Health and Hope - GHiC

03/02/2026

The Healthy (a Reader's Digest brand) .com has some wonderful journeys of eating a certain food for a week. This week's journey is about popcorn. Grab some (air-fried is best for you) and join us!

Sure, it's the best movie snack—but is it really a good idea to eat popcorn every day? Two registered dietitians reveal the truth.

03/02/2026

Health and Hope is Back!
We are restarting the Health and Hope program with Gaston Hope in Christ.
Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and for our occasional webinars and special guests. Invite your friends and let's all get healthier together!

03/02/2026

The March March!
In March, Eastside Health is Encouraging you to March Through special days with us!
Each day, add 1 mile (2000 steps) or ½ a mile (1000 steps) to your exercise, and March in celebration each day!
1 Every Mile Begins with 1 Step 1 mile - 2000 steps more than your normal
2 March by Twos- Walk somewhere with someone else. Share life together
3 March around and find some wildlife- it’s National Wildlife Day!
4 March Today and Visit or contact someone who has a long-term illness or disease (MarchforthwithHope.com)
5 Walk a mile for ministers in training- NC Board of Ministry Meeting
6 Walk a mile for your pastors in your life- NC Board of Ministry Meeting
7 Sabbath Day’s Journey- Take a leisurely walk this afternoon, outside or in- 2000 cubits= ⅔ mile= 1500 steps
8 March a mile and thank some of the women in your life- It’s National Women’s Day
9 March until you can forgive Someone. It’s National Get Over it Day!
10 March a mile and leave or cut down on your smoking habit. It’s National No Smoking Day
11 March, Tell Someone about Christ and eat an Apple- it’s Johnny Appleseed Day!
https://www.fiverevealed.com/.../johnny-appleseed-the...
12 March around your property and plant flowers- it’s National Plant a Flower Day
13 March with a Parent - Elwood Bell, Joe’s Dad, was born on March 13, 2025
14 Pi Day- Walk 3.14 miles (6635 steps)- and rewards yourself with some pie!
15 Walk a mile for NC D.S. Dr. Greg Mason today- he’s having knee surgery today
16 Walk a mile and read a paper (print or online)- it’s freedom of Information Day!
17 March in your green today and share Christ with someone!- St. Patrick’s Day
https://www.christianitytoday.com/.../patrick-saint.html
18 March with your kids, or to help some kids. It’s Absolutely Incredible Kid Day
19 March around and have some chicken- It’s National Poultry Day!
20 March with Joy- It’s Spring! Spring Starts Today
21 Give Thanks and Share Love with a Teen you know- It’s National Teenager Day!
22 March, Give thanks for clean water, drink and donate to provide clean water- it’s National Water Day
Give your water offering to Eastside and we’ll send it to EmmanuWell Ministries to help folks get water.
https://africanazarene.org/well-drilling-bring-fresh.../
23 March with your Dog today- It’s National Puppy Day!
24 March into Venecia and grab a Cheesesteak sandwich Today- It’s National Cheesesteak Day!
25 Cook a great breakfast to help you march today- It’s National Waffle Day
26 March with your head covered- it’s National Wear a Hat Day!
27 March in beautiful creation- it's National Scribble Day!
28 March into a new year- The NC Church of the Nazarene year ends today
29 March with a vet, or giving thanks for them. It’s National Vietnam War Veterans Day
30 March for your health and march in to give your doctor a gift. It’s National Doctors’ Day
31 March into a colorful life- It’s National Crayon Day!
CONGRATULATIONS! You have walked an extra 31 miles this month- Live in better health!

11/20/2025

🌟 Congratulations to the Kirlin Family! 🌟

We are proud to honor The Kirlin Family as this year’s recipients of the Duke Energy Citizenship & Service Award — recognizing their extraordinary, multi-generational dedication to making Gaston County a better place to live, work, and thrive. 💙

From Dr. Dave Kirlin’s decades of public service and mentorship, to Nan’s leadership in environmental sustainability, Hannah’s transformative public health initiatives, Rebecca’s youth and global engagement programs, and Maddie’s courageous advocacy for domestic-violence survivors — the Kirlin family embodies what it truly means to serve with heart and purpose.

Their collective impact touches every corner of our community — proving that leadership, compassion, and collaboration can create lasting change. 🌎💫

Please join us in celebrating the Kirlins at our Annual Celebration, presented by CaroMont Health, on December 5th at the Gastonia Conference Center.

Register here: https://members.gastonbusiness.com/events/details/2025-gba-annual-celebration-presented-by-caromont-health-7714

11/20/2025

10/14/2025

This One Symptom Could Warn of Cardiac Arrest in 24 Hours
Denise Mann, MS

https://www.thehealthy.com/heart-disease/news-cardiac-arrest-symptom-smidt-heart-institute-cedars-sinai-study

Research suggests that telltale symptoms may appear before cardiac arrest, and knowing how to recognize them can be lifesaving.

Nine out of 10 people who experience sudden cardiac arrest outside of a hospital setting die—often within minutes.

One reason for these fatal outcomes is the commonly held belief that cardiac arrest occurs without warning. But research suggests telltale symptoms may appear before cardiac arrest, and recognizing them can give folks more than a fighting chance.

For men, the main symptom before cardiac arrest is the unexpected onset of chest pain. For women, however, it’s the unexpected onset of shortness of breath. These signs may occur 24 hours before sudden cardiac arrest. according to a study published in the Lancet Digital Health in 2023.

