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Holidays hit a little differently when you’ve got an autoimmune disease. Honestly, Christmas parties aren’t all that fun when you can’t eat the festive food, and the heavily scented candles make you break out in hives. Not to mention, the gifts. Ohhhh the gifts!

I’m going to let you in on a secret. I have a corner in my closet where I add lotions and soaps from a popular bath product store that I’m gifted each year by friends and family. Yep, a secret stash that I can’t use. I’m always way too afraid of hurting feelings, so I paste on a smile and say “thank you”. I am crazy grateful to be thought of, really I am! But also, sigh. Afterward, into the closet it goes until eventually it gets donated or passed out to my teenagers’ friends.

Eek! I can’t believe I just admitted that.
But, maybe y’all would want to know?

How do you explain to someone that their present, that was given with love, could make you sick?

If you don’t deal with autoimmunity or are not highly health conscious, the whole idea might feel pretty darn foreign. And, that’s ok. We’re all learning and doing our best with what we know. But when we know better, we can choose to do better. Right?

Surprising Statistics

As of 2019, 1 in every 5 Americans living in the United States has an autoimmune disease. 1 in 5! That is somewhere around 50 million people. Kind of mind blowing, isn’t it? With autoimmunity on the rise, that list of peeps most likely includes a few that you personally know.

If you have a loved one who lives the autoimmune life, one of the best ways that you can show you care is to learn about it. Ask them questions! Take the time to lean in. Listen to their story. Find out about their struggles. What sends them into a downward spiral? What helps them feel better? Do they have specific allergies or triggers? What can and can’t they eat? It doesn’t take much to reach out. Even the smallest effort could make a massive difference in your relationship.

The older I get the more I realize that we all just want to feel seen.

Want to make the autoimmune sister in your life feel extra loved this Christmas? Surprise her with a gift that is safe for her to use and enjoy! If you’re not quite sure what that looks like, I got you! Don’t stress! I compiled a list of some of my favorite tried and true things to get the ideas flowing.

A gift guide for those with autoimmune disease made by someone with an autoimmune disease.

Autoimmune Gift Guide:

