Minneapolis Ranks No. 1 On 'America's Top 10 Healthiest Cities' List
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Minneapolis may be the 14th largest city in the United States, but it ranks first in health, according to a recent report from Livability.com.
The list highlighted the fact that Minneapolis' park system -- called the best in the country by several organizations -- provides a plethora of outside activities for Minneapolis residents and visitors.
In addition to plenty of exercise opportunities, Livability says the city features "good food choices and strong support networks to help live healthy lives."
Editors of the website also look at data compilations, including adult obesity rate, percent of residents with access to healthy food – as well as number of hospitals, ratio of doctors to residents and more.
"The link between cities and health is increasingly clear," Livability Editor Matt Carmichael says. "It's not enough to have a great hospital to take care of you when you're sick. The city itself can help you lead a healthier life."
Cambridge, Massachusetts made second on the list, followed by Madison, Wisconsin.
Monday night Happy Hour in the city of Minenapolis takes on several different forms. At Ecopolitan on Lyndale, it's raw food time. Teaj Fox helps prepare food at the restaurant.
"Vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, sugar free, all of it and we offer all of it," she said.
Others use the evening hours as flex time like at Yoga Center in the North Loop in Minneapolis. A class full of yoga instructors in training spent the evening stretching and breathing.
"After work, people are like 'let's go out,' I'm like, 'I'm gonna go to yoga'," Britta Giller said after a class.
Matt Carmichael of Livability.com says its no accident one of the coldest cities in America was named the healthiest.
"People in Minnesota have figured out how to make use of the winter weather and how to be inside and be fit year around," he said.
The proof is in the pictures -- even when temps are low, activity levels are high, and so is access.
"Access to mental health facilities, a lot of access to dentists, it all rounds out to a really great picture of a healthy city," Carmichael said.
The fact more than 85 percent of people exercise while less than 10 percent drink excessively helped, too.
It's not that no one indulges -- we found a crowd at New Bohemia enjoying bratwurst, saying the sandwiches are perfect in moderation, as well as the beer.
A city where fun and fitness balance even if takes some extra effort, people stretch to make it happen.
Even restaurants at formal places in Minneapolis have heathy options, but here's a list of the Best Healthy Restaurants In The Twin Cities if you're looking to stay fit.