With the clean eating craze and people becoming increasingly aware of what they’re putting into their bodies, and how they want their bodies to look, many cities are expanding their parks and bike lanes to accommodate the health-conscious. City officials are approving new businesses catering to the health and fitness industry, and are creating many “no smoking” zones to help enforce a cleaner environment. Here are the 5 healthiest cities in the U.S.
These 5 healthiest cities in the U.S. were found to be so based on the American Fitness Index Advisory Board’s 32 indicators and standards, not including climate.
Are you into health and fitness and living in one of these cities? What’s your favorite healthy thing about the area?
See if Pavlok can help Susan give up her unhealthy devotions:
As a person who cares about where my food comes from, I’ve been interested in the idea of urban farming and growing my own garden for quite some time. I think it would be so fulfilling to grow my own produce, and satisfying, knowing what type of pesticides are used and what happens to my produce from birth to my plate.
What is Urban Farming AKA Urban Agriculture?
Urban farming is the practice of cultivating produce and distributing it for local areas, typically businesses such as local restaurants. Many cities use this practice because it can tend to be cheaper for some businesses than large-scale distribution (usually if the urban farm is yours), and the food quality is much better. The Community Food Security Coalition defines Urban Agriculture as, “culturally acceptable, nutritionally adequate food through local, non-emergency sources at all times.”
How Does Urban Farming Affect a City?
Urban farming has grown incredibly in larger cities in the last few years, but it is far from a new concept. However, the Clean Eating campaign is growing and more people want to be sure the produce they buy isn’t full of pesticides or growth hormones that could damage their health in the long term.
People are starting to realize that food benefits them so much more than just by keeping their stomach from growling at awkward times during the day. Unfortunately, there are some drawbacks to urban farming.
I’ve seen it in my own city, where cost of living skyrockets in the areas where these urban farms are being built. Gentrification is happening all over, as is typical in numerous large cities, but especially in top-rated technology cities like Austin and San Francisco. Low-income areas are becoming littered with young startups and green-living Millennials who are buying the superior land plots for their farms, forcing the lower income community out of the area.
Underground Urban Farming
Last week, London announced that’s it’s underground urban farm, Growing Underground, will begin distribution. The masterminds behind this publicly funded project, Steven Dring, Richard Ballard, and chef Michel Roux Jr., are excited to begin this process of their farming endeavor.
Their farm is located underground (hence the name) in a sealed room where a hydroponic system allows the produce to grow without soil. It sounds almost like something out of a Blake Crouch novel, maybe something they’d have in Wayward Pines.
Growing Underground boasts that their crops can be grown year round due to the advantage of having total control over their growth environment, meaning that these plants are unaffected by negative weather conditions and seasonal changes, and are pesticide-free. Their main goals are to become carbon neutral, to reduce the need to import crops, and to reduce the mileage from food retailers to consumers.
According to their website, they promise “farm to fork in under 4 hours.” Their plan is to begin their distribution for restaurants and work their way into your kitchen at home. It would be a great accomplishment if other large cities could implement this type of underground urban farming system.
These types of farms could be a game changer in the agricultural industry, providing ways for seasonal fruits and veggies to be farmed year round, and granting the consumer access to cleaner and fresher fruits that will last longer in their homes. I think it’s a great idea, and while it might be a little unrealistic to think that every large city could have such an underground sustainable farm, we can definitely take notes on their practices and technologies. Maybe they have just opened the door for other cities to start production on a similar farming system that they could benefit from.
So, maybe you’re not a farm plant. Doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from some light. Try Sun Lifelight:
Dietary understanding is constantly shifting as we learn more of the needs of the human body. Some say that red meat is great for our health, while others abhor the notion that anyone should ever consume steak. Recently, a Harvard study shows the exact effects of the so called “western diet” on men who have been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Importance of Nutrition after being diagnosed with prostate cancer
As with any type of cancer there can be complications. Even when the patient finds themselves in remission, if they stop considering their health as they go about their day-to-day lives, they could do great harm to their health.
Taking care of yourself after cancer begins with a daily diet altered to provide your body with everything it needs, and very little of what it does not need. According to the study published by Harvard University in the Cancer Prevention Research journal, “a post-diagnostic Western dietary pattern was associated with higher prostate cancer–specific and all-cause mortality, whereas a prudent dietary pattern was related to lower all-cause mortality after prostate cancer diagnosis.” The consumption of a diet not adequate to a healthy lifestyle increased the risk compared to the diet of those who ate well during the period of the study. A direct correlation is formed to the longevity of an individual who has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, to their selected diet.
The risk of cancer and why healthy eating is critical
According to the American Cancer Society approximately 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer in their lifetime, and as of 2015 prostate cancer remains the second leading cause of cancer related fatalities in men killing 1 of every 38 men diagnosed. With treatment and early detection prostate cancer can be eradicated in the body. However, treatment depends not only on the doctors and hospitals, but on the individual ability to curb one’s own lifestyle. After being diagnosed with prostate cancer, studies have shown that what the patient chooses to consume on a daily basis could literally be the difference between life and death.
Last week, London announced that’s it’s underground urban farm, Growing Underground, will begin distribution. The masterminds behind this publicly funded project, Steven Dring, Richard Ballard, and chef Michel Roux Jr., are excited to begin this process of their farming endeavor.