The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee

Chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and depression are devastating Native American communities—but a powerful movement rooted in tradition, plant-based nutrition, and food sovereignty is changing lives. In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, host Chuck Carroll sits down with former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, former First Lady Phefelia Nez, and Food for Life instructor Chelsea Kleinmeyer, RN to explore how Indigenous wisdom and modern lifestyle medicine are coming together to restore health. 🌱 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE: • Why traditional Indigenous diets were largely plant-based • How Food for Life classes are reversing diabetes and reducing medications • The role food sovereignty plays in healing Native communities • How mental health, culture, and physical health are deeply connected • Why food deserts exist—and how communities are fighting back 🥬 APPLY TO BECOME A FOOD FOR LIFE INSTRUCTOR 👉 https://bit.ly/FFLApply2026 🩺 CSKT Tribal Health 👉 https://www.cskthealth.org 👍 LIKE • SUBSCRIBE • LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW If you feel like your health IQ just went up a notch, help us grow by giving this video a thumbs up and subscribing to this channel. - About Us - The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

Chronic diseases are rising fast in Africa — and the same lifestyle factors driving illness in the U.S. are now impacting communities around the world. In this powerful episode of The Exam Room, host Chuck Carroll speaks with Dr. Samba Nyirenda, a lifestyle medicine physician in Botswana and the country's only certified Food for Life Instructor. Together, they explore how urbanization, processed foods, and the loss of traditional diets are fueling diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and hypertension — and how plant-based nutrition is offering real hope. 🌱 IN THIS EPISODE YOU'LL LEARN: • Why chronic disease rates are exploding in Botswana • What traditional African diets looked like — and why they worked • How plant-based eating can reduce medications • Why fiber, whole grains, and leafy greens matter • How Food for Life classes are changing lives globally 🥬 Apply To Become a Food For Life Instructor 👉 https://bit.ly/FFLApply2026 🩺 Dr. Samba Nyirenda 👉 https://saraiholisticcare.co.bw 👍 LIKE • SUBSCRIBE • LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW If you feel like your health IQ just went up a notch, help us grow by giving this video a thumbs up and subscribing to this channel. - About Us - The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

Inflammation is at the center of many of today's most common chronic diseases — but what if the real starting point isn't where most people think?   In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, host Chuck Carroll is joined by gastroenterologist and best-selling author Dr. Will Bulsiewicz for a wide-ranging and deeply human conversation about gut health, chronic inflammation, and the hidden role that stress, loneliness, and modern lifestyle play in making us sick.   Drawing from his new book Plant-Powered Plus, Dr. Bulsiewicz explains why the gut is a central command center for the immune system and the brain, and how dysfunction in the microbiome can drive everything from digestive distress to depression, anxiety, and long-term disease. He also opens up about his own personal health journey — including burnout, weight gain, and metabolic illness — and how healing his gut transformed both his life and his medical practice.   This episode goes beyond food to explore the science of the brain-gut-immune connection, the impact of chronic stress and isolation on inflammation, and why true healing requires more than just changing what's on your plate. If you've ever felt successful on the outside but unwell on the inside, this conversation offers clarity, compassion, and hope.   📕 Order Plant Powered Plus 👉 https://amzn.to/49jRDcz   🎧 The Gut Insiders Podcast 👉 Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4b5YDex 👉 Spotify: https://bit.ly/GutInsidersSpotify   🎧 Follow The Exam Room Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify ⭐ Leave a 5-star rating and a kind review if this episode raised your health IQ

The new Dietary Guidelines for Americans will shape how the U.S. eats for the next five years — but are they based on science or industry influence? In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, host Chuck Carroll is joined by Dr. Neal Barnard, Dr. Hana Kahleova, and registered dietitian Anna Herby to break down the good, the bad, and the troubling truths behind the newly released guidelines. In this episode, you'll learn: - Why eight of nine panelists had major industry conflicts - How meat and dairy ended up at the top of the new food pyramid - Why protein recommendations were nearly doubled - The hidden risks of saturated fat, red meat, and dairy - Why whole grains and legumes were minimized - What this means for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer risk - Why a legal petition has been filed to challenge the guidelines 📕 Read the legal petition challenging the guidelines 👉 https://bit.ly/DGAPetition 🥦 Apply to become a Food For Life instructor 👉 https://bit.ly/FFLApply2026   - About Us - The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

