The advance of science and medicine in the last century has added a significant number of years to the human lifespan. We’ve more than doubled our average life expectancy since the year 1900, with the help of research that has ensured the decline of several infectious diseases. We’ve done so well, in fact, that the world now has a rapidly-increasing aging population-8.5% of the world population right now is over 65 years old, and this figure is predicted to jump to around 17% by 2050.

But while medicine has helped us live longer by curing any number of diseases, the question has now become: are we living our years well? We’ve seen it happen to some of our loved ones; they’re here, but confined to their homes. Or they’re dealing with the myriad of pains that accompanies old age, and unable to participate in the life they lived long enough to see.

If we want to age well, we need to focus on prevention instead of cure. Living our best lives is not simply a question of grabbing every opportunity that comes our way-it’s making the choice to live a consciously healthy lifestyle, focusing on natural wellness and protecting our bodies, in order to take advantage of our life to its fullest.

What is Natural Wellness?

Natural wellness is the process by which we focus on leading a healthy lifestyle through natural means for as much as possible. It’s the sum of several choices we make in order to avoid relying on modern medicine, and aim instead for an overall holistic wellness. That’s not to say that we abandon modern medicine altogether; rather, it’s simply a determination to focus on prevention over cure.

How can we focus on Natural Health and Wellness?

Your health is not simply based on what you eat-exercise, sleep, stress-levels, and your relationships with your community (whether that community be your close-knit circle of friends or the wider neighborhood) all play a part in your overall wellbeing. Here are a few steps you can implement immediately in order to take care of yourself.

Avoid Added Sugar, Especially in Sugary Drinks

Almost all packaged and processed foods available in your local supermarket contain added sugar. This is especially the case when it comes to sugary drinks like sodas and fruit juices, and it is one of the main ways that added sugar is consumed today by the average person. Several studies show that these high-sugar foods and drinks cause an increased risk in heart disease, high blood pressure and type-2 diabetes-even in seemingly healthy individuals who are not overweight.

However, you don’t have to resign yourself to water for the rest of your life. Simply add some natural detox drinks like herbal teas and brews to lifestyle. Nature’s Rare offers a range of organically grown, natural herbal teas that are produced on the lush island of Sri Lanka. Our teas are zero-calorie, caffeine- and sugar-free, with no artificial additives or preservatives, and are an excellent, healthy way to replace sugary drinks in your diet.

Get Moving

You should get at least 150 minutes (around two and a half hours) of moderate physical activity in week. This can be anything from going on a brisk walk to strength training, but regular exercise is one of the best ways to take care of your body. In addition to helping you burn calories (which in turn can lower body fat), exercise can help you improve your mental health by reducing anxiety and increasing cognitive function.

If you’re feeling depleted after a workout, don’t immediately reach for an energy drink; instead, grab a bottle of coconut water, like the pure King Coconut Water from Nature’s Rare. Coconut water is sometimes called Mother Nature’s sports drink because of the way it aids in muscle recovery, and the bottle from Nature’s Rare increases all its natural goodness by ensuring that it is sugar- and preservative-free, in addition to being sustainably grown and containing only natural ingredients.

Sleep for at least 7 Hours

The amount of sleep you need varies between person to person, but the standard recommendation for adults is to get at least seven hours a night. Poor sleep habits can lead to a variety of issues including poor overall health, weight gain, high blood pressure and heart disease. Those who operate on less sleep also have a higher tendency to choose foods that are high in sugar for meals.

When it comes to sleep, quantity is just as important as quality; in addition to getting your seven hours, try and make sure that your snoozing is uninterrupted. Interrupted sleep can cause irritability, increased stress, body aches and lapses of memory.