Even though some parents put their little ones in booster seats while in the car, they don't always require them to use one when they are carpooling with other kids– that's according to a new survey published in this week's journal Pediatrics. The research, conducted by the University of Michigan, found more than 30% of parents do not enforce the rule of booster seats when their kids are with another driver. Investigators also found 45% of parents do not require their little ones to use a booster when they're driving other children who don't have booster seats. "The majority of parents reported that their children between the ages of four and eight use a safety seat when riding in the family car," says Dr. Michelle Macy, a clinical lecturer of emergency medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School and a pediatrician at U-M C.S. Mott Children's Hospital. "However, it's alarming to know that close to 70% of parents carpool, and when they do, they're often failing to use life-saving booster seats." Researchers believe car overcrowding and lack of time to coordinate booster seat switch offs are to blame for the lack of safety for kids in carpooling situations. Some parents seem to look the other way. But it's against the law, and many don’t understand that. “If parents don’t have a booster seat for a child under eight, it’s not safe,” stressed Macy.  “We realize life happens and things come up, but parents know they need to go by the laws or come up with options that are just as safe.” Most states require children to use a booster seat up to the age of eight. National recommendations encourage booster seats be used until a child grows to 57 inches, which is the average height of an 11-year-old, according to the study. Researchers also noted half of parents surveyed said they did not know the age limit on booster seats in their states and another 20 percent guessed incorrectly. That's why, study authors say, pediatricians should make it a top priority to let parents know about these laws. "According to current recommendations most children should be using booster seats beyond the age cited in state laws. As many parents may not even be aware of current booster seat recommendations, pediatricians should make it a priority to share this vital information with them," says Macy. Filed under: Children’s Health , Families Tagged: Val Wadas-Willingham – CNN Medical Producer

Since it’s important to vary workouts and keep the body guessing, this year I resolved to add spinning to my usual running-and-weights fitness routine. I made sure to wear and bring the right items to the gym, but I learned a few technique-related tips during class that I wish I’d known earlier. Planning to try an indoor cycling class for the first time? Keep these three pointers in mind to steer clear of injuries and make the most of your workout. Regularly shift your hands : To avoid stiff, sore wrists, be sure to move your hands around the handlebars by correctly incorporating the standard spinning hand positions . You should try to keep your hands slightly loose – no death grips necessary – and do your best to let your weight fall into your feet, rather than leaning your entire body into your hands. It’s also important to keep your shoulders down and relaxed. Keep pedal rotations pause-free : Aim to make each pedal revolution as smooth as possible so that you don’t put any extra strain on your ankles or the balls of your feet. There’s a natural tendency to pause at the bottom of a rotation – especially during standing intervals – so make sure that your leg and glute muscles stay in a constant push-and-pull rhythm. To achieve this, try keeping your feet flat rather than letting your heel turn up and toe push down. Focus on technique, not resistance : As you ease into spinning, don’t worry too much about the resistance level on your bike. Instead, strive to stay moving throughout the entire class and learn to fluidly transition between the sitting and standing positions. Later, when you’ve grown more comfortable on the bike, you can begin to worry about increasing resistance and amping up your workout.

Colder Winter months can sometimes make you neglect your daily water intake. You might assume you need less water than you do during Summer because you don’t feel parched and aren’t sweating like you do in warmer weather. Not true! Here are three reasons to keep your water cup filled during Winter. Hydrate Despite the Chill You need to drink the same amount of water year round - and maybe even more in the Winter . Even though it feels like you aren’t sweating as much as you do during the Summer, your body still loses a lot of water during the Winter from day-to-day activities like breathing, staying warm, and urinating. Read more on calculating your recommended daily water intake here . Winter activities like skiing, sledding, and even snowball fights can also lead to dehydration. Know the signs of dehydration so you can respond accordingly. If you are experiencing dizziness, headaches, constipation, or dark eye circles, quickly guzzle up some water. H20 Beauty Dry, nippy weather can leave skin cracked and flaky, but water does promote skin circulation and can help plump up your skin. While applying a hydrating moisturizer can help make skin smooth and supple, adequate water consumption is key for flake-free skin. Keep reading for the health reasons to keep water handy in Winter.

