America's healthiest cities: who would think that a party town like Miami would have anything healthy to brag about? But our survey found that, despite its reputation, it does - Natural Health's Third Annual

Natural Health, April, 2002 by Clare Horn

How We Did It

We collected data for 29 criteria for the 50 largest U.S. cities, averaged the scores, and assigned them letter grades.

NATURAL OFFERINGS GRADE

WHAT WE MEASURED: Acupuncturists, farmers markets, holistic veterinarians, homeopaths, natural food stores, vegetarian restaurants, and yoga studios.

SOURCES: American Association of Oriental Medicine, USDA, American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association, National Center for Homeopathy, Reference USA (a database of businesses), Vegetarian Resource Group.

PHYSICAL HEALTH GRADE

WHAT WE MEASURED: Rates of breast cancer, heart disease, and obesity; fitness centers; fruit and vegetable consumption; life expectancy; walkability; and sick days.

SOURCES: Community Health Status Report (CHSR), Reference USA, U.S. Census Bureau.

EMOTIONAL HEALTH GRADE

WHAT WE MEASURED: Rates of depression and high blood pressure; marriage-divorce ratios; and sunny days.

SOURCES: CHSR, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Sperling's Best Places (www.bestplaces.net).

SPIRITUAL HEALTH GRADE

WHAT WE MEASURED: Charitable donations, houses of worship, libraries, and recreation areas.

SOURCES: National Center for Charitable Statistics, Reference USA, Internet (library systems searchable by city), Places Rated Almanac (IDG, 2000).

ENVIRONMENT GRADE

WHAT WE MEASURED: Air and water quality, energy use, green space, recycling, and toxic dumping.

SOURCES: Sperling's Best Places, U.S. Energy Information Administration, Places Rated Almanac, Environmental Protection Agency, CHSR.

Clare Horn is the associate editor at Natural Health. Additional research provided by research editor

Maria Noel Mandile, research intern Libby Ellis, and Boston-based freelancer Jennifer Kennedy.