If there’s something good you can say about processed foods, it’s this: They are popular because they’re convenient. Processed foods can be less expensive than whole foods and homemade variations. And they can typically be prepared, served and cleaned up quickly and easily. 

Unfortunately, that’s where the pros stop and where the cons take over – and the cons are not good. 

After reviewing all the nominees who became official members of the MDVIP Ambassadors Club last year, the committee selected three grand prize ambassadors. We thank all of the deserving practice ambassadors who provided an extraordinary experience for their members. Please join us in a virtual round of applause and standing ovation for:

A cancer diagnosis is no longer an automatic death sentence. Modern medicine has many options in its treatment toolkit to tackle different types of cancer – and the field continues to advance. The goal of treatment is to cure, shrink or halt the progression of a cancer through the use of medications, therapies and surgery.

Once a cancer diagnosis is confirmed, specialists now can use biomarker testing that analyzes genes, proteins, and other substances to gain information to help determine which treatment combination is best.

Nearly half of American adults have high blood pressure. This is a major concern: High blood pressure raises the risk for heart attack, heart failure and stroke. Unfortunately, most people don’t realize they have high blood pressure. It’s known as the “silent killer” because there are seldom symptoms. 

Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of music legend Elvis Presley, recently passed from a sudden cardiac arrest. She was 54. 

During an NFL football game in early January, Damar Hamlin collapsed after a hit. Reports suggested he too had cardiac arrest. He survived due to immediate, on-field medical treatment.

Arthritis is a condition involving inflammation of the joints that can cause debilitating pain. There are many types of arthritis; however, two of the most common include rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA).

Let’s face facts – as we age, most of us become increasingly less active. For some people, it’s a lack of energy, while for others, old injuries and wear and tear on our bodies causes pain. Many older adults are sedentary, spending nine to 13 hours a day sitting, according to research. If you are sedentary and would like to get moving again, here are seven tips that can help. 

Eat a healthy diet

It may seem surprising to start with food, but proper nutrition is essential for mobility. Your body needs a healthy balanced diet to fuel movement. Here are a few examples:

You’ve probably heard (and used) expression, “But first, coffee.” If you’re preventing heart disease, you might want to rephrase: But first, tea! 

Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world. It’s high in flavonoids, plant-based compounds found in a wide range of foods including fruits, vegetables, nuts, tea, chocolate and wine. Flavonoids are a significant source of antioxidants, which protect cells against free radicals, helping to stave off chronic conditions like heart disease – the leading cause of death in the U.S. 

Maintaining healthy cognitive function is a vital component to living a healthy life. Almost 10 percent of Americans older than 65 have dementia and another 22 percent have mild cognitive impairment – the earliest stage of memory loss, according to a study published in JAMA Neurology.