{"id":15305,"date":"2022-09-13T09:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-09-13T09:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/?p=15305"},"modified":"2022-09-12T22:47:50","modified_gmt":"2022-09-12T22:47:50","slug":"health-happiness-index-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.personanutrition.com\/blog\/health-happiness-index-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"Health &#038; Happiness Index 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"Where does your state rank?Ever wonder which state is the happiest? What about the sleepiest? Is your state as chill as Hawaii or as high-strung as New York? These may seem like trivial questions, but they get to the heart of an important reality: Americans struggle with all kinds of wellness issues, and their incidence can depend on where you live.At Persona, we believe it\u2019s important to map out this wellness landscape: It\u2019s only when we understand how we\u2019re doing that we can find a way to do better. That\u2019s why we created our annual Health and Happiness Index\u2014a unique, state-by-state snapshot of our nation\u2019s physical and emotional wellbeing.What is the Health &amp; Happiness Index?Every day, thousands of Americans take Persona\u2019s online health and nutrition assessment, a 5-minute questionnaire that looks at diet, lifestyle, health goals and other factors to help respondents design a personal nutrition plan.Using anonymized data from the questionnaire, we can build a picture of our nation\u2019s health and lifestyle status: Which states are doing better in a given domain, and which could use a helping hand. This year\u2019s index analyzed responses collected from January through May in eight key areas: happiness, energy, stress, sleep, fitness, diet, digestion and joint health.Some unexpected findingsThe results are as interesting as they are surprising: Would you have guessed Delaware is the happiest state? Or that Connecticut is the most stressed out? Or that Mississippians are the sleepiest\u2014by a long shot? Take a look at this year\u2019s results to see where your state ranks. The answer might surprise you.See this year\u2019s resultsHappiest statesSleepiest statesHighest energy statesMost stressed-out statesFittest statesBest eaters in the UnionWorst digestion in the UnionAchiest jointsAbout Persona NutritionAppendix: Data for all 50 statesHappiest statesWhich state has the happiest Americans? Delaware topped our rankings with 15.5% of people saying they\u2019re in a good mood most of the time (peach pie makes us happy too!). The second happiest state is Nevada with 13.2% and Hawaii is in third with 13.1%.See results for all 50 statesLeast happy statesHow is it that the birthplace of Ben &amp; Jerry\u2019s could feel so down in the mouth? With just 2.3% of respondents saying they have no complaints about their mood, Vermont is officially America\u2019s least happy state (we\u2019re thinking of you guys!). Meanwhile, if you have friends in Nebraska and Oregon, you might want to send them some love too\u2014they\u2019re doing just slightly better than the Green Mountain State.Foods to help your moodWhen you\u2019re feeling down, it\u2019s tempting to turn to foods like ice cream or cookies for comfort. But be careful: High-sugar foods may lift your mood at first, it won\u2019t take long for you to crash. In fact, a diet packed with junk foods can make you feel worse over time. Real comfort comes from a healthier place\u2013complex carbs, healthy fats, fruits and veggies help elevate mood and an overall sense of well-being. Fruit with yogurt, cheese and apple slices, or a handful of trail mix could be great options.Sleepiest states Sleep is a top concern for every state\u2014about 78% of respondents across the country say they feel tired all the time\u2014but if you live in Mississippi, West Virginia or Alaska, you might be feeling especially sluggish. More than 85% of Mississippians say they feel constantly out of gas\u2014the highest number in the nation. If you count yourself in that category\u2014whether from stress, interrupted sleep or another reason\u2014know that you\u2019re not alone. Even America\u2019s least drowsy states\u2014Rhode Island (66.7%) and Wyoming (73.0%)\u2014more than half of respondents have a hard time getting shuteye.See results for all 50 statesFoods for a better snoozeThere\u2019s no denying that sleep is important\u2014it affects almost every system in your body. But what you eat can make all the difference. Kiwi, for instance, has a high concentration of serotonin, a compound that helps regulate your sleep cycle, while nuts have essential minerals like