A Multi is a Supplement… Not a Replacement
Science Daily reports on an interesting study…
Two different experiments were conducted…Participants in Group A were instructed to take a multivitamin and participants in the control group were assigned to take a placebo. However, all the participants actually took placebo pills. The results from the experiments and survey demonstrated that participants who believed they had taken dietary supplements felt invulnerable to health hazards, thus leading them to engage in health-risk behaviors. Specifically, participants in the perceived supplement use group expressed less desire to engage in exercise and more desire to engage in hedonic activities, preferred a buffet over an organic meal (Experiment 1), and walked less to benefit their health (Experiment 2) than the control group.
I haven’t been able to scrounge up a copy of the study yet, so I can’t say how strong the effect was. But it parallels conversations I’ve had before with a few folks, who seemed to think that taking a multi meant they could skip eating vegetables.
Nuh-uh.
Taking a multi can certainly help compensate for day-to-day shortfalls in certain nutrients… even a generally healthy diet doesn’t always cover all the daily bases. But it’s not “written permission” to eat junk, or to avoid certain food groups. ‘Nuff said.
May 1, 2011
I have seen this quite a few times. If someone takes a certain supp they feel they can just eat or do what they want. Take a fat burner, then eat whatever you want. As in this study, take a multi and not worry about fruits and veggies.
As you said, it would be interesting to see a copy of the study to see the complete story. Very interesting.
May 1, 2011
I’ve heard that the cancer-fighting phytonutrients cannot be found in the pills. I suppose the same goes with fiber. Other stuff?