Are you struggling to lose weight and wondering if your metabolism is holding you back? In this episode of The Exam Room, host Chuck Carroll sits down with Dr. Neal Barnard to separate metabolism myths from science — and reveal how food choices can dramatically change how many calories your body burns every day. In this episode, you'll learn: - Why "slow metabolism" is often misunderstood — and how it really works - How high-fat diets can slow calorie burn at the cellular level - Why restrictive dieting backfires and leads to weight regain - How a low-fat, plant-based diet boosts the thermic effect of food - The role fiber plays in fullness, gut health, and weight loss - Why age does not prevent metabolic recovery - How to increase calorie burn without counting calories or starving If you're ready to stop fighting your body and start working with it, this episode offers a science-backed, sustainable approach to weight loss. 💚 Support our lifesaving research & this podcast 👉 https://PCRM.org/ExamRoomMatch - About Us - The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

Why do so many people quit their New Year's health goals—sometimes in just weeks? In this milestone 700th episode of The Exam Room Podcast, Chuck Carroll is joined by Dr. Neal Barnard to explain why lasting health has nothing to do with willpower—and everything to do with motivation. This conversation goes far beyond weight loss. You'll learn how a low-fat, plant-based diet can: • Improve digestion and hormone balance • Reduce joint pain, migraines, and inflammation • Save hundreds of dollars each year • Protect animals and the environment • Improve long-term health and athletic performance Dr. Barnard also shares unforgettable real-world stories from his research and personal life that reveal why understanding why you eat is the key to staying healthy for life. 💚 Support our lifesaving research & this podcast All donations are matched through Dec. 31 👉 https://PCRM.org/ExamRoomMatch - About Us - The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

What if the most-watched health topics of 2025 could help you live healthier, longer, and with more control over your body? This Best of The Exam Room Podcast 2025 compilation brings together the three pisodes that viewers couldn't stop watching — because they tackled problems that affect nearly everyone: ✔️ High cholesterol ✔️ Low fiber intake ✔️ Exposure to microplastics This episode features highlights from separate interviews with Chuck Carroll and Dr. Michael Greger, Dr. Danielle Belardo, and Dr. Hana Kahleova — the conversations that delivered the most practical, science-backed value to viewers in 2025. 🥉 LOWER CHOLESTEROL NATURALLY Learn how food can help lower LDL cholesterol without medication, which foods actively remove cholesterol from the body, and how small daily changes may reduce heart disease risk. 🥈 FIBER FOR HEART, GUT & WEIGHT HEALTH Discover why fiber helps you feel fuller, supports heart health, improves digestion, and may make weight management easier — plus how to increase fiber safely without discomfort. And why Dr. Belardo eats an astonishing 90 grams of fiber every day! 🥇 MICROPLASTICS — AND HOW TO REDUCE THEM Understand how microplastics enter your body, why they matter for long-term health, and what research suggests about using diet and movement to help your body clear them out. Dr. Kahleova shares how your food choices can help cleanse the body of microplastics naturally. 💚 Support our lifesaving research & this podcast All donations are matched through Dec. 31 👉 https://PCRM.org/ExamRoomMatch 📕 Order Dr. Greger's book "Lower LDL Cholesterol Naturally with Food" 👉 https://amzn.to/4axoxri About Us The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

Are ultra-processed foods the hidden reason weight loss feels impossible? Chuck Carroll is joined by Dr. Jim Loomis, medical director at Barnard Medical Center, to break down the science behind ultra-processed foods and their powerful impact on weight gain, metabolism, hunger, and fat storage. From packaged snacks and fast food to so-called "healthy" convenience items, ultra-processed foods now make up a majority of the modern diet. Dr. Loomis explains how these foods affect appetite hormones, blood sugar, calorie intake, and the body's ability to lose weight — and why simply "eating less" often doesn't work when ultra-processed foods dominate the plate. You'll learn: - What qualifies as an ultra-processed food - Why these foods drive overeating and cravings - How ultra-processed foods interfere with fat loss - The role of fiber, nutrients, and food quality in weight control - What to eat instead to support sustainable weight loss Whether you're trying to lose weight, improve metabolic health, or understand why progress has stalled, this episode delivers practical, evidence-based answers. ❤️ Work with The Doc & Chef Use code CHUCK for free month! https://plantbasedcenter.com/membership 🙏 Support PCRM https://pcrm.org/examroommatch About Us The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic, Wegovy, and Zepbound are changing medicine — but at what cost? In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, host Chuck Carroll sits down with Ben Urich, PharmD, PhD, to break down the real-world data behind the GLP-1 explosion. You'll learn: - How many people are actually using GLP-1 drugs - Why most users stop — and why that's starting to change - The true cost of GLP-1 medications to employers and health plans - Common and serious side effects to be aware of - Why GLP-1s are now being studied for Alzheimer's disease and addiction - What the future holds as more than 30 new drugs enter the pipeline This is a must-watch conversation for anyone considering GLP-1 medications, currently using Ozempic or Wegovy, or wondering where modern weight-loss medicine is headed next. 🙏 Support PCRM https://pcrm.org/examroommatch  