(MIAMI) – From healthy vending machines in senior high schools and parks to increasing the number of bike lanes and racks in cities throughout Miami-Dade, an initiative which presents healthy options in an effort to prevent and reduce illness from obesity is gaining ground. This Friday the Miami-Dade County Health Department will host an event to showcase the local work being done to combat obesity through the national Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW). The initiative, known locally as Make Healthy Happen Miami , is working to improve nutritional options and increase physical activity in the community and collaborating with local partners to prevent and reduce illnesses from obesity. The showcase event, which will run from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., will be held at the Sofitel Hotel at 5800 Blue Lagoon Drive in Miami. At the event, participants will be able to talk with members of the CPPW Leadership Team about efforts being taken to fight obesity. Florida Senator Rene Garcia, County Commissioner Rebeca Sosa, Health Department Administrator Dr. Lillian Rivera and Ann-Karen Weller, Director of the county’s Office of Community Health & Planning, are scheduled to speak. According to the CPPW, Make Healthy Happen Miami’s main objective is to “empower residents to bring about change in their communities, transform behavior leading to chronic disease, and inspire residents to improve their nutritional habits, decrease screen time, and increase physical activity.” In addition to offering healthy eating options and improving physical activity in schools, the “Make Healthy Happen” initiatives also address child care centers, access to healthy foods in convenience stores, farmer’s markets, breastfeeding practices and active transportation and recreation.

