The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee

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...

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 ho...

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 digestio...

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 hi...

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 ma...

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 med...

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—activa...

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 mislea...

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 tele...

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,...

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 u...

Graphic Title: 1 in 5 UTIs? Graphic Note: Need Neal and Chuck on here with some raw chicken and turkey. Show Title: 95% Reduce Medications: Dr. Brad Moore on the Power Reversing Diseases Show Description: Discover how lifestyle medicine can reverse chronic disease in this powerful conversation between Chuck Carroll and Dr. Brad Moore, Director of the Lifestyle Medicine Program at George Washington...

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...

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-ag...

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...

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 sma...

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,...

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 jo...

For years, we've been told that vegan and vegetarian diets "require careful planning" to be healthy — while omnivorous diets get a free pass. But is that really true?   In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, host Chuck Carroll sits down with Dr. Matt Nagra to discuss his new peer-reviewed study published in the International Journal of Disease Reversal and Prevention: "Asymmetrical Dietary Guid...

Are supplements helping you — or wasting your money?   In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, Dr. Gemma Newman joins Chuck Carroll to break down the science, myths, and marketing behind the multibillion-dollar supplement industry.   Discover which supplements are truly worth taking, which can be harmful in excess, and how to build better health through a whole-food, plant-based diet.   Whether...

Your thyroid could be the hidden key to your energy, mood, and metabolism. What you eat may be making or breaking it.   In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, Chuck Carroll sits down with Dr. Neal Barnard to uncover the powerful connection between thyroid health and diet.   Discover how eating certain foods and reducing stress can help restore hormone balance, boost metabolism, and reduce infla...

Former CDC Director Dr. Tom Frieden joins Chuck Carroll on The Exam Room Podcast to reveal The Formula for Better Health: How to Save Millions of Lives, Including Your Own. In this powerful conversation, Dr. Frieden breaks down what's keeping America sick — from poor diets to toxic environments — and how we can turn the tide with simple, proven steps that save lives.   He shares his three-part fra...

What happens when a systems engineer is told she has cancer—but refuses to accept that medication and surgery are her only options?   In this inspiring episode of The Exam Room Podcast, host Chuck Carroll sits down with Dr. Ruby Lathon, who healed her thyroid cancer naturally through the power of food. Discover how she turned her research skills into a mission to help others use plants to prevent...

Are low-carb diets good or bad for your gut health?   In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, Chuck Carroll is joined by gastroenterologist and gut health expert Dr. Will Bulsiewicz to explore how cutting carbs affects your microbiome, digestion, and long-term wellness.   Discover what happens to your gut bacteria when fiber is reduced, whether low-carb eating disrupts short-chain fatty acid pro...

Can you really lower cholesterol with food? Dr. Michael Greger joins Chuck Carroll on The Exam Room Podcast to reveal the simple, science-backed foods and spices that can drive LDL cholesterol down—without drugs or side effects. Discover how everyday choices can protect your heart and add years to your life.   What You'll Learn in This Episode:   - Why the Standard American Diet is now the #1 caus...