Is cheese really addictive? According to Dr. Neal Barnard, the answer is a resounding YES. The brain reacts nearly identically to cheese as it does narcotics and alcohol. While it sounds shocking, these claims are backed by science. In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, Chuck Carroll sits down with the author of The Cheese Trap to uncover how opioid-like compounds concentrated in cheese—activate powerful pleasure pathways, why U.S. cheese consumption has exploded to nearly 40 pounds per person per year, and how the dairy industry keeps us hooked. You'll discover: • The opiate chemistry of cheese • How cheese contributes to obesity and diabetes • The link between dairy hormones and breast cancer • Why kids are showing early artery damage • Which cheeses contain the highest casomorphin levels • The surprising role of sodium and saturated fat • How quitting cheese can dramatically improve health If you've ever said, "I could go vegan except for cheese," this is an episode you cannot miss. This episode is sponsored by The Gregory J. Reiter Memorial Fund. Visit their website: https://gregoryreiterfund.org 📕 The Cheese Trap Book https://amzn.to/44TdtRt 🙏 Support PCRM https://www.pcrm.org/donate 🎟️ ICNM 2026 Tickets https://bit.ly/ICNM2026 About Us The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

Discover the truth about omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids in this eye-opening interview with Dr. Kaixiong (Calvin) Ye, one of the world's leading genetic epidemiologists studying nutrition and chronic disease. Dr. Ye joins Chuck Carroll to explain new findings on: - Whether omega-6 is really inflammatory - How omega-3 and omega-6 impact cancer and mortality - Why the omega-6:omega-3 ratio is misleading - The controversy around omega-3 and prostate cancer - How genetics influence omega-3 metabolism - What precision nutrition will look like in the future You'll learn what the latest science says about who benefits most from omega-3, what blood biomarkers really mean, and why two people eating the same food may get very different health outcomes. 📚 Omega 3 and Omega 6 Cancer Study https://bit.ly/OmegaCancerStudy 🎟️ ICNM 2026 Tickets https://bit.ly/ICNM2026 About Us The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

Can a streaming network help change the future of food, media, and the planet? Emmy-winning journalist and UnchainedTV founder Jane Velez-Mitchell sits down with Chuck Carroll to reveal why plant-based storytelling is exploding right now — and why mainstream media still resists the movement. Discover how UnchainedTV grew to more than 20 million views, what FAST channels mean for the future of television, and why the meat industry launched an all-out messaging war against veganism. Jane also shares behind-the-scenes insight into new documentaries, adorable rescued pigs, celeb cooking shows, and the forgotten 1890s vegetarian movement. If you love food, media, history, or social change… this episode will absolutely light you up. Topics Covered: ✔ Why streaming is replacing cable and traditional TV ✔ The rise of FAST channels (free ad-supported TV) ✔ Inside the meat industry's anti-vegan messaging campaigns ✔ Why plant-based stories struggle to reach mainstream newsrooms ✔ The shocking climate impact of animal agriculture ✔ Behind the scenes of "Pig Little Lies" and "At Home with the Jenners" ✔ The surprising vegetarian movement of the 1890s ✔ How UnchainedTV helps people make compassionate, healthy transitions 📺 Watch UnchainedTV: https://unchainedtv.com About Us The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

