Now we don't have flavors or cartoon characters to entice us but something more important, our health.

While taking vitamins is a personal choice, Alicia Brooks, wellness manager at Garner's in Greenville, helped us compile a list of five vitamins with which to replace Fred, Wilma, Barney, Betty and Dino - for those of us who are not sure how to stay 10 million strong and growing.

Multivitamin
Knock out all your As, Bs, Cs, Ds and Es with one vitamin. A multivitamin packs the benefits of these vitamins with one pill. Brooks says if money is a factor, "just go down the list. Start with a multivitamin in your life" and work your way down to the other vitamins.

Essential Fatty Acids
Brooks suggests that anyone who is really active or on a diet should incorporate fatty acids into their diets. Fatty acids are found in foods and are an important part of the diet so if the body is not getting the essential amount then it can cause health problems.

Probiotics
Probiotics are live bacteria, but don't freak out. These bacteria already live in your intestinal tract and in your colon, Brooks says. Probiotics keep your immune system strong and helps digest your food to get nutrients to your blood stream. Because it keeps bad bacteria out Brooks says, "it's like your own personal army and it keeps your colon rollin'."

Digestive Enzyme
Brooks says that because of the way our food is cooked, it is devoid of live enzymes, which help break down food. She suggests taking one with every meal, especially if you are eating meat. Enzymes will help it break down and keep it from sitting in the intestinal tract. Brooks says, "Digestive enzymes will keep you from feeling so tired especially after you eat a high carb meal."

Fiber Green Supplement
Keeping your colon rolling is a theme in the vitamins recommended by Brooks. Green supplements are another vitamin Brooks says are beneficial for those who are active or trying to diet. Like enzymes and probiotics, greens are supposed to help maintain the health of your intestinal tract.

Staff writer Ana Parra can be reached at 298-3766.