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Oregon is popular for many reasons such as coffee, beautiful scenery, fresh salmon and of course Tillamook cheese! However, lately Oregon has taken center stage for promoting healthy lifestyles. Portland was ranked #2 in 2006 by Self Magazine on their “Top 10 healthiest cities for women” article. In 2004 Portland was nick named “Bike Town U.S.A.” by Bike Town Magazine and it was also ranked #3 for healthiest city for pets by showcatsonline.com in 2003. Across the board, Oregon is setting a national standard for healthy living and exercise.

In almost every city in Oregon there are weight loss programs, healthy choices at restaurants, healthy food at schools, exercise groups and gyms where Oregonians have the option to make better choices.

Organic and Trans fat free foods have taken center stage over the last five years. Portland again was at the top of the list as the city had one of the highest percentages of organic food buyers in 2007 (27%). Portland only trailed San Francisco (35%) and Seattle (37%) by a few percentage points according to Vegetarianorganicblog.com. Seeing this demand, grocery stores met with a supply of organic products, a health food section and stocking Trans fat free items. In the past many grocery stores either did not offer items such as tofu or soy and if they did, the cost was through the roof. Now with the increased interest in these products, stores have answered with sales for these items. Grocery retailers are not the only ones seeing the growing health trend, but restaurants also see the benefit to healthier choices.

National chains such as Applebee’s and Red Robin are offering alternatives for dieters and health nuts a like. Applebee’s was one of the firsts to offer Weight Watcher menu items and Red Robin offers meat substitutes for all their burgers. Often those who are trying to be healthier avoid eating out because typically there are few healthy choices besides a salad on menus. Let’s face it salad is boring when steak and potato are on the menu. But now with these new special menus, dieters can feel confident eating out instead of feeling committed to another boring salad.

If a healthy lifestyle is something you desire but don’t think you can do on your own, help is on every corner, literally. In Salem alone there are five Weight Watcher sites, a Jenny Craig and a LA Weight loss center all within a five mile radius. This is not including all the private organizations such as Salem Weight Management Center. All of these companies have one thing in common, they all want to build a better, healthier, and happier you.

Being outside and having healthy foods at the tips of your fingers is not something every state can brag about, the elite states such as Oregon can claim to be a “health nut” state. Oregon’s healthy lifestyle trend is not likely to change anytime soon. Get out and enjoy the bragging rights, every healthy Oregonian has earned them!

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Tags: Exercise and Fitness