Can your cholesterol drop more than 150 points in just 15 days without medication?   Dr. Ted Barnett joins Chuck Carroll at the International Conference on Nutrition and Medicine to reveal the stunning results he's seeing with patients who adopt a whole food plant-based diet.   Inside Lifestyle Medicine Grand Rounds, Dr. Barnett has witnessed cholesterol levels fall by 150–200 points in two weeks, average drops of 64 points, and dramatic improvements in blood sugar, inflammation, and energy — often outperforming the results of statins.   This episode dives deep into why lifestyle changes can be more powerful than prescriptions, what's holding back the medical system from using these tools, and how simple foods like arugula, broccoli, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, and black-eyed peas can transform your health quickly.   What You'll Learn:  - How patients are lowering cholesterol 150+ points naturally - Why whole food plant-based diets outperform many medications - The 15-Day Jumpstart program and its life-changing results - Why the medical system overlooks lifestyle solutions - The top foods Dr. Barnett "prescribes" to every patient - How doctors collaborate in Lifestyle Medicine Grand Rounds - How you can experience similar results at home   Please support PCRM and The Exam Room Podcast on Giving Tuesday. Your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar to fuel the content you love, like this podcast, while keeping all of PCRM's lifesaving work moving full steam ahead. Please donate today: https://pcrm.org/examroommatch   🩺 Visit Dr. Barnett and learn more about his Grand Rounds and https://www.rochesterlifestylemedicine.org   If you feel like you've raised your health IQ, please leave a 5-star rating and nice review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.   About Us The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

New research shows that simply choosing plant-based foods can slash your environmental footprint — and dramatically improve your health at the same time. In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, Chuck Carroll is joined by Dr. Hana Kahleova to uncover how different diets compare when it comes to land use, water use, greenhouse gases, and planetary health. The results are stunning: 🌱 Vegan diets use up to 8× less land 💧 Up to 85× less water 🔥 Up to 28× lower warming potential 💰 Cheaper and healthier overall 🏋️ Participants in clinical trials lost 14+ pounds while cutting their carbon footprint in half 🌎 Review the study: https://bit.ly/PlantBasedCarbonFootprint If you feel like you raised your health IQ by a point or two, please consider leaving a five-star rating and nice review wherever you're listening.

Can the chicken on your plate be causing urinary tract infections? New research says yes — and the findings may shock you.   In this must-watch episode of The Exam Room Podcast, host Chuck Carroll is joined by Dr. Neal Barnard to break down a landmark study revealing that poultry—especially chicken—is responsible for approximately 1 in 5 UTIs in the United States.   Dr. Barnard explains:   - How E. coli from poultry contaminates meat - Why cooking isn't enough to eliminate risk - How cross-contamination happens in home kitchens - Why infection rates spike in certain communities - What a plant-based diet does to dramatically reduce UTI risk - Foods like cranberries and blueberries that help prevent infections naturally   They also dive into Thanksgiving food myths, the realities of poultry production, antibiotic resistance, and how simple dietary changes can protect your health.   If you've ever struggled with UTIs—or you simply want to understand how diet affects your risk—this episode is essential viewing.   Read the full study: https://bit.ly/UTISourceStudy   🥗 Free Vegan Thanksgiving e-cookbook: https://bit.ly/VeganThanksgivingBook   This episode is sponsored by The Gregory J. Reiter Memorial Fund, which supports organizations like the Physicians Committee that carry on Greg's passion and love for animals through rescue efforts, veganism, and wildlife conservation. Visit their website: https://gregoryreiterfund.org   If you feel like you've raised your health IQ, please leave a 5-star rating and nice review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.   About Us The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

The science of aging gracefully is discussed as Dr. Roxie Becker joins Chuck Carroll on The Exam Room Podcast. Discover the everyday habits that could be aging your skin — and the easy lifestyle changes that help keep you glowing from the inside out. Dr. Becker shares what really causes wrinkles, the truth about alcohol and red wine, and why carrots, sweet potatoes, and sleep may be better anti-aging tools than expensive creams. Learn how nutrition, exercise, sleep, and sun protection work together for youthful skin — and why the healthiest glow comes from a plant-based, whole-food lifestyle. You Will Learn: - Foods that fight wrinkles and boost collagen - How sleep and stress affect skin health - The truth about alcohol and aging - How to exercise for younger-looking skin 📸 Dr. Becker on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drroxiebecker About Us The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.  