Mary asks… Social Phobia? I’ve been reading up lately about Social Phobia . I’m pretty sure i have it, but i’m so scared.. The symtoms work; i blush excessively! i sweat a lot and i get a stomach ache when i’m in social situations that can be embaressing or when i think i could be in a situation like this. I was reading up things to do to stop it on the net, but the only advice is see your doctor. I really dont want to do this. I dont even know where the doctors is and i never go there. My mum has a type of phobia like this called Agrophobia, it’s like this just much worse. I’m scared I may grow up to be like this, as it is probably inherited. But i really dont know what to do, there’s nobody i can really talk to about this, as its too embaressing! Please help me. And don’t just say ‘See your doctor’ This isn’t something i want to do, i know i should, but this isn’t really telling me something i dont know. Thanks so much.. Jonjune answers: I lived this life for years. I didn’t leave my house for 9 month’s when it first began. I know how frightening this is and the fear you have when you go out manifest’s itself into more, you have a lot of good advice here, take it slow, avoid being in large crowd’s, understand that everyone is NOT looking at you . I tried the medicine route, i tried the therapist’s, these didnt work for me. It boils down to self confidence hun, and your ability to face your fear… Try to figure out what makes you afraid in a sociol situation, understanding what is going on is half of the battle…I had my worst attack at my old work, in the end i passed out, woke up, and realized that ,that was it, that was all that was ever going to happen, once i realized that this “thing” wasnt going to kill me as i had thought befor i got better..i now work in a store with alot of customers and most times i am the only one there….i have my moments still but there just little ones…Dont be afraid to be afraid , we all fear something….god bless and good luck to you Mark asks… social phobia? I have social phobia , what can I do to lessen it w/o resorting to poping a pill. Jonjune answers: First, thank you for being smart enough not to take pills to treat a phobia. Psych meds are not very healthy in the long run. Second, phobias are hard to deal with and i would reconmend seeing a psychologist (not psychiatrist, they are paid by medical insurance companies only if they prescribe you with meds). If you cannot afford it, try to go to social settings and relax yourself as much as possible, meditate if possible. If you fall asleep in a social setting you are definitely improving this phobia. After so many times of reaching a peak in relaxation in a social setting, you will immediately feel comfortable in settins such as malls and parks. Lizzie asks… Social phobia…? Im 15 years old. I have been bullied all my life in school since the 3rd grade. After about 5th grade… it caused me to have social phobia because people would always torment my looks and my “BIG BONEDNESS” Its caused me to drop outta school and forced to be locked up in my house. Like i cant go outside if a neighbor is standing there… i always have like this shyness that he/she is looking at my appearence. Is there like a way i could treat this? I used to be social and have friends and everything, but the past 4 years ive been kind of a loner. Which i like very much. I dont know, i just love being by myself. Jonjune answers: Well if you really want to get rid of your problem. You just have to be brave. You have to understand that soem people will like youm, and some will not. If you have a hobby you enjoy, try getting out there and joining a club or something. The best way to meet people is to meet people with similar interests. Above all, don’t be afraid and just have fun! Donald asks… Social……..phobia?????????? Ok,so here is my story… I’ve been in a long rush trough my life ,it all begun at the age of 14 when i had severe depression treated with antidepressants.I was very very anxious&stressed&co. later i became socialy isolated and very shy, i think it’s because my dopamine was depleted in that strong depression (full 3 months of panic attacks + more) I had some other problems that induced my social phobia ,I had severe acne & scars wich made me impossible to talk/look/carry a conversation with people,i was extremly stressed 2 years like passing out every day with my mouth dry. However my acne was treated and i have no longer scars,the fact is that all my past friends are gone and I became isolated,there is one major problem in all this bullshit. THE PROBLEM IS THAT I HAVE EXTREME ANXIETY AT MEETINGS,after I meet someone that i know i can carry a conversation but I just cant meet that person so i just keep runing from them ,i can’t look in their eyes i preffer ignoring my old friends…what’s wrong with me ? i find it impossible to meet someone just like say ”HI,HOW ARE YOU” im always feeling heartbeat and my blood running like a train when I see the person girl or boy.But if i can do a good salute everything goes well,it’s just i fear to met them,what the heck is this ???? anyway it’s very strange that im not anxious with unknown persons,just with girls when it comes to meet them.But i’m terrified of my old friends,maybe it’s linked to my past or something?And even if I meet a new person and after some weeks I meet him again i’m terrified of the meeting (shaking hands,saying hello,etc) but as I told..im afraid of meetings. someone experienced this ? is it normal ? Jonjune answers: View the information and weblinks for social anxiety/shyness, and self confidence, in sections 9, and 38, at http://www.ezy-build.net.nz/~shaneris Here is an exercise that can help you. It is called “Act as If.” When you are in a social situation, act as if you are outgoing. Talk more, smile at everyone, ask questions, speak in a normal or excited tone, not a meek tone. Watch some of your outgoing peers, and imitate the style of their social behavior. Research shows that when you “act as if” continually, your image of yourself begins to conform to your new behavior. In this case, you will gain self-esteem and self-confidence, and begin to see yourself as socially normal, not shy. You will become more socially successful, and this will motivate you to continue your new social behavior until it becomes a habit. Try this for a month, in every situation you can. I am confident that you will become much more comfortable and outgoing. One form of therapy is to go somewhere that nobody knows you, and deliberately make an utter fool of yourself: put on a paper hat, and scream out: “I’m queen/king of America!”, or something else ridiculous, then get back in the taxi, (warn the driver of your intentions, first) or car, and leave. People will point, and say: “Look at that idiot”. But, you’re probably not up to the stage where you can do that, yet (I can, and I used to be shy). It will teach you that, although it isn’t actually pleasant, you will survive; be stronger for the experience, and the next time (should you need to repeat this type of therapy) will be considerably easier. Remember: “A fear avoided is a fear strengthened; a fear faced is a fear reduced.” Regard it as your final test: once you have accomplished it, the barrier will be broken; just don’t go too far, the other way! Learn to laugh at yourself, and give a big, cheesy grin when others see you do something foolish, as we all do, occasionally. It is endearing, if you don’t do it too often. Use positive affirmations: for example: “I am very likable and other people feel comfortable around me”. Write down all of your self limiting beliefs; then write down the positive counter of them, (exact opposite) and repeat them and imprint them into your mind. Most importantly: Force yourself to approach somebody and initiate some sort of communication. Start out small by asking the time and directions and gradually go bigger. Although there are anti-anxiety medications (anxiolytics) available, these come with risks, and the possibility of side effects, habituation, even addiction, and withdrawal problems, and are unsuitable for young people. Try having a cup of “Tension Tamer”, herbal tea, by Celestial Seasonings, (from supermarket tea, or health food aisles) or make some at home, and cool, then bottle, and drink as needed (I find it so strong tasting, that I need to drink it quickly, followed by something like fruit juice, to take away the taste, but others may find it more tolerable). C(h)amomile tea is a more palatable option. As with all herbal/green teas, use lemon/lime, and/or a little sweetener (NOT ARTIFICIAL!!!) but no cream, or milk. Panic: see section 8. Anxiety: section 6: view page N first. Look people on the top of the bridge of the nose, instead of the eyes. You could try “shaping” to salute, but if civilians are involved, change it to scratching your forehead, as a substitute. Ruth asks… What is the difference between Social Phobia and Avoidant Personality Disorder? How can you tell if you have Avoidant Personality Disorder or a severe case of Social Phobia ? Jonjune answers: Research suggests that people with avoidant personality disorder, in common with social phobics, excessively monitor their own internal reactions when they are involved in social interaction. However, unlike social phobics they also excessively monitor the reactions of the people with whom they are interacting. The extreme tension created by this monitoring may account for the hesitant speech and taciturnity of many people with avoidant personality disorder. They are so preoccupied with monitoring themselves and others that producing fluent speech is difficult. Avoidant personality disorder is reported to be especially prevalent in people with anxiety disorders, although estimates of comorbidity vary widely due to differences in (among others) diagnostic instruments. Research suggests that approximately 10–50% of the people who have a panic disorder with agoraphobia have APD, as well as about 20–40% of the people who have a social phobia (social anxiety disorder). Some studies report prevalence rates of up to 45% among the people with generalized anxiety disorder and up to 56% of the people with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Although it is not mentioned in the DSM-IV, earlier theorists have proposed a personality disorder which has a combination of features from borderline personality disorder and avoidant personality disorder, called “avoidant-borderline mixed personality” Powered by Yahoo! Answers Related Blogs

