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Is it just me or are flowers the first thing that pop into your mind when you think of a get-well gift? Now, I would never discourage you from sending the most traditional get-well gift, but I’d like to remind you that, beyond flowers, you have other very worthy get-well options — presents that can literally help the healing process. As in, gifts sanctioned (encouraged, even) by the medical community.
Here are five get-well gift ideas that are also delicious.
Ice cream
There are times when medical professionals will actually recommend eating ice cream. For instance: after a tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy (the removal of swollen tonsils or adenoids from the back of the throat). Here, doctors will recommend ice cream and the like because of its smooth, cold, soothing properties. The same is true for when a patient has had dental work done. And maybe — just maybe — ice cream can be a good get-well supplement any time. In 2018, a Harvard doctoral student discovered that, among diabetics, eating a half cup of ice cream a day was associated with a lower risk of heart problems. Scientists have yet to disprove his work, so dig in.
Soup
We realize your mom is still crowing “I told you so” about how, when you were sick as a child, she forced you to eat chicken soup. And true enough: The soup’s amino acid cysteine thins mucus aiding in decongestion and faster healing. And while chicken soup still rules in the healthy food category, lots of other tasty soups promote health for the ailing. For instance, a smoked salmon chowder is high in omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for your heart, blood vessels, lungs, immune system, and endocrine system. And let’s not forget about a good ol’ vegetable soup, which is loaded with celery, onions, zucchini, yellow squash, roasted red peppers, fire-roasted tomatoes, and carrots. (The latter vegetable alone is filled with antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, protecting vision and your heart, and much more).
READ MORE: Is Chicken Soup Really Good for the Soul?
Comforting prepared meals
For someone sick at home, cooking can be daunting. Sending your ailing friend or family member a meal can help them rest up rather than strain at the stove. Plus, since you’re nice enough to order the big one, they will have plenty of food left over. And, if your mending friend is up to it (and not contagious!), you can join them for a sit-down. A few examples: a traditional meatloaf, pizza, and any type of pot pie. These, and much more, are a whole lot better than whatever you’d pick up in the frozen food aisle.
Fruit
Whether it’s your doctor or (once again) your mom, fruit is one of those food categories you’re always told to eat more of. That’s why sending a traditional fruit basket is a no-brainer. Pears, for instance, boast a good amount of vitamin C, antioxidants, fiber, and potassium, making them effective in lowering inflammation, promoting digestive health, and helping manage blood sugar. Apples offer similar benefits. Oranges and other citrus fruits are also high in fiber and antioxidants along with vitamin C, which helps support immune function. Plus, they’re sweet and juicy.
Chocolate
Willy Wonka had nothing on professor Alyn Morice. The head of respiratory medicine at the University of Hull in England, Morice discovered in 2016 that chocolate actually soothes coughs. A head-to-head comparison found that patients taking a chocolate-based medicine saw significant improvement in cough symptoms within two days. Cocoa, it turns out, is stickier than standard cough medicines, according to the Daily Mail, causing it to coat the throat nerve endings that triggers coughs. So basically, you’d be sending your sick friend the guiltiest pleasure that actually helps them feel better. Choose your medicine right here.
AUTHOR
Rob Medich is an editor/writer (“content creator,” as we say now) who’s covered everything from fitness and health (Men’s Health; Men’s Fitness; Esquire) to entertainment (New York Post; Premiere; CBS.com) to tech (Sound & Vision) to business (The Wall Street Journal).