If you’ve ever wondered if the multivitamins you pop at breakfast do you any good, you’re not the only one. Multivitamins seem great in theory, but they might not be making the kind of positive impact you’d like to see, especially for what you spend. Chewy and sweet gummies make the pill easier to swallow for kids, but are they really worth buying at all? Do multivitamins actually benefit your health? Let’s take a look.

Studies Show: Multivitamins Probably Are Not Worth It

Though you may feel better about your health by taking a multivitamin, multiple studies have shown that the majority of multivitamins are probably not actually helping you lead a healthier life. Though the multibillion dollar industry (and about half of this industry’s sales are made up of multivitamins) doesn’t seem to be waning much, one study showed that multivitamins did no better than a placebo at preventing heart problems, memory loss, or warding off early mortality. Researchers even worry that taking an excess of some vitamins could harm your health instead of improve it.

If you still want to take vitamins, it’s important to temper your expectations. It’s a supplement, not an instant ticket to good health. And you still need to make sure you’re getting enough nutrients from food, drinking water, and exercising regularly.

Don’t Use Vitamins for Justification

So, it may feel good to have a daily multivitamin, and you may feel like it makes you healthier. Unfortunately, some people use it for justification—to not make an effort with their diet. Sources of vitamins from a multivitamin lack the power of those that can be gained through eating fruits, vegetables, and other whole foods. Vitamins definitely can’t make up for eating junk food all the time! If used, they should be considered as an addition to a healthy diet, not instead of one.

Not Worth the Money

When you look at the vitamin industry critically, it’s generally safe to assume that multivitamins aren’t worth the money. They can be very expensive, and the amount of benefit you’ll get from taking them is likely to be very insignificant in the long run. Instead, it’s better to focus on maintaining a healthy diet, and ensuring you get the nutrients you need from the food you eat—which is a lot more challenging than popping a vitamin, unfortunately. Eating whole foods, cooking with more vegetables and lean proteins is the best way to give your body what it needs. The good news? Eating a healthy diet has far more benefit than just simply getting the nutrients you need. You might lose weight, gain energy, and just feel better all around!

Follow Doctor’s Orders

Of course, there are exceptions to any rule—and when in doubt, it’s best to ask your doctor for advice. You may need to take specific supplements to fill in gaps related to your individual health, but your healthcare professionals will clearly explain why you need more of which nutrient— and probably won’t just recommend a general mix of vitamins and minerals. Of course, a multivitamin won’t actually hurt most of us—it just won’t do much to benefit us either. Save your money and concentrate your health efforts where they count!