I'd say fighting monsters to grind levels is the primary way to get stronger. And you can craft potions! Fill empty phials at water sources and combine with some red mushrooms and a blue flower at any crafting pot. There are a lot of recipes that you unlock by having the items in your inventory. You can also collect apples from trees, but they don't heal as much. Sorry for the late response, hopefully this is a good tip for others as well.