates and kale chips. Most of the items are from smaller companies that don’t sell at local grocery or health food stores, so you’re sure to receive a unique mix of goodies. The company also offers larger boxes for $66 or $99 a month.

Bicycle Starter Kit

$55, www.specialized.com

This under-seat mini-wedgie bag holds everything a beginning bicyclist needs – an Airtool Road Mini Frame Pump and an EMT Pro Road Tire Leveler – all while maintaining a sleek profile. The kit also comes with an Alloy Zee Cage to hold a water bottle. The kit comes in black/gold and black/hot pink color combinations.

REI Windbrake Thermal Fleece Jacket

$89.50, www.rei.com

Available in both men’s and women’s sizes, this jacket blocks winds up to 50 mph and comes in multiple color options. The jacket keeps heat in, even when damp, and features adjustable cuffs for protection from the harsh winter elements. For carrying your important items, this zipup has three front pockets and two mesh interior pockets.

Wusthof Paring Knife and Kitchen Shears Set

$19.95 www.surlatable.com b. Beautiful b. Tea and Youth Boost Facial Serum

This set of a knife and kitchen shears from respected German knife-maker Wusthof has high-carbon stainless steel blades and will help you make home-cooked meals year round. The paring knife can handle everything from dicing to peeling, and the shears are great for snipping fresh herbs or cutting up poultry.

$6, $42; www.goodnaturetea.com, www.greenbeautystudio.com

This pair of green beauty items, created by former Bath & Body Works senior executives Laurie Gregory and Vera Stavroff, is designed to nourish your body inside and out. Drink to your youthful looks with 100 percent certified organic tea. The caffeine-free blend of rosemary, wild thyme and chamomile flowers was created to promote skin and hair health. Each box contains 20 tea bags. This serum from Green Beauty is made with Swiss apple stem cells, which have been shown in clinical trials to reduce wrinkles. Other ingredients are alma fruit, vitamin C, licorice root and green tea extract.

Enter for a chance to win b. Beautiful b. Tea and Youth Boost Facial Serum. See page 4 for details.

The Feed Zone Cookbook: Fast and Flavorful Food for Athletes

By Biju thomas and dr. Allen Lim

Created by a doctor and a chef as a handbook for professional cyclists, The Feed Zone Cookbook features 160 simple and nutri tious recipes for athletes. The quick and easy recipes, illustrated by colorful photographs, place an emphasis on real whole foods, rather than processed food substitutes.

The First 20 Minutes: Surprising Science Reveals How We Can Exercise Better, Train Smarter, Live Longer

By Gretchen reynolds

New York Times “Phys Ed” columnist Reyn olds explores the science behind the mental and physical benefits of exercise and shares personal stories from scientists and average Joes, explaining what kind of exercise and how much of it is necessary to stay healthy and get fit.

My Health Record Keeper

www.apple.com/itunes

Patients Like Me www.patientslikeme.com

This social networking site allows you to connect with others who have similar medical conditions. Share your personal stories and health data to help others learn about new treatments and find emotional support. The company behind the website shares public information entered there with companies that sell drugs, devices, equipment and medical insurance. The end goal is to improve understanding of diseases and accelerate the development of new treatments.

Peptide vaccines show promise as cancer preventers

Two peptide agents, used together or in combination with lowdose chemotherapy, may block tumor growth and the formation of new tumor blood vessels, two studies from The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center suggest. The findings, which were published online in the journal Oncolmmunology, describe how treatment with both HER2 peptide and VEGF peptide inhibitor prevents tumor formation and kills tumor cells in mammary tumor models in mice. In addition, the treatments caused few side effects. Theoretically, the results of the study show that a peptide vaccine could prevent HER2-driven breast cancer from developing in a daughter who inherits the genetic risk for this cancer from her mother.

Many microgreens more nutritious than mature plants

This free app by Healthy Women.org allows you to store your personal health records securely on your mobile device. My Health Record Keeper helps you keep track of your most recent colonoscopy and reminds you when you need your prescriptions refilled. The $1.99 version, Family Health Record Keeper, lets you store records for the whole family in one place.

A scientific analysis published in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry shows that nutrient levels in edible microgreens – seedlings of green vegetables and herbs – have more vitamins and healthful nutrients than their fully-grown counterparts. Microgreens, which are becoming more popular, are the seedlings of spinach, lettuce, red cabbage and other vegetables, usually 1-3 inches tall and harvested within 14 days of germination. Scientists analyzed vitamins and other phytochemicals in 25 varieties of microgreens and found that the miniature plants generally have higher concentrations of vitamins and carotenoids than their mature counterparts. For example, red cabbage microgreens were found to be high in vitamin C, and green daikon radish microgreens had high levels of vitamin E. The concentration of nutrients in popcorn shoots and golden pea tendrils were lower than the levels in other microgreens, but were still as high as some common mature vegetables.