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HealthWatch: Vitamins & Herbal Supplements

NEW YORK (CBS 2) -- If you take a vitamin or herbal supplement, you're definitely not alone. A new report from the Centers for Disease Control said more than half of all Americans are taking supplements, Dr. Max Gomez reports.

Ann Lemon, 59, makes staying healthy a top priority so she takes dietary supplements every day.

"I take D, calcium, Vitamin C and B12," she said.

A new government report finds more than half of all U.S. adults are now taking supplements.

"Many of us are simply not getting enough nutrients from the food that we're eating," said Dr. Michael Aziz, author of the "Perfect 10 Diet."

According to the National Center for Health Statistics, 40 percent of Americans are taking the most common supplements, multivitamins and minerals. More than 60 percent of women over 60 are now taking calcium to keep their bones strong. Men and women are taking Vitamin D supplements, which helps the body absorb calcium and also protects against high blood pressure and cancer.

The supplement market is huge, with everything from fish oil to flaxseed, but experts warn that too much of a good thing can be bad: talk to your doctor before taking them.

"Many dietary supplements can interact with each other, they can interact with prescription medicines," said Vicki Burt of the NCHS.

Lemon said she feels better since she started taking supplements.

"I don't take them by the handful. I just take the amount I'm supposed to," she explained.

The report also shows that more women use supplements than men.

Do you take supplements? Are you concerned about their safety? Leave a comment below…

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