It is cheaper and more obtainable to eat junk food than trying to eat healthy. The effects of having too much processed foods in your diet can ruin your body and possibly lead to death.

The wellness ministry of Rose Hill M.B. Church will host a health fair Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. to promote living a healthy life. Gladys McClain is the leader of the wellness ministry at the church and has been a part of the ministry for 10 years.

“The wellness ministry is a group of health care professionals, along with members of the congregation,” McClain said. “We’re trying to inform the church and the community of the importance of living a healthy life.”

McClain said the church will provide people with information on blood sugar, blood pressure and other health risks. The fair will conduct health screenings for high levels of blood pressure, glucose and cholesterol.

Guest speakers for the health fair will be doctors  Paul Pierce IV, Albert Chiemprabha, John Fagan and Kimberly Winters. McClain has worked with the speakers, knows their specialties and has seen the type of work they do with their patients.

Pierce will talk about cardiovascular health and hearth disease. Dr. Chiemprabha is a gastroenterologist and deals with intestinal issues. Dr. Fagan is an urologist and will speak on urological diseases like urinary tract infections. Dr. Kimberly Winters, a dentist, will talk about dental issues as well.

The wellness ministry tries to meet every three months to gather information on proper nutrition to share with its congregation. Diabetes, clogged arteries and stroke can occur from not living a healthy life.

“You’d be surprised by the amount of young people having strokes because they are unaware of the importance of taking care of their lives and symptoms they’re experiencing,” McClain said.

McClain said an example of eating healthy would be to start the day off with eating oatmeal or whole-wheat cereal, like cheerios, with low-fat milk. For lunch you should have lean meat, like turkey or chicken breast, with a green vegetable. McClain advises someone not to eat dinner past 6 p.m. and should try to eat something light, like a salad.

Robert Weathersby, a member of the wellness ministry at Rose Hill M.B. Church, said his pastor Walter Weathersby Sr. had a desire to reach out to the community and make the members more aware of their health.

Weathersby said the purpose of the fair is to try and enlighten those who have heard about diseases and risks associated with not eating right.

“A lot of them have the mindset that it’s just going to happen to me,” Weathersby said. “We’re at the preventive stage where if we see something that’s abnormal, we’re going to encourage them to follow up with their primary physician if they have one.”

If someone does not have a primary physician, the wellness ministry will provide options for help.

Weathersby said wellness is more important than people put an emphasis on.

“Our health dictates what we do on a daily basis. Whether or not we have the energy to get up, go to work, perform our daily activities and be able to come home and function with you family, has a huge impact.”