You may have noticed in the news recently that multivitamins are now linked to lowering the risk of cancer.

A study published in the Journal of American Medical Association found that healthy men who take a multivitamin every day would lower their risk of cancer by 8 percent. Naturally, the media went nuts over the claim and the news headlines launched a huge increase in vitamin sales this past week.

Even though to most this would seem a medical marvel, the truth is that the study means nothing. The study was performed on men over the age of 65, so it is not proven to decrease the risk of chronic disease among people under 50. In addition, the multivitamins did not show to reduce the risk of prostate cancer, which is the second most common cancer among men.

Experts say regular physical activity and eating a healthy diet can contribute to a 30 percent decrease in cancer, so there is no reason people should be running to the doors of vitamin shops across the country. Just two years ago a study in Sweden of 35,000 women proved multivitamins to increase the risk of breast cancer. So what do we believe? It seems many of these highly publicized medical studies may just be a strategy for increasing sales.

Here is what I am saying: Don’t always listen to the latest health-scare headline. Do your research before you jump into a $300 vitamin investment for the year. Simply take care of your body by eating right and exercising. If you know you have a nutrient deficiency then by all means take vitamins, but don’t assume it will lower your chances of developing cancer.