Natural living means different things to different people. Generally, it means being mindful about what you put in and on your body and making an effort to live closer to nature by reducing toxins in your home and reducing waste by shopping locally and eating seasonally when possible.
Living a natural lifestyle doesn’t mean giving up all the conveniences of modern life, but it does mean making a few small changes that impact your health and well-being. It is a lifestyle that emphasizes getting back to basics and eliminating excess. It means getting back in touch with nature by connecting with the earth through walking barefoot or camping, for example, and avoiding processed foods and household products full of chemicals.
What is Natural Living?
So, what is natural living exactly? And what does it mean to live naturally?
Natural living means living in harmony with the earth and making conscious choices to use natural, toxic-free organic products. It’s about living connected to nature, following the earth’s natural rhythms, living sustainably and improving your health.
If you thought it meant living in the middle of nowhere, eating roots, catching fish with your bare hands and never taking a shower – you are very mistaken. Adapting to a natural living lifestyle doesn’t have to be a challenge.
The Basics of Natural Living
One of the basic principles behind natural living is to use and eat things found in nature. Most people who live a natural lifestyle have principles they strive for and follow, including making mindful and eco-friendly choices. The flood of information about living a natural life can be confusing and difficult to understand. For Living Naturally, the fundamental principles of a natural lifestyle begin with curiosity, freshness, love for humankind, science, and integrity.
- Curiosity is a fundamental human trait. Everyone is curious, but the object and degree of that curiosity are different. What is it that drives your curiosity?
- Freshness supplies hydration. Fresh fruits and vegetables have higher water content and offer natural hydration, which is essential for your health.
- Love of nature is learning how nutrition and health are linked to make it easier for us to take responsibility for our well-being. Natural, holistic medicine does not fight symptoms but seeks to eliminate the causes of the illness.
- Love for humankind is the source of health and happiness. The decision to adopt a natural lifestyle requires us to strive to let love be our guide, for it is the most significant power in the universe.
- Scientific findings contained in a plant have purpose and significance. It is crucial to grow seeds in healthy soil without using pesticides and to process the plants for medicinal purposes without using poisonous substances which are environmentally unfriendly.
- Integrity is an inner attitude which requires a deep understanding of respect and sympathy for creation. Living according to the principles of nature is much more than a technique. It requires us to respect and see life as something sacred.
Your relationship with food is vital
Eating excess fats and processed foods can shorten your lifespan. Learning what is in a product before you eat it can help ensure you get the right amount of fats, calories, and nutrients. How do I do this? It all starts with educating yourself on what’s in the food you eat and reading the nutrition labels on the products you buy.
Your relationship with the food you eat is also a critical factor. Is it a good or bad relationship? Before you can work toward a good relationship with food, it’s crucial to pinpoint the signs and symptoms of a bad relationship with food. A bad relationship with food usually involves overeating foods and feeling shame or guilt upon eating certain foods. On the other hand, a good relationship with food is just like any other relationship — it takes time, practice, and a lot of patience. When we appreciate food as more than just a fuel source, we will begin to see value in it and develop healthier relationships.
7 simple tips on how you can start practising natural living today
The Living Naturally philosophy is based on a healthy daily routine and takes a different, holistic approach to lifestyle. By choosing a balanced combination of diet, lifestyle choices and natural remedies, you are adding quality to your life the natural way. These are some of the things you are working towards when you start living naturally:
- Doing/making it yourself – what is the rule of thumb when it comes to food? The answer for Living Naturally is simple: if you or someone else can harvest it from nature and make the food in your kitchen from what you have harvested, you can have it. If it requires a factory to process and change it before it can be consumed, then best avoided. The best and most natural products you can get are the ones you make yourself. Create a garden if you can, and start growing veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, tomatoes etc. You will eat healthier, produce less waste, and live a more natural lifestyle.
- Using the natural alternative – this applies to everything you use daily. Such as food, medicine, soaps and shampoos, perfume, beauty products, kitchenware and cleaning products. Eliminate toxins from your home by swapping out toxic cleaning products for eco-friendly alternatives like those made from natural ingredients like vinegar or baking soda; these will keep your family safe from harmful chemicals too! Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Oil is a great natural product which you can use to make household cleaning products as it is antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral and antimicrobial.
