BY CARLEY DRYDEN, Staff Writer

The L.A. FitExpo in February was a chance for leaders in the health and fitness industry to unveil their newest ideas. Among the more interesting developments:

Mixed martial arts, once seen as brutal and overly violent,has gained popularity as a competitive sport and in gyms, said fitness trade show producer Mark Missioreck. He predicts an increase of classes like one that offers Israeli self-defense tactics as a group exercise. Much of the L.A. FitThe expo also featured demonstrations of new products:

The vibration platform known as the Power Plate — developed in the '60s for the Soviet space program as a way to stay strong in zero gravity — uses acceleration training to stimulate the body's natural response to vibration and being thrown off balance. The plate activates muscle contractions 25 to 50 times per second. This leads to an increase in flexibility, range of motion, muscle tone and strength, and elimination of cellulite, said Andy Clay of Blue Clay Fitness in Beverly Hills, which offers classes featuring the Power Plate. The equipment retails starting atfor $2,500. For more information, go to www.powerplate.com. Contact Blue Clay Fitness at (310) 770-3058).

The Close Grip vest holds up to 50 pounds in weight to help improve the efficacy of any workout through resistance training. Riko Floyd developed the nylon vest after lunging with 45-pound weights that would slip out of his hands and smash his feet. The vest allows users to carry more weight safely. The Close Grip vest retails for $150 (women) and $160 (men) at www.closegrip.com.

Angelenos, as front-runners in nutrition trends, should look to Hollywood alum Cathy Silvers (Jenny Piccalo on the '70s sitcom "Happy Days"), who swears by living foods. Just over 100 pounds, the 46-year-old Silvers, who became a raw vegan after a tumor was discovered on her ovary, recommends an 80 percent raw diet of fruits, veggies, nuts and seeds. She says her tumor disappeared two weeks after she began her diet. "Living foods are medicinal," she said. Silvers recommends transitioning into a two-out-of-three-meals-raw diet by drinking green smoothies. "When you cook food, you are killing enzymes and losing nutrients," she said. Three of her children "responded beautifully" to the raw foods diet. "They haven't been mayonaissed, mustarded and put into baggies," she said proudly. For Silvers' Healthy Living products, home delivery of organic foods and her book, "Happy Days Healthy Living," go to www.healthy livingshow.com.

Now you can even chew gum that burns pounds, thanks to Joe Antouri's Fit Gum, a combination of green tea, hoodia, sanafrin and other ingredients that provide energy and oxidize fat. The combination raises metabolism but keeps you calm, not shaky. It's available for $2 a pack at www.fitgum.net.