Four Gifts of Health...That Give Back

"What we do for ourselves dies with us. What we do for others and the world remains and is immortal." -- Albert Pine (English author, d.1851)

THE HOLIDAY SEASON is a time to take stock of what is good in our lives and to extend goodwill -- and wishes of good health -- to those who need it. It's easy to lose sight of that as the holidays can descend into a frenzied bacchanalia of unbridled avarice!

What follows are four "gifts of health" ideas -- each with an altruistic twist. These gifts feel good and do good. They enable and inspire the recipient to lead a healthier, more vibrant life, while improving the health of our world.

MioPINK: Gift with 'heart'

The story of Mio began in 1999 when it was created by entrepreneur and mother of three, Liz Dickinson. Like many, Dickinson was balancing family and career, leaving little time for fitness. After several unsuccessful attempts to shed the pregnancy weight of her third child, she realized the key to get and stay in shape came down to three things: eating smart, monitoring caloric intake and using a heart monitor to exercise at the right level.

"I didn't have time to read labels and carry a calorie journal in my purse, nor did I have much patience for the uncomfortable chest strap I had to wear to get my heart rate," Dickinson says.

She knew there had to be a better way, so she created Mio, the world's first heart rate monitor to work without a chest strap.

"We didn't stop with just heart rate. Mio also has a patented calorie management system that offers a straightforward approach to managing your diet."

With the help of Mio and a balanced diet, Dickinson shed the pounds and gained the benefits that come with improved fitness: more energy, more vitality and less stress.

If you want to give a great gift of health that gives back, get the MioPINK. This fashionable piece of fitness gear allows you to record calories eaten throughout the day and track calories burned during exercise -- all against a daily calorie target. This is the crux of effective weight management. The MioPINK also includes a heart rate recovery timer, which is a good indicator of overall fitness.

Best of all: 10 percent of the retail sales price from the Mio-PINK goes to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. That's good to know because every 13 minutes another woman will learn that she has breast cancer.

To order, visit www.amazon.com or www.miowatch.com.

LIVESTRONG apparel

When you consider that one in three people will be diagnosed with cancer during his or her lifetime and that three in four families will care for a family member with cancer, this gift of health feels particularly apropos.

Most people are familiar with what Lance Armstrong did as a cyclist in the Tour de France. But what he has done, and is doing, for cancer survivors may be even more prolific.

In 1997, before he pedaled to superstar status as a cyclist, he founded the Lance Armstrong Foundation , or LAF. The foundation's message is that anyone with cancer is a survivor; they're not dying from cancer, they're living with it. And, its mission is to help anyone affected by cancer.

"The Lance Armstrong Foundation is dedicated to inspiring and empowering people affected by cancer," says Stephanie Elsea, associate director of public relations for the Lance Armstrong Foundation, based in Armstrong's hometown of Austin, Texas.

"The good news is that more people are living beyond a cancer diagnosis. There are approximately 10 million Americans who are living with, through or beyond cancer; the bad news is that there are very few resources to help guide cancer survivors deal with the physical, emotional and practical issues that come with the disease."

The Lance Armstrong Foundation received a 4-star charity navigator ranking indicating that "more than 80 percent of expenses are invested in mission-related activities and grants."

The LIVESTRONG store offers an array of good-quality workout apparel, particularly in Armstrong's favorite sports: cycling, and now, running. (Hey, the guy is a sub three-hour marathoner!)

And, check out their fun, new line of pet accessories. You can run, walk or hike with your pup - with LIVESTRONG leashes and collars -- to help you both "live stronger."

Visit the LIVESTRONG store at: www.livestrong.com.

CARE package

Margaret Mead once said, "Never doubt that a small group of concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."

In 1945, 22 American organizations embodied that quote.

In the aftermath of World War II, this cooperative rushed lifesaving packages to millions of survivors who were in danger of starvation. On May 11, 1946, the first 20,000 packages flooded into the war-torn port of Le Havre, France. In the ensuing two decades, CARE shipped approximately 100 million more Army surplus "10-in-1" food parcels, which came to be known as "CARE packages" (yes, that's where the term came from).

Since then, the scope of CARE's mission has changed, but the significance of its work has not. CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. CARE not only feeds the hungry, it also helps tackle underlying causes of poverty so that people can become self-sufficient. Recognizing that women and children suffer disproportionately from poverty, CARE places special emphasis on working with women to create permanent social change. CARE also delivers emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters and helps people rebuild their lives.

In the past year, CARE's work has helped 48 million people in 70 countries.

Purchasing "I am Powerful" CAREWear (timelessly stylish and appropriate exercise apparel), or making a donation on behalf of a loved one, is a gift that feels good and does good. CARE allocates an industry-leading 91 percent of all funds to program activities.

To learn more and to make a donation online, visit: www.care.org .

Empower a kid

While this gift may not "give back" to charity in a traditional, monetary sense, it nets a return that is indeed boundless.

Few would argue that humanity's future rests with our children.

One might wonder then why we continue to fail them when it comes to their health. In California this year, our kids' health received a failing grade. In the United States, 18 percent of children are overweight or obese, and that number is rising. In the world, every second child lives in poverty.

When you boost the health of our children, you elevate humanity.

This gift of health needn't come in the form of a pricey gadget, such as the "Super-Super-Happy Fun Activity Slide."

This gift idea (like most great gift ideas) requires commitment, not cash.

The goal here is to help kids lead healthier, more active lives. To do this, you could volunteer a day a week for an organization such as CARE or UNICEF. You could join Big Brothers/Big Sisters (www.bbbs.org) and play sports with kids. You might start a local parents group whose raison d'etre is to get active with their children. Or, you could simply spend more time helping your own kids be healthier.

Bottom line: Determine where your talents and passions lie, and unleash them on helping children lead better lives.

When a child feels healthier, she comes alive. And when she comes alive, she lights up the world.

And, that is the essence of giving a gift of health -- that gives back.