- Connecting with nature – spending time in nature has many health benefits for your body and soul. Whether that means going for a walk outside or planting flowers in your backyard, connecting with nature will give you the healing benefits of nature and help reduce your stress levels. Take some time out for yourself to meditate or journal in nature to invite deeper self-reflection and self-expression into our daily existence. Both meditation and journaling create an “open-hearted space of discovery” by observing and noting our thoughts, feelings, and sensations as they arise.
- Eating fresh, local and organic food – this means buying fresh food instead of processed food which can contain preservatives and additives. It also means choosing organic and local when possible because it is the better option for you and the earth. Be more mindful of what you eat. Start to eat more healthy and whole foods like vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, seeds & nuts.
- Exercising to keep your body healthy – you’ve got to get your body moving. Regular exercise not only helps keep your body mass index in a healthy range, but it also helps control your blood pressure, and cholesterol, and improves your brain function, concentration and sleep quality.
- Reducing plastic use – most plastic that is produced ends up in the ocean, harming wildlife and polluting the planet. Reduce your plastic waste as much as possible and recycle the rest. Move towards less waste by shopping at local farmer’s markets or growing some vegetables yourself; this will cut down on plastic packaging which is great for the environment! If you’re looking for ways to reduce your plastic, read our article on how to go plastic-free in the kitchen.
- Using natural supplements and medicines – a poor diet, smoking, alcohol, stress, and lack of sleep can diminish your immune system’s ability to defend itself against illnesses and diseases. Natural medicines and supplements have a powerful effect on the body. If you plan on switching to herbal supplements, consider the following products:
- A.Vogel Echinaforce – to prevent and treat colds, flu, and upper respiratory tract infections.
- Bio-Strath – a nutritional supplement that provides the body with 61 nutrients it requires daily to support memory and concentration, sustain natural energy, support immunity and reduce fatigue and stress.
- A.Vogel Nephrosolid – supports the function and health of the kidneys, bladder and urinary tract.
- A.Vogel Boldocynara – a herbal medicine which acts as a tonic to support the function of the liver, gallbladder and digestive system.
- A.Vogel Multiforce Alkaline Powder – an excellent source of calcium, magnesium and potassium minerals that support the body’s pH regulating mechanisms, helps reduce unpleasant symptoms of acidity and alleviates heartburn and digestive tract discomfort caused by excess acid.
- A.Vogel Molkosan – a daily tonic that supports a healthy digestive system, relieves irritable bowel symptoms and reduces uncomfortable digestive problems.
- A.Vogel Dormeasan – a herbal sleep medicine that helps with the relief of sleep disturbances, stress and anxiety.
Creating a natural lifestyle is a journey! It is a way of life practised since the dawn of time. It doesn’t need to be confusing or challenging work, as you don’t have to make all the changes in a day. The trick is to decide the principles you want to follow, understand the benefits they will bring and then take small actions in every area of your life to live by them.
References and additional reading:
- Mindful Momma (2022) Natural living changes for a healthy home & eco-friendly lifestyle, Mindful Momma. Available at: https://mindfulmomma.com/natural-living-basics/ (Accessed: November 17, 2022).
- Dan (2022) A natural living guide for 2022, Whole People. Available at: https://wholepeople.com/natural-living-guide/ (Accessed: November 17, 2022).
- Smit, B. (2022) What is natural living? the complete explanation, Earthy Vibes. Available at: https://earthyvibes.org/what-is-natural-living/ (Accessed: November 17, 2022).
- Meditation and journaling: Combining practices to reflect your inner world (2019) Kripalu. Available at: https://kripalu.org/resources/meditation-and-journaling-combining-practices-reflect-your-inner-world (Accessed: November 18, 2022).
- Davidson, K. (2020) 5 tips for developing a better relationship with food, Healthline. Healthline Media. Available at: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/fixing-a-bad-relationship-with-food#identification (Accessed: November 25, 2022).
- The 8 principles of Alfred Vogel (no date) The 8 Principles of Alfred Vogel – The A. Vogel Way of Life. Available at: https://www.avogel.co.za/avogel-world/our-philosophy/ (Accessed: November 25, 2022).