Health

From Page 12 study. All 291 participants were adults and had not gardened within the past two years. More than half were from low-income households.

The group assigned to garden was provided with a garden plot, seeds, seedlings and an introduction to gardening course. Those assigned to the non-gardening group were offered the same deal during the next gardening season. Participants were all given health surveys that looked at such factors as body weight, waist circumference, physical activity and diet.

During the study, researchers found, those who gardened ate more fruit and vegetables than their counterparts, increasing their consumption by about place over the past few years.” stability and predictability in the housing market if inflation continues to ease and mortgage rates stabilize. Here’s what they have to say.

The 2023 forecast from the National Association of Realtors says: “While 2022 may be remembered as a year of housing volatility, 2023 likely will become a year of longlost normalcy returning to the market, . . . mortgage rates are expected to stabilize while home sales and prices moderate after recent highs, . . .”

Danielle Hale, chief economist at realtor.com, adds: “. . . buyers will not face the extreme competition that was common-

1.13 servings per day. They consumed 1.4 grams more fiber a day than the control group, and increased their fiber intake by 7% over the course of the program. They were slightly more active, too, increasing their moderate to vigorous physical activity during the study period. Gardeners also reported less stress and anxiety than their non-gardening counterparts.

Though the gains were modest, researchers said that they are the types of small changes recommended by experts as a way to prevent the risk of chronic diseases. Smoking, poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle all contribute to that risk.

“These findings provide concrete evidence that community gardening could play an important role in preventing cancer, chronic diseases and mental health disorders,” said Jill Litt, a

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors, explains home prices will vary by local area, but will net neutral nationwide as the market continues to adjust: “After a big boom over the past two years, there will essentially be no change nationally . . . . Half of the country may experience small price gains, while the other half may see slight price declines.”

Mark Fleming, chief economist at First American, says: “The housing market, once adjusted to the new normal of higher mortgage rates, will benefit from continued strong demographic-driven demand relative to an overall, long-run shortage of supply.”

Bottom Line

If you’re looking to buy or sell professor of environmental health at the University of Colorado, Boulder and the paper’s senior author, in a news release. The researchers, who received funding from the American Cancer Society, said it’s worth looking further into community gardening as a potential health intervention in urban areas. a home this year, the best way to ensure you’re up to date on the latest market insights is to partner with a trusted real estate adviser. Let’s connect.

Don McDonald (DRE License No. 01436448) is a founding partner of Re/Max Elite Partners (License No. 01215931) in Fairfield. Reach him at 707-4950774, don@remaxelitepartners. com or www.remaxelitepartners. com. Locally Focused-Globally Connected.