The Healthiest and Unhealthiest States

Forbes ^ | 11/17/09 | Rebecca Ruiz

[Clemenza]

States in New England top a new set of rankings, while the South still lags.

If you want to be healthy, live in Vermont--or at least act like you do. It is the healthiest state in the country, according to a new report from the nonprofit United Health Foundation.

[Clemenza]

And how is California not at the bottom?

Not too many fatties in the Bay Area, Orange County, coastal San Diego County, or even western LA County. Much like New York, the fatties are concentrated in certain "ethnic" communities and the rural inland areas.

[editor-surveyor]

"The annual ranking looks at 22 indicators of health, including everything from how many children receive recommended vaccinations, to obesity and smoking rates, to cancer deaths."

The only thing on that list that has squat to do with being healthy is cancer.

So we have another useless feel-good list.

[truthluva]

Yeah, but Mississippi is cool. Durn straight!

[SIDENET]

Ole Miss ‘97 here.

[editor-surveyor]

"This just means that we know things like barbecue, dark chocolate Reese's peanut-butter cups and James Coney Island dogs are much, much better for you than a steady diet of rabbit food."

For sure!

[Huck]

Seems like there’s a bit of correlation between healthiness and % of black population. The lowest ranking states have the largest % of black population. The highest ranking states have the lowest. There are some that don’t fit the pattern, but at a glance it works.

http://ipoaa.com/us_black_population.htm

[WKB]

Scroll down to #50 Mississippi ping

[Last Dakotan]

I’d like to see the correlation between % black population and the state’s place on the list.

[buffyt]

Texas is 39? Everyone I know here is healthy. I must hang out in the wrong circles.

[Hawthorn]

If all of Mississippi’s African-Americans would suddenly relocate to Vermont, both states probably would then rank somewhere between no. 20 and no. 30 on the list.

[concentric circles]

Yam, Thyme and Lump Crab Bisque - courtesy of John Folse
Prep time: 1 1/2 Hours
Serves: 6 - 8

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups yams, cooked and mashed
1 tsp fresh thyme leaves
1 pound jumbo lump crabmeat
1/4 cup butter
1 tbsp garlic, minced
1/2 cup onions, minced
1/2 cup red bell pepper, minced
1/2 cup claw crabmeat
1/2 cup flour
2 quarts reserved crab stock
1 bay leaf
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1 cup heavy whipping cream
salt and pepper to taste

Begin by creating a crab or shellfish stock by combining 2 pounds of crab, shrimp or crawfish shells available from your local seafood market with 2 quarts of cold water, 1 sliced onion, 1 sliced carrot, 2 cloves of garlic and 1 bay leaf.

Bring to a rolling boil, reduce to simmer and cook 45 minutes. Strain and reserve 2 quarts of the stock for the soup. If the shells are unavailable you may simply use clam or chicken bouillon in its place.

In a heavy-bottom saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add garlic, onions and bell pepper and sauté 3 - 5 minutes. Add claw crabmeat blending well into the vegetable mixture. Slowly sprinkle in flour while stirring constantly.

Once the flour is well blended, add yams, blend well then add stock, 1 cup at a time, stirring to incorporate. Continue until all has been added. Bring to a rolling boil, reduce to simmer and add bay leaf and nutmeg and season to taste using salt and pepper.

Simmer 15 minutes then add heavy whipping cream, fresh thyme and jumbo lump crabmeat. Adjust seasonings if necessary. Additional stock may be added to thin soup to your liking.

[Kenny Bunk]

5-6 gang-banger drive-bys a night tend to screw up the actuarial tables.

[Nervous Tick]

>> 72 ounce Steaks for lunch every day can’t be bad for me or I wouldn’t get em for free over in Amarillo !

OF COURSE!

THAT’s how you do it! It’s just like any sport — you TRAIN for it!

Thanks for the tip. ;-)

[Huck]

I don’t know. Seems to me most black women are obese.

[Clemenza]

In my city, the thinnest borough (indeed, one of the thinnest counties in the US) is Manhattan, with the fattest being the Bronx. Care to guess the demographics of the former versus the latter?

[Nervous Tick]

That sounds seriously good. I love crab!

From your keyboard to Mrs. Tick’s ear. I hope. I may have to grovel, but I’m not above that.

[Huck]

Among U.S. adults, black (non-Hispanic) women have the highest prevalence of overweight (78 percent) and obesity (50.8 percent).

http://obesity1.tempdomainname.com/subs/fastfacts/obesity_women.shtml

[Huck]

see my #26

[TheMom]

Now wait a minute . . . it is a well known fact that James Coney Island hot dogs are health food.

[Deaf Smith]

They may think that Texans have too many firearms. We harbor a unsafe work environment for criminal elements.