1. Magnesium Flakes– Add these to a hot bath for a relaxing soak that relieves muscle tension, reduces inflammation, removes toxins, improves circulation, fights infection, melts away stress, and is easily absorbed through the skin.
2. Organic Herbal Tea– Herbal tea is not only cozy and calming, but is shown to boost the immune system, fight off inflammation and provide antioxidants. All without caffeine, which can aggravate autoimmune symptoms.
3. Cheery Mug– Because who doesn’t love a cute mug?
4. Happy Light– A light therapy lamp can help fight winter blues, improve sleep, boost mood, increase energy, and enhance focus. Give Seasonal Affective Disorder the boot!
5. Whirley-Pop– After having to cut out a lot of food, popcorn has become a special treat for me. Using a Whirley Pop or air popper has allowed me to enjoy popcorn without worrying about the PFAs, artificial flavoring, preservatives, and seed oils. Making popcorn in the Whirley Pop only requires popcorn seeds, a few tablespoons of coconut oil, and a dusting of popcorn salt! So yummy!
6. Popcorn Salt– My favorite popcorn salt is made by Redmond Real Salt. I like Redmond’s because their salt is an unrefined, unbleached, ancient salt full of trace minerals. And, it’s mined right here in Utah!
7. Journal– One of the key triggers of autoimmune issues is stress. Crazy right? Journaling has been proven over and over again to have incredible benefits in helping manage stress. It improves mental health, aids in emotional regulation, reduces anxiety and depression symptoms, and strengthens well being. My brother gave me this little gratitude journal last Christmas and I have LOVED it. It’s a really lovely one!
8. Cute Puzzle– Another way to decrease stress is to spend some time doing puzzles. Studies have found that jigsaw puzzles can improve mood, lower stress levels, increase IQ, and strengthen problem solving skills. This one by artist Lore’ Pemberton is darling! She is one of my favorite accounts to follow on social media. I would absolutely live in one of her paintings if it were possible.
9. Battery Operated Candles– One of the hardest things for me to let go of on this autoimmune journey has been candles. I used to have scented candles in every room of the house. Sadly, most candles contain artificial fragrances that release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) when burned. VOCs cause allergic reactions, asthma, and irritation. Some VOCs are even linked to higher risk of cancer. While candles made from natural ingredients like soy and beeswax are markedly better, battery operated candles take the worry out. I really like these wax candles and have them all over my mantle! The wax makes them look and feel a little more real. They even gently flicker which adds to the ambiance!
10. Diffuser– Instead of giving plug in air fresheners or wax melts that contain phthalates and endocrine disruptors, consider giving an essential oil diffuser. Diffusing essential oil can aid in relaxation, calm, enhance clarity, boost mood, and improve sleep, on top of a host of other benefits.
11. Yoga Mat– If I had to choose one thing that has helped me to better deal with life the last few years, it would be developing a yoga practice. According to studies, yoga significantly improves psychosomatic symptoms, flexibility, posture, range of motion, strength, pain levels, immune function, and inflammation levels. Yoga can positively impact health on a physical, mental, and emotional level. The mat linked above is sold by one of my favorite local Yogis, Elise Jones from Utah Yoga and Wellness. Elise has a severe stage of congestive heart failure and yet continues to bring magic to the world. Sharing her heart with everyone she meets. She’s a gem! Check out her instagram HERE for inspiration and daily fun.
12. Shampoo & Conditioner Bars– I started using these clean shampoo and conditioner bars last year and haven’t looked back. They are natural, sulfate free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, ph balance, 100% vegan, plastic-free, sustainable, cruelty-free, ethically sourced, and gentle on hair. Added bonus? They are great for travel.
13. Puzzle Table– I asked Santa for this puzzle table for Christmas this year. I love that you can pick it up and move it around and it has drawers for holding pieces. No more half done puzzle and 4 cookie sheets of pieces strewn about on the dining table messing up dinner time!
14. Clean Chocolate– Finding chocolate that doesn’t contain soy has been so much harder than I’d have ever imagined! Soy is a major trigger for me and many other people out there with autoimmune issues. I have searched high and low for clean chocolate, and these Theo bars are by far my favorite. They come in a variety of flavors, but I am partial to the dark chocolate sea salt. I also like their mint bar. Really good chocolate without fillers. Yum! I have found them cheapest at my local Natural Grocers, but if you don’t have one near you I’ve included a link to Theo’s website.
15. Air Purifier– Our youngest daughter also has an autoimmune disease. She is highly reactive to smoke and air pollution. A family friend, who runs the North American division of the company linked, brought us over an air purifier in hopes of helping my daughter’s bloody noses. Not only has it helped clean the air in our home, it has aided in keeping sickness in check too. Air pollution has been linked to increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and immune response. We love this brand but if you choose something else, make sure it has a HEPA filter.
16. High Powered Blender– Eating a healthy, nutritious diet is a key component of living a healthy life with an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases can often cause nutrient deficiencies. When you have autoimmune issues, it is important to eat lots of vegetables, fruit, fiber, protein, and healthy fats. It can be hard to get in all the veggies and protein for me, so I like to add a green smoothie or protein shake as a snack. Additionally, I use mine for making homemade dressings, nice cream, and soup! Having a quality, strong blender is incredibly multifaceted and useful.
17. Clean Protein Powder– Finding a good tasting clean protein is not easy! Let me tell you, I have tried a bunch of them. After lots of taste testing, I like Just Ingredients protein best. They have lots of flavors, and even a few vegan options which I really appreciate since I have a dairy allergy. I miss milkshakes terribly, so sometimes I blend up some mint chocolate protein and try to pretend it’s a Dairy Keen shake. Obviously, it’s not the same but, hey, it’s something.
18. Face Serum– Cleaning up my makeup and personal care products has been a long, but beneficial, slog. I’m slowly learning how to read labels and can pick out parabens and endocrine disruptors. Isn’t it ridiculous that we have to search for products that are healthier choices? It blows my mind that our government is cool with companies putting toxins in their products just because it saves a buck. I could rant for an hour so I better stop now. Sorry. This face serum from Just Ingredients is completely clean and feels so nice. I use it on my face, but also as a body moisturizer. It’s incredibly nourishing and smells delicious too. My go-tos are eucalyptus mint and citrus, but the vanilla mint is lovely too.
19. Dry Brush– Dry brushing is something I hadn’t heard much about until falling down the autoimmune rabbit hole. Dry brushing has been practiced around the world for centuries. It increases circulation, improves lymphatic drainage, exfoliates and improves skin, supports facia, and calms the body by activating the parasympathetic nervous system. My body has a hard time moving lymph and I tend to get lots of swelling. Dry brushing has helped me immensely with that issue! My hands and neck feel so much better when I dry brush regularly.
20. Gua Sha– Like dry brushing, gua sha may be something you’ve not heard much about. Gua sha is a technique in traditional eastern medicine that involves using a stone tool to rub the skin. It helps promote blood circulation and lymphatic drainage. Released muscle tension is another benefit. Oh, and it feels incredibly relaxing which, in turn, helps with stress. There are stones for the face and other bigger ones for the body. The one I linked is a facial gua sha and a good starter tool.

Other Autoimmune Friendly Gift Ideas:

The Best Gift

I hope this autoimmune friendly gift guide can give you some ideas for what to get that special loved one. If nothing else, perhaps it has gotten the wheels turning. Most people don’t think about any of this until they have to. It’s a lot of work. I genuinely wish that more people understood that having an autoimmune disease can feel totally isolating. It’s lonely. Some of these gift ideas are pricey, but don’t feel overwhelmed if that doesn’t fit in your budget. It can be a simple as a clean chapstick or a soy-free chocolate bar.

If you’re still not sure, reach out and ask them. Knowing that someone put some genuine thought into getting something that is safe for me to enjoy… that makes even the smallest present feel like a treasure.

Because being seen, truly seen, is the best gift of all.