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've been on the hunt for a good signature drink for a while now. I will not drink a cosmo, but I do want something fun, slightly fruity and light—with a kick, of course. And just in case I overdo it, got any good hangover cures?—Meagan, Scottsdale, AZ

Despite my years of bartending, I couldn't come up with a good one for you. All those late nights and incessant rounds of shots have done a number on me and I'm certainly not the one to consult on how to avoid a hangover. Oh, just thinking about it makes me feel slightly dizzy and crave a grilled cheese. So, I reached out to Natalie Bovis-Nelsen of The Liquid Muse (www.theliquidmuse.com) for the perfect drink to sip at home or out on the town and some tips on drinking responsibly. Here's what the queen of cocktails has to say:

“Well, about a year ago I did a blog entry called “Just Say No To The Cosmo.” The idea being that the Cosmo was overrated. My suggestion then was the Negroni. Refreshing, classic and classy, the Negroni is a fab alternative. My own twist on it is what I call the The Liquid Muse Nelsen Negroni, which incorporates a little freshly squeezed grapefruit juice.

Ingredients:
1 ounce gin
1 ounce Campari
1 ounce grapefruit juice
1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
Orange wheel

Directions:
Shake gin, campari and grapefruit juice, with ice. Pour into an ice filled rocks glass. Top with sweet vermouth and garnish with orange wheel.

As far as hangovers, the only prevention/cure is water, water, water. Drink a glass in between cocktails and drink a glass before bed. If hung over, drink water all day to help rehydrate (dehydration is the biggest reason for hangovers) and flush out the toxins.”

I am on a 1200 calorie diet and have been for the past 16 years. I have a bread issue. I know that a serving of bread is one slice equals one ounce. What is the more important: the calories or the quantity? Say one slice equals 80 calories but the quantity is one and a half ounces? My gut was to go with calories no matter what, but so many things have changed in the exchange list over the years.—Donna, B.
This is another great question—and one that I don't know the answer to. I reached out to our nutrition expert, Kelly Scotti of Flying Dragon Wellness (www.flyingdragonwellness.com) for her sage advice. Here's what she had to say: “Usually, I would need more information. If they are on a specific diet plan, the advice may have to be specific to the plan itself. Most plans are concerned with the calories mainly, but some add the ounces information to make it easy to correspond to any of a number of different brands. When in doubt, I suggest to go with the calories, in addition to assessing the fat and other ingredients as well. For example, 80 calories with nine grams fat is a lot different than 80 calories with two grams of fat.”

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