magnesium and zinc to help your muscles relax. Rolling these foods into your diet, alongside lifestyle changes\u2014like limiting caffeine, setting a regular bedtime and keeping screens out of the bedroom\u2014can help bring those Z\u2019s back in reach.Highest energy states Believe it or not, the most bright-eyed and bushy-tailed Americans live in our smallest and largest states. Rhode Island ranks first with about 10.1% of respondents and Alaska in second with 10.1% of respondents say they have no complaints about their energy levels. They\u2019re doing just slightly better than the national average of 6.39%. (Yes, Americans have low energy, unfortunately!)See results for all 50 statesLeast energetic statesSo, which Americans struggle the most with energy? Apparently the fresh air and bracing walks aren&#8217;t doing a lot for the people of Vermont and Idaho. Both states are known for their beautiful mountain hikes, but only 3.45% of respondents in Vermont and 3.57% of respondents in Idaho say energy isn\u2019t an issue.Foods to boost your batteriesFeeling drained on a daily basis? Instead of reaching for that second (\u2026or third) cup of coffee, try revving up your engine with some nutrient-dense foods like whole grains, fruits, veggies and nuts. Whole grains give your body its preferred source of fuel\u2014carbohydrates\u2014mixed with fiber to help balance blood sugar and a rich source of vitamins and minerals. Fruits and veggies are packed with antioxidants and vital nutrients for energy, and nuts like almonds or walnuts are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids that promote brain health.Most stressed-out states 2022 was a rough start for Connecticut, with 20.7% of respondents saying they feel strung out all the time, well above the national average of 14.2%. Connecticut, we\u2019re wishing you better days in the second half of the year! We\u2019re also sending good vibes to North Dakota and New Jersey, where about 19% of respondents are struggling with constant stress.See results for all 50 statesLeast-stressed statesWhen it comes to managing tension, all of us could learn a thing or two from South Dakota. Their energy may be low, but they\u2019ve got laid-back on lock: Only 4.3% of South Dakotans say they feel stressed all the time.Managing stress with good nutritionLife is stressful! When times are tough, your body makes that infamous stress hormone cortisol. Left unmanaged, it can lead to long-term inflammation and an array of health issues that impact your sleep, your mood, even your immune health. A healthy diet\u2014along with regular exercise and rest\u2014can help you keep these effects in check. This includes certain foods that promote a healthy inflammatory response: Berries, salmon and avocado (yes, please!) can help keep cortisol levels under control.Fittest states Maybe it\u2019s their Live Free or Die ethos\u2014or maybe it\u2019s their year-round access to the great outdoors\u2014but in New Hampshire, 28.4% of respondents say they exercise at least 3 times a week. The runners up in this category might also surprise you: Nebraska (27.6%) and Colorado (26.2%) round out the top three.See results for all 50 statesLeast active statesUnfortunately, Vermont lacks the energy to get moving, they\u2019re America\u2019s least active state with only 8.0% of people exercising regularly.Food to feed your fitnessWhether you&#8217;re an athlete, a gym enthusiast or a sometime-power walker, exercise and diet go hand in hand to support your health. Depending on what type of movement you do, your nutrition needs will vary, but the golden rule is: Be well-fueled going into\u2014and out of\u2014a workout. Carbohydrates like bananas, sweet potatoes or oatmeal are good sources of energy to help with performance. While a peanut butter sandwich, a fruit smoothie or chicken with veggies can help with exercise recovery after the fact.Best eaters in the Union Fruits and veggies are a vital part of a balanced diet; they provide important vitamins, minerals and fiber to keep us healthy. Experts recommend that Americans eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day, but according to our survey only about 23.4% of us are meeting this goal (yikes!). But while none of us are acing our eating habits, some states are doing better than others. Vermont and Maine are America\u2019s best eaters, with 34.48% and 33.14% of people getting 20+ servings of fruits and veggies per week. See results for all 50 statesWorst eaters in the UnionAlabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Kentucky and Louisiana could all use a hand with meal prepping: Less than 20% of respondents in these states are getting all