Here’s a group of yoga poses your kids will love to try. Yoga and kids make such a great fit because children naturally love to move their bodies and use their imagination to act like animals and other things in their world. Just keep in mind that younger tots will prefer hopping and ribbiting in Frog pose rather than holding still, so encourage them to move around and make noise. Use these poses to play a game of Simon Says, where you do a pose like Starfish and they copy you. A game of Freeze Yoga is also fun – play some upbeat tunes, and when the music stops, call out a yoga pose (like Boat or Flamingo) and they have to hold the pose like a statue. Or have your kids make up their own yoga poses. When it comes to children and yoga, the most important thing is to be creative and have fun so as they grow up, their love of yoga will grow, too. Source: Thinkstock View Slideshow ›

When you finally get the go-ahead from your doc to start exercising after having your baby (usually at about six to eight weeks postpartum), you may find it hard to leave your little one to fit in some exercise. That doesn’t mean you have to abandon all hopes for getting your prebaby body back. Here are some must haves for new moms to help you drop the pounds you gained during pregnancy. View Slideshow ›

I’m definitely a fan of Valentine’s Day, but mostly because I like the excuse to eat chocolate. Besides tasting good, dark chocolate is full of heart-healthy flavonoids (equal to many fruits ), can soothe a cough , increase blood flow , and lower blood pressure . Spread the love even more this holiday by buying my picks for chocolate that’s organic, Fair Trade, or health-inspired, and don’t forget to throw in a cute card – your sweetie will love you even more for it! Vosges chocolatier Katrina Markoff fuses her premium chocolates with things like curry, wasabi, and ginger, but we especially like Vosges because of its yoga and chocolate weekend workshops . Make vegan and gluten-free friends happy with the Vosges vegan truffle collection ($25) – with ingredients like agave nectar, organic coconut milk, pomegranate, and acai, this collection is sure to be a hit with health conscious friends. The handmade Drunken Figs ($35) from Cocoavino are made with red wine and dark chocolate – talk about antioxidant overload! Chocolate from Cocoavino is organic and Fair Trade certified, made with wind power, and sold in eco-friendly packaging. Forget Nestlé Crunch; Dark Quinoa Chocolate bars ($5) from Alter Eco give you that same crunch except with a tiny burst of protein. Alter Eco sources all of its ingredients from Fair Trade farms and also helps fund community development programs. To see what other chocolate made the cut, read more. The Belle of the Berries ($22) box from Lillie Belle Farms is completely organic and made from raspberries, strawberries, and marionberries straight from the Lillie Belle Farm in Oregon. If you’re looking for pure chocolate without the frills, grab a Kallari chocolate bar ($6), one of the few organic, Fair Trade, or Rainforest Alliance bars that got good marks from The New York Times . The Kallari story is unique in that the company is a cooperative of indigenous Kichwa farmers from the Ecuadorian Amazon; the group is made up of cacao farmers, self-taught chocolate makers, and other artisans. View 5 Photos ›

Propolis isn’t nearly as well known as honey. In fact, it serves no culinary purpose in the human food chain. However, for bees, it plays an essential role in building and maintaining beehives by acting as a glue of sorts. It is also commonly employed as an ingredient in many natural cold and flu remedies. Related posts: H1N1 Flu Prevention Update

Last night’s Thintervention marked the fifth week trainer Jackie Warner has been working the show’s contestants. While a handful are having success altering their diets and upping their workouts, most are still struggling to lose weight week to week and disregarding crucial elements of the regime. Suspicious of the sluggish results, Jackie brings in a lie detector test to the group therapy session to uncover how they are cheating. It’s game-show gimmicky, but a telling exercise in honesty. Fibbing about how often you cheat on your diet is just like lying to your dentist about how often you floss: sure, it’s your business, but you are only hurting yourself if you exaggerate how dedicated you are. Are you truthful about your devotion to your health? Photo courtesy of Bravo Are You Honest About Your Eating and Workout Habits? Yes - I am honest about what I eat and/or how often I work out. No - I fib here and there.