There has been a lot of speculation as to whether multivitamins are actually good for our health. But Taiwanese researchers have discovered that popping these pills every day might be doing a bigger detriment to our mental health.
It turns out that a daily dose of multivitamins can give a person a false sense of security and lead to an increase in risky behaviors.
The study consisted of 82 volunteers who took sugar pills, but half of the participants were told that they were being given multivitamins. The researchers found that those who believed they were taking multivitamins were more likely to binge-drink, sunbathe, engage in casual sex and choose to eat at an all-you-can-eat buffet in lieu of a healthy meal.
Commented Leslie Bonci, a director of sports nutrition at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center who is unrelated to the study: “We this face challenge every day, and it’s not just athletes. There are many patients who believe there is exercise in a bottle. … Sometimes they attribute to supplements superhuman properties that let them off the hook for healthy behaviors. They’ll say, ‘I’m taking this supplement so it doesn’t matter what I eat.’”
Source: MSNBC.com
Heather Rudow is a staff writer for Counseling Today. Email her at hrudow@counseling.org.