Multi Woes, Awesome Science and Lessons from Abroad

Multivitamins may not be so multi-talented, digital imaging has muscle and Brazil shows us how it’s done.

To Multi or Not to Multi?
That is the question. And new research says “not.” Somewhere the Centrum marketing team is freaking out.

According to the Archives of Internal Medicine, a daily multivitamin may not keep cancer or heart disease at bay. While the 161,808 women who were part of the pill-poppin’ study didn’t have an decreased risk of some chronic diseases, the supplements certainly didn’t hurt, especially for those with limited diets. And note that the study just looked at general multivitamins and didn’t include prenatal vitamins or other supplements like calcium and vitamin D. So you moms-to-be or those who have been ordered to take a multi by your doctor, keep at it.

Another reason to keep eating your veggies.

Muscle Moves
Sometimes technology just amazes me. Like jaw-on-the-floor amazes me. Like, I-can-really-point-an-iPhone-at-a-any-speaker-and-it’ll-tell-me-the-artist-and-title-of-a-song amazes me. A-maz-ing. And here’s another example: Dutch researchers have created a new digital imaging system that allows them to see the body in real time, along with—and this is the coolest part—highlighting muscle movement.

Get this: “the system uses infrared strobe lights and eight cameras to track muscle movement in patients while they wear reflective suits during exercise.” How much fun would that be?! I can really only imagine Beyoncé all geared up dancing her “Single Ladies” dance while the researchers try to track that action. Ka-pow!

Besides doing that, the new technology can help with stroke recovery and muscle rehabilitation, which deserves an even bigger KA-POW!

Technology is so darn cool.

Brazil Knows What’s Up
If America really wants to get healthier, a new study says that we need to take a closer look at our South American neighbors. A Brazilian health-promotion program recently showed crazy good results, and researchers say that it may just be a matter of moving the program to the U.S. for us to see the same.

The program was held in Recife, Brazil, (fun trivia: Recife is the fifth largest city in Brazil) and consisted of 21 public spaces that were used for free calisthenic and dance classes, walking groups and nutrition classes, each day from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. While researchers say the initiative can work in the US of A, it’s probably only possible in sunny, warm cities where you canexercise outside year round.

If only I lived in a warmer city.

Will you still take a multivitamin? Interested in this new type of digital imagining? Wish you lived in Brazil? Let us know in the comments! —Jenn

Want more fun fitness news that you can use? Check out how you can work out with Jillian for free and how you can reduce your stress levels.

Photos grabbed from shouldbecleaning,~ggvic~ and Henrique Vicente on Flickr.