ASK A GROOVY GAL
TFG EDITOR-IN-CHIEF JILLIAN SWARTZ ANSWERS YOUR QUESTIONS JUST FOR
THE HEALTH OF IT
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| I saw An Inconvenient Truth and I cried through the whole thing—partially from the hormones (I am eight months pregnant) and partially from the horror of it all. I want to tell everyone that they can help stop this problem. Will you tell your readers what they can do to make a change?–Lexi, Seattle, WA | |
| Yes, I hear you! It is devastating and very cry-worthy. Hybrid cars (which they are making more and more of nowadays—the American automakers are announcing new lines for 2007) and not using your dryer aside, here's one very easy thing you can do that will immediately make a difference: switch out your light bulbs. According to Energy Star, a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, "If every American replaced just one light bulb with an Energy Star, we'd save enough energy to light more than 2.5 million homes for a year and prevent greenhouse gases equivalent to the emissions of nearly 800,000 cars." So, imagine if we changed all the light bulbs to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs)—now that'd be a bright idea. CFLs use at least two-thirds less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to ten times longer. They're available in many different shapes and sizes and can fit almost any indoor and outdoor fixture. Click here to read more: www.energystar.gov and start being a part of the solution. |
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| Everyone keeps talking about the benefits of aloe. From your blog, I know you're trying to lose weight. Do you take aloe?—Linda, Livingston, NJ |
 Oh, girl, do I ever! I've been drinking it on and off for years—talk about a panacea for what ails ya! Aloe helps everything from your skin and nails to your digestive tract to muscle pain and arthritis. Some studies have even shown that it helps decrease cholesterol. Here's the coolest thing though: I just found out about active aloe. I am drinking two ounces of George's Always Active Aloe twice a day. It has no taste and is the consistency of water. Within one day (no kidding!) of taking the aloe, I saw a difference in my body and skin. ( $23.75 for one gallon, www.amazon.com)
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| What's the latest on immunizations? I've done so much research on it and I just don't know what to do. I am a little scared of the autism link.—Olga, Coconut Grove, FL | |
Immunizations are definitely scary. I stressed over them, too. I wouldn't even endeavor to weigh in on this subject, except to say that after much analysis we decided to let our child get her immunizations. THE FAMILY GROOVE did a great Q and A with a very knowledgeable pediatrician on this very subject called "To Vaccinate or Not to Vaccinate." Give it a read and let me know what you decide. In the end, you just have to do what feels right for you. You know instinctively what's right for your child. Good luck! |
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