Ask a Groovy Gal (Well-Being & Health)

ASK A GROOVY GAL
TFG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JILLIAN SWARTZ ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS
JUST FOR THE HEALTH OF IT

I'm obsessed with organic products, but I can't find any quality organic towels. Do you know of any sites that sell them?—Nicole, Lincroft, NJ

Once you get into going green, it's difficult not to get obsessed. It's actually fun to see how chemical-free you can be. According to the Organic Trade Association (www.ota.com), 25 percent of the world's insecticides and 10 percent of the world's pesticides are used on cotton. Yuck! Then we use this chemical-laden cotton to dry ourselves after a shower—now that doesn't make sense. Not to mention, how those chemicals seep into the air, water and even livestock food supply. What a sin!

Okay, off my soap box I go. Twig and Twill carries soft and comfy 100 percent organic towels ($8 for a wash cloth, $18 for a hand towel, $32 for a bath towel and $52 for a bath sheet, www.twigandtwill.com). So for the same price as any other towel, you can clean up your act in more ways than one.

Is there any juice that is okay for kids to drink?—Alyson, Cape Coral, Florida
What a loaded question! I don't usually give my three-year-old daughter any juice. We don't keep it in the house and we even avoid the juice aisle of Whole Foods—out of sight, out of mind. That being said, Scarlett winds up drinking juice at least once a week. Sneaky sucker! Kids just love juice, so when they are going to drink it, we should do our best to ensure that it's healthy. I like the Frutzzo's Yumberry Juice (www.frutzzo.com). Yumberry is a subtropical fruit that contains the most powerful free-radical battling antioxidant called Oligomeric Proanthocyanidins (OPCs). OPCs are tauted as being 20 times more powerful than vitamin C, 50 times more effective than vitamin E, while also protecting your body against cardiovascular and degenerative diseases and premature aging. Yumberry is even credited with lowering both LDL cholesterol and blood pressure levels, increasing the strength and elasticity of blood vessels thus slowing down the collapse of collagen in the skin. Now that's a berry! Frutzzo adds no sugar, no coloring and no preservatives for an all-juice experience without a drop of guilt.

Now that I am six weeks postpartum, I was just given clearance to start exercising. Are there any workout DVDs that you can recommend?—Natalie, Cambridge, MA

I can give you a better recommendation than a workout DVD. We've featured many workouts that are specially designed for moms just like you.

If you peruse our Well-Being & Health section, you'll see a new and inspiring article by our fitness guru, Lori Sawyer in almost every issue that will serve as your guide on the road back to your once and former body, mind and soul.

Here are a few of my favorites:
Gut Buster
Home Body
Summer Shape Up—it's great for any time of year
The Sharper Image

You'll need to purchase some gear to maximize your in-home workout. Don't worry—none of it is expensive. Check out Lori's article on the best equipment for your make-shift home gym.

I am so excited that you were given the all-clear to work out. Setting aside 30 minutes to an hour of time each day to exercise is life-altering in so many powerful ways.

Click here to read about Jillian's life in the 'hood—motherhood.