their servings of fruits and vegetables!Pointers for plant-phobesGiving your body the nutrients it needs is vital to your health; deficiencies can increase your risk of brain fog, poor gut health, fatigue and other issues. So even if fruits and vegetables aren\u2019t your favorite, it\u2019s important to find ways to include them. You can roast veggies with your favorite herbs, hide the greens in soup or blend theminto a smoothie with your favorite yogurt\u2014you won\u2019t even be able to taste it! If you\u2019re still having trouble getting all 5 servings in, adding a multivitamin can also help you fill that nutrient gap. But remember: Your multi isn\u2019t a shortcut to health! It should complement a healthy diet.Worst digestion in the Union North Dakota leads the nation in the production of wheat and honey\u2014but also in gut woes, with 62.2% of respondents from the state reporting regular indigestion. It&#8217;s closely followed by Arkansas (62.1%) and Alabama (61.6%). They\u2019re in good company, though, as more than half of Americans (53.1%) say gut discomfort is an ongoing issue.See results for all 50 statesBest digestion in the UnionRhode Island and Delaware\u2019s guts are doing a little better than the rest of America, with 43.4% of Rhode Island and 45.07% of Delaware having digestion troubles.Gut-friendly foodsDid you know your gut is sometimes called your second brain? A healthy gut isn\u2019t just about staying regular or preventing bloating; it plays an incredibly important role in immunity, skin health, mood and a lot more! That\u2019s why probiotics\u2014the healthy bacteria in fermented foods like yogurt, kimchi or kombucha\u2014don\u2019t just maintain a healthy gut environment, but also your overall health!Achiest joints in the Union If you live in Montana, you may well be doing yoga into your golden years, as your state has the lowest proportion of people who report having achy joints (13.0%). Compare this to the much achier Oklahoma (23.8%) and Wyoming (23.2%). Here\u2019s to you, Montana. Stay bendy!See results for all 50 statesFoods for flexibilityAchy joints may come naturally with age\u2014and can be related to genetics\u2014but what you put on your plate can also play a role. Some foods worsen inflammation, while others help reduce it, such as fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, whole grains and legumes. If you\u2019re eating a well-rounded diet and your knees still feel sore standing, supplements like omega-3s, collagen and MSM may help by promoting a healthy inflammatory response and supporting joint health.About Persona NutritionCustomized daily vitamins, tailored to your needsAt Persona, we believe good nutrition is the foundation of wellness, and that for each of us that foundation looks different. We all have unique diets, a unique lifestyles, unique health goals. So to be truly well, we each need a unique nutrition solution. That\u2019s why we built Persona: to meet this need with a science-based, personalized vitamin plan and one-one-one expert support. We all deserve to live healthy, happy lives. Persona exists to make that a reality.How Persona worksEvery day, thousands of Americans take Persona\u2019s online health and nutrition assessment, a 5-minute questionnaire that looks at diet, lifestyle, health goals and other factors to help each of them build a customized vitamin plan tailored to their unique needs\u2014whether that&#8217;s more energy, better sleep, help with digestion or some combination or issues. With a few clicks, you get personalized daily vitamin packs delivered right to your door each month\u2014and free one-on-one coaching from a team of qualified nutritionists. No more bottles. No more guesswork. Just the right nutrients, at the right dose, every day.Learn more about Persona.Appendix: Results for all statesData for all 50 states by health concern1. Happiest states2. Sleepiest states3. Highest energy states4. Most stressed-out states5. Fittest states6. Best eaters in the union7. Worst digestion in the union8. Achiest joints in the union*Washington D.C. was excluded from data due to sample size.*As with any survey, the results aren\u2019t necessarily definitive\u2014no sample is perfect, and an individual\u2019s responses can vary day to day\u2014but it does paint a broad picture that we believe is useful as a way to spark a much-needed conversation about our nation\u2019s health.","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Where does your state rank? Ever wonder which state is the happiest? What about the sleepiest? Is your state as chill as Hawaii or as high-strung as New York? 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