Expert warns that multivitamins do nothing –

Many Americans take multivitamins every day, hoping they have the key to preventing illness and even premature death. But one major expert warns that daily pills can be just a waste of time.

Dr. Fang Fang Zhang, a cancer epidemiologist at Tufts University in Boston, Massachusetts, told TIME that there is no evidence that taking these types of drugs daily will extend a person’s lifespan or prevent chronic disease.

He noted that the body aims to get such vitamins and minerals from food and the body does not process them very well from these vitamins.

Those who take daily multivitamins also often have higher incomes and continue to live healthy lifestyles, such that they probably don’t need daily multivitamins to stay healthy.

“There is no clear evidence of the benefits of taking dietary supplements for many popular or common health outcomes,” said Zhang. TIME†

Many foods Americans eat already have the vitamins and minerals they need on a daily basis, making many extra vitamins unnecessary.

Dr. Fang Fang Zhang (pictured), a cancer epidemiologist at Tufts University in Boston, said food is preferred over vitamins when it comes to obtaining valuable nutrients.

The way the body processes food is more efficient than the way it uses vitamins and minerals.

‘We don’t eat any food; we will eat something,” said Zhang.

“This is why many supplements don’t see the same effects as natural nutrients from food sources.”

There is also a tendency for people to use pills to circumvent an unhealthy diet in hopes that they will fill some gaps in their diet.

Zhang warns against this behavior.

“The use of dietary supplements should not replace a healthy diet and lifestyle … unfortunately there is no magic pill,” said Zhang.

Numerous studies have shown that regular vitamin intake has little benefit without reducing the risk of developing diseases such as cancer or heart disease.

Zhang said drugs are used by about one in three American adults, and while they don’t do much harm, they’re often wasted.

Popular supplements like daily multivitamins, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D supplements do little for a person’s long-term health, Zhang says.

There is also the potential opportunity cost of not realizing that a person thinks they can make up for other unhealthy choices, that pills can’t fill that job.

He also warns that the other two popular pills you can see in the pharmacy vitamin aisle are not overused.

Vitamin D supplements have gained popularity and have even been misrepresented as a possible Covid treatment in some of the more conspiratorial sections of social media.

Unless a person lacks a specific medication in their daily diet, supplements will do little to help anyone, Zhang said.

Omega-3 fatty acids, commonly known as fish pills, have also become popular for their ability to improve heart health.

However, Zhang says there is little evidence to support these claims.