“Fully 50% of men and women report these warning symptoms before cardiac arrest,” study author Sumeet Chugh, MD, the medical director of the Heart Rhythm Center in the Department of Cardiology, tells The Healthy by Reader’s Digest.

10/13/2025

How Often Do You P**p?
Research Shows Bowel Movement Frequency Linked to Overall Health
By Brian Mastroianni
https://www.health.com/poop-frequency-overall-health-8685721
A new study found that the average frequency of your bowel movements could impact your microbiome and risk of chronic disease.
Researchers identified a “Goldilocks zone” for a healthy gut of pooping one or two times a day.
Those in the Goldilocks zone ate a fiber-rich diet, were more hydrated, and exercised regularly.

Researchers also examined their self-reported bowel movement frequency and grouped them into four categories: constipation (one or two bowel movements each week), low-normal (between three and six bowel movements each week), high-normal (between one and three bowel movements each day), and diarrhea (four or more bowel movements each day).

“We found that eating more fruits and vegetables [was] associated with having a more optimal [bowel movement frequency],” said Gibbons. “This is fairly intuitive. For those who want to maintain a healthy [bowel movement frequency], I suggest eating plenty of plants—whole foods, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds—getting regular exercise, and perhaps taking a fiber supplement

10/06/2025

6 of the Best Brain Health Habits You Can Start Now, According to a Nutrition Expert
By Jackie Newgent, RDN, CDN
https://www.thehealthy.com/habits/best-brain-health-habits-dietitian/

Brain health matters at every age.
Lifestyle plays a key role in protecting brain health by slowing down brain aging.
Maintaining good brain health begins with small actions.
1. Eat well
2. Move more
3. Engage the brain
4. Sleep soundly
5. Manage stress
6. Socialize
Try these simple strategies to help your new brain health habits become second nature:
Start small: Pick just one or two habits for now. Set small, realistic goals.
Use cues: Set alarms and calendar reminders to signal your new habit.
Be focused: Your brain will eventually fire and wire in ways that reinforce each new habit.
Stack them: Link a new habit to one you’ve already accomplished. Whenever you do one, you do the other.
Track progress: Embrace consistency and progress over perfection.
“It’s never too early—and never too late—to live well for brain health,” says Moon.

10/01/2025

Peanuts 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/peanuts

The bottom line
Peanuts are delicious, versatile, and jam-packed with a long list of important nutrients.
Peanuts are delicious, versatile, and rich in a long list of essential nutrients.muscle growth and support heart health.

Therefore, all genders can enjoy peanuts as part of a healthy, well-rounded diet.

09/30/2025

6 Vitamins Doctors Take So They Don’t Get Sick During Virus Season

https://www.thehealthy.com/nutrition/vitamins/vitamins-supplements-doctors-take-during-virus-season-ucla-stanford-university

Virus season is right around the corner, and ensuring you’re getting enough of the nutrients responsible for immune health is important for reducing your risk of picking up infections, explains Julia Zumpano, RD, Registered Dietician at the Cleveland Clinic Center for Human Nutrition. Recent research published in Nutrients shows that even if you catch a respiratory virus like Covid this season, maintaining good nutrition may reduce your symptoms.

In general, getting your nutrients from food is ideal. But realistically, “most Americans do not meet their needs through food,” she says. “The Standard American Diet (SAD) is inadequate in nutrition due to high intake of processed, low-nutrient foods.” In fact, less than 15% of Americans meet daily fruit and vegetable recommendations, according to Ali Bandier, MS, RD, a registered dietitian from New York.
So, while shifting to a whole, nutrient-dense food diet is the best way to ensure you’re getting your immune-boosting vitamins, supplements can help fill gaps as we head into cold and flu season. Elderly people, vegans, vegetarians, those with blood tests that indicate a deficiency, or those who practice strict dietary restrictions (such as low-calorie, keto, or dairy-free) can benefit from supplementation as well, says Zumpano.

1. Vitamin C
2. Vitamin D
3. Vitamin E
4. Zinc
5. Omega-3 fatty acids
6. Probiotics

09/29/2025

SMILE- Your teeth show you making it to 100!

They're not just a compliment to your appearance—growing research is finding this facial feature is a major indicator of health.

You might have a million-dollar smile, but researchers say that grin could also be associated with another important metric: the number of years you might live.

Noting that global life expectancy has risen to the age of 73.5 in recent years, seven researchers in China gazed into what recent research has suggested may be a predictor of longevity: teeth.

https://www.thehealthy.com/aging/news-oral-health-longevity-study-china/
The researchers report that “for the first time, the influence of edentulousness on the likelihood of becoming a centenarian,” namely that the “presence of natural teeth was linked to an increased probability” of reaching the age of 100.

09/29/2025

Let It Out: 14 Ways a Good Cry Affects Your Body and Mind
By Tina Donvito
https://www.thehealthy.com/mental-health/benefits-of-crying

What happens before, during, and after crying?
Touching movies, stressful events at home or work, and even good news like a wedding or a baby might bring on the waterworks. Sometimes, you just need to let the tears flow. But you might not know that crying can have a big effect on your body and mind—here’s how.

Crying relieves stress
Crying boosts mood
Crying sometimes makes you feel worse
Crying improves communication
Crying forges bonds
Crying helps us get what we want
Crying is a private release
Crying may get rid of toxins
Crying may be a natural sanitizer
Tears help your eyes
Crying has a connection to s*x hormones
Crying has major physical effects
Crying affects other hormones as well
Happy crying also helps relax the body