America’s Healthiest Cities
It’s no secret that the environment in which you live has a significant impact on your health and well being. For instance, if you live in what could be considered an unhealthy city (one with lots of smokers or a high rate of obesity for example), you health might follow suit.
Natural Health Magazine recently released a study on the top “healthy” cities in the United States by looking at 49 metropolitan areas. The study was based on criteria like natural medicine practitioners, availability of exercise options, easy access to healthy foods, a solid public transportation system, clean air and water and a strong sense of community.
Healthy City #1: San Francisco, CA
Affectionately known as the City by the Bay, San Francisco is one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations. With its beautiful architecture, rolling fog and stunning views, it’s no wonder people flock from the world over just to visit. San Francisco also takes the cake (rice cake maybe?) as the healthiest city to live in. The city allocates nearly 20% of its land to park space, so despite the city being a thriving metropolitan area, there’s plenty of space in which to get out and stretch your legs. The temperate climate in the Bay Area certainly lends itself to outdoor activities as well, boasting 265 sunny days each year.
San Francisco is also teeming with healthy eating options, offering 79 restaurants that serve mostly vegetarian items on their menu. There is even a monthly vegetarian potluck put on by the San Francisco Vegetarian Society. Forget Applebees: this is eating good in the neighborhood. San Francisco has 523 acupuncturists and more yoga studies than any other cities surveyed. Needles and a whole lot of “om” going on in this healthy city.
Healthy City #2: Washington, D.C.
Our nation’s capital city is focused on much more than political relationships. There are more community building programs in Washington, D.C. than in any other city surveyed. We’re talking youth athletic organizations, garden initiatives, groups supporting the elderly population…the list goes on and on. Right up there with community building focus is D.C.’s desire for a clean and healthy environment. The Clean City Initiative, created to stop littering, graffiti, and illegal waste disposal, does a great job in ensuring that residents of the city get to walk through trash free streets. D.C. also imposes some of the strictest environmental laws in the country, and in the past 5 years over 400 arrests has been made by the Environmental Crimes Unit.
Washington D.C. also has a fantastic public transportation system to save polluting the air with cars carbon emissions: there are more than 1,800 buses and subway trains, and all of those buses are now equipped with bike racks.
Healthy City #3: Seattle, WA
Who knew that having less time for yourself could actually be a good thing for your health? Maybe not in the overstressed, overworked way, but studies show that people who volunteer not only feels good but is good for your health. Seattle boasts the 2nd highest ranking in volunteer opportunities in the cities surveyed, one of which being the acclaimed 45th Street Clinic Homeless Youth Program. This program offers fourth year students at Kenmore University to donate naturopathic care to homeless youth.
Although the city’s air quality leaves something to be desired, Seattle is planning on converting 250 of its 1,000 buses to environmentally friendly buses, which should help cut bus emissions by up to 90%.
Healthy City #4: Atlanta, GA
Atlanta can affectionately be called “Hotlanta” and that may as well be referring to the plethora of great food options available to residents. There are several eco-friendly restaurants in town serving things like mostly organic foods, and more than 40 restaurants surveyed offer a wide selection of vegetarian options. There are also more natural food stores per capita than any other city surveyed. This makes it easy to stock up on your vitamins as well as stuffing the pantry with healthy food options for when you eat at home.
Atlanta also has fewer fast food restaurants per capita than any other city, which means residents almost have to choose healthier eating options. The city also has more fitness centers than any other city surveyed. Who wouldn’t want to exercise with winter temperatures in the low 40’s? Brrrr.
Healthy City #5: Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis might be one of the Twin Cities, but it is certainly a stand alone when it comes to being environmentally friendly. The city has the Twin Cities Green Guide (www.thegreenguide.org), “a local nonprofit educational organization dedicated to promoting an environmentally sound and community-oriented lifestyle.” If that doesn’t sound like something you’d want in your community, maybe you’re better off in one of the unhealthy cities! This amazing organization and cornucopia of resources helps city residents join or create a co-op housing group, start a community garden, and save energy around the house. Not only that, but they provide information on keeping the city clean and tidy and improving citizen’s mental and physical health.
As if those glowing reviews weren’t enough, Minneapolis boasts more restaurants serving predominantly vegetarian food and the services of more holistic doctors and veterinarians per capita than any of the other cities on the magazine’s list.
What to Do if You Don’t Live in These Cities
If you don’t have the pleasure of living in one of these top five ranked cities, don’t fret for your health just yet. There are plenty of things you can do to ensure you are healthy no matter where you live. First off, make sure you know what is available to you in terms of health insurance – you can find a listing of the top insurers in your area by browsing this state-by-state listing of health insurance plans. Knowing you have the support for health and funds to pay for it is one of the best ways to safeguard yourself. Doctors are great resources for health and well being, so talk to yours today. Limit your alcohol consumption, don’t smoke, eat right and exercise. By doing these things you can create your own little top ranked health world, right in your own home.
photo credits (in order of appearance, from top to bottom): MiiiSH; Jersey JJ; A Girl And Her Camera; Joel Mann; mtellin
Tags: health care, health insurance, healthiest cities, natural health, top cities, united states
