Alison Aubrey

Vibration plates have gained popularity as a way to mimic some of the effects of exercise.

The low-intensity vibrations produce mechanical signals that lead to some of the same effects that happen when our muscles contract.

The devices are marketed as helping everything from lymphatic drainage to muscle strength, but the evidence is limited.

The FDA has only approved one vibration device, a belt, to help slow the loss of bone strength in women with osteopenia.

Dr. Eric Asher of Northwell Health in New York recommends healthy habits for bone health, including weight-bearing exercise, calcium and vitamin D, staying hydrated, and good sleep.

His message to most patients who want to use a vibration device...

But it's not a panacea.

Allison Aubrey, NPR News.

Try to keep your house as cool as possible by covering windows to keep the sun out, not using your oven or things that will actually heat up the inside of your house.

Why are we supposed to eat such colorful food?

Why are blueberries so good for us?

Well, in that pigment, there are phytonutrients, compounds like carotenoids and flavonoids and anthocyanins.

Those are all big words for compounds that actually really can protect us.

This is Alison Aubrey, also a health correspondent at NPR.

I remember the very first time that this made sense to me.

I was on a reporting assignment at UC Davis.

I was visiting a scientist who was leading a study to evaluate the levels of antioxidants and other compounds in tomatoes.

And we were squatted down in this field and he was showing me this tomato

And he described how it was packed with these compounds like flavonoids and antioxidants.

And I kind of looked at him like, what's going on here?