Your gut holds the key to better health — and Dr. Will Bulsiewicz is back to help you unlock it! In this Exam Room Podcast mailbag episode, Chuck Carroll and Dr. B answer your biggest questions about gut health, fiber, inflammation, and the microbiome. Learn why diversity is strength — both in your diet and your gut — and how simple shifts like cooling your potatoes or walking after meals can feed your microbes for life-changing benefits. Topics include: - Fiber Maxing: the TikTok trend explained - Why resistant starch boosts your microbiome - Artificial sweeteners vs. sugar — what's worse? - How exercise supports gut health - The gut-brain connection and stress - Sneak peek into Plant Powered Plus (available Jan. 13) 📘 Pre-order Dr. B's new book: https://amzn.to/42vFhKz 🔗 Dr. B's Gut Health Collective and courses: https://theguthealthmd.com   If you feel like you've raised your health IQ, please leave a 5-star rating and nice review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.   About Us The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

How can a health coach change your life—and your sleep? In this inspiring episode of The Exam Room Podcast, Chuck Carroll sits down with Dr. Brooke Bussard to explore the power of lifestyle medicine and personalized health coaching. Discover why sleep, nutrition, movement, and support are the four essential pillars to building a healthier you. Learn practical sleep tips that actually work, how small changes in diet can lead to big transformations, and how Dr. Bussard's new Menopause Makeover Online program is helping women across the globe reclaim their health. ✅ Why health coaching works ✅ Sleep hacks for deeper rest ✅ The truth about dairy and bone health ✅ Top pantry staples for plant-based living ✅ How to build momentum when motivation fades 📚 Learn more: https://DrBrookeBussard.com 📚 Menopause Makeover: https://menopausemakeover.online  Mention that you heard about the program on The Exam Room and save 10% If you feel like you've raised your health IQ, please leave a 5-star rating and nice review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.   About Us The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

Discover how your diet affects memory, focus, and long-term brain health in this powerful conversation with Dr. Neal Barnard and host Chuck Carroll on The Exam Room Podcast.   Learn which foods fuel your brain — and which ones damage it. Dr. Barnard reveals the surprising truth about dairy, red meat, coconut oil, and fish oil, and shares which plant-based foods can lower your risk for Alzheimer's, dementia, and depression.   ✅ What You'll Learn: • How saturated fat and heme iron accelerate cognitive decline • The best plant-based omega-3 sources for brain performance • Why "eating the rainbow" boosts memory and mood • New research showing a vegan diet may reverse dementia • Three easy habits for seniors to sharpen memory starting today   🌱 Start your journey to better health today! Work with the expert doctors and dietitians at the Barnard Medical Center: https://www.BarnardMedical.org   This episode is sponsored by The Gregory J. Reiter Memorial Fund, which supports organizations like the Physicians Committee that carry on Greg's passion and love for animals through rescue efforts, veganism, and wildlife conservation. Visit their website: https://gregoryreiterfund.org   If you feel like you've raised your health IQ, please leave a 5-star rating and nice review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.   About Us The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving lives through plant-based diets and ethical and effective scientific research. We combine the clout and expertise of more than 17,000 physicians with the dedicated actions of more than 175,000 members across the United States and around the world.

In this powerful episode, Dr. Akil Taher, a heart-attack survivor turned marathon runner, reveals the life-saving truth about lipoprotein(a) which is a genetically inherited form of cholesterol that most people don't even know they have. Despite living a healthy lifestyle, Dr. Taher discovered his LP(a) levels were dangerously high, placing him at extreme risk for heart disease and stroke.   He joins Chuck Carroll on The Exam Room Podcast to explain:   - What LP(a) is and why standard cholesterol tests don't detect it - How 1 in 5 people have elevated LP(a) and most never know it - Why South Asians, Black Americans, and Middle Eastern populations face increased genetic risk - The role of a whole-food, plant-based diet in lowering LP(a) levels by up to 16 %—and which foods can cut levels by 40 % - The immense cholesterol lowering benefit of amla or Indian gooseberries - New LP(a)-targeting drugs in clinical trials that could reduce levels by up to 98 % - How lifestyle habits—from nutrition and sleep to stress management—help strengthen arteries and protect your heart   📘 Learn more about Dr. Taher's inspiring journey in his book Open Heart: https://amzn.to/491ujAJ 💻 Visit his website: https://www.akiltaher.com   🌱 Start your journey to better health today! Work with the expert doctors and dietitians at the Barnard Medical Center: https://www.BarnardMedical.org   If you feel like you've raised your health IQ, please leave a 5-star rating and nice review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.