Can I share a secret with you?

Vitamins are more than popping a capsule.

Chances are you've bought a bottle of vitamins lately. Have you taken them? Vitamins are easy to buy and hard to take. At least this has been my experience and that of most of the clients that I work with.

Taking vitamins is a fabulous way to promote your health, help your digestion to improve, increase your energy, and jack-up your overall vitality. So why do they sit in our cupboards for months on end and never make it into our mouths? I've identified a major block (for most people) to taking vitamins.

We don't understand them.

Once you know what an actual vitamin or mineral is doing for your body, it makes it a lot easier to take it in.

Understanding not only what a vitamin is doing for your body but also what foods are naturally giving your body a vitamin boost generates ease with vitamin-intake as well. I now know what vitamins and minerals are coming from my food, and which I am missing. This information makes it much easier to take the liquid supplement I now use as part of my morning routine. It's important to have a balance. You really are not doing your body a favor by eating non-nutrient food and then taking a multi-vitamin everyday. It doesn't make sense.

You should consider knowing the Top 5 vitamins. You can then make food choices based on what type of vitamins and energy you are getting from your meal, a.k.a., what's your fuel?

To get you started, here's a Top 5 list of vitamins, the benefits of each and what foods are going to give them to you:

Vitamin A

Benefits: prevents eye problems prevents skin disorders, acne in particular enhances immunity helps to heal gastrointestin

Sources: animal livers fish liver oils green and yellow fruits and veggies

Vitamin B (complex)

Benefits: eases nerves strengthens skin, hair creates healthy intestine muscles increases brain function increases energy

Sources: brown rice and other whole grains egg yolks pork and poultry

Vitamin C

Benefits: healthy tissue growth healthy gums aids in anti-stress helps to prevent cancer reduces 'bad' cholesterol

Sources: citrus fruits dark leafy greens berries

Vitamin D

Benefits: helps absorb calcium promotes growth of bones protects against weak muscles prevents breast cancer enhances immunity

Sources: halibut sweet potatoes oatmeal

Vitamin E

Benefits: prevents cancer improves circulation repairs tissue eases PMS maintains healthy nerves

Sources: dark green leafy vegetables sea vegetables wheat germ