With the number of crazy diets and health marketing schemes available for Americans today, I see more and more people losing hope – and focus – on what's most important for their overall well being.

As a life-long health nut, I always get better results when I ignore the infomercials and focus on what I call "key pillars of health." 

Don't get me wrong, I love green smoothies, yoga, massage therapy, and lots of other homeopathic health and wellness remedies. But, I never let them, or anything else, replace my pillars.

Now, I'm not a doctor, dietitian, or personal trainer, so I tread lightly when I attempt to offer advice about health or wellness. But that's the very beauty of the key pillars. You don't need doctor to tell you that they're missing from your life.

So, if you've been struggling to gain control of your health, try becoming religious about these 5 healthy habits before you do anything else.

1. Don't Smoke

If you haven’t figured it out by now, smoking is one of the most harmful things you can do to yourself. It negatively impacts almost every organ in your body and is one of the primary causes of several harmful diseases. Even worse, it negatively affects the people around you too. So it's a tad selfish, too. 

If you're a smoker and you often complain about the way you look or feel, don't place the blame anywhere else until you've stopped.

• Want to add years to your life? Stop smoking.
• Want to save a ton of money? Stop smoking.
• Can’t quit by yourself? Talk to your doctor, she'll help.

2. Drink More Water

Water is the cornerstone to our entire being. It may be tasteless and seem overrated, but water has the power to out perform RedBull any day of the week. Besides the fact that it’s absolutely essential (a child could tell you that), drinking water is fashionable. Next time you think about it, look at how many people around you drink water constantly.

• Want to lose weight? Drink more water.
• Want to have more energy? Drink more water.
• Want to have more endurance? Drink more water.
• Want to have better skin? Drink more water.
• Want to play professional baseball? Practice harder…and drink more water!
• Get the point? DRINK. MORE. WATER. 

3. Exercise

Yes…this one is certainly cliche and, most of the time, easier said than done. But that doesn't change the fact that exercising is critical to your health and well-being. The key is getting your heart rate up for a consistent period of time. It's hard, but worth it. Exercising regularly can add years and quality to your life.

Here are a few ways to get started:

• Stand and walk more at work
• Chase your kids (or pets) around.
• Park further away from all of your destinations
• Make sure you're outside on sunny days

4. Sleep More

Sleeping well is essential to good health. Running on low sleep is more harmful than you probably think. It affects your mood, energy, weight, and stress levels...which ultimately erodes the quality of your job, friendships, and hobbies. Need helping falling asleep? Here are some ideas:

• Try Melatonin. It’s a natural supplement that helps regulate sleep cycle. It’s not going to “put you to sleep” like a tranquilizer, but it will help your body calm down naturally. The key to success with melatonin is consistent use.
• Drink less caffeine late in the day. Seriously…this one is super easy and makes total sense.
• Exercise more! Regularly drain your body of it's energy and see how well you start sleeping. 

5. Get a Regular Medical Exam

This one seems obvious, but the majority of people avoid annual wellness exams. By taking a proactive approach to healthcare, you're liable to identify illness earlier, thus making it easier to manage.

Stop waiting until the seriousness of your medical issues outweigh the hassles involved and go get a checkup! 

Conclusion

Next time you're considering a fancy blender or a fat burning pill, weigh in the impact of these 5 health pillars — you won't regret it.