The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee

Is yogurt really good for your gut? What about dairy kefir—and are plant-based yogurts a better choice?

Gastroenterologist Dr. Alan Desmond joins Chuck Carroll to examine the human research behind some of the biggest claims in the yogurt aisle. They discuss why live cultures do not automatically mean lasting health benefits, where fermented dairy can help people with lactose intolerance, what to look for in a plant-based yogurt, and why your overall eating pattern matters more than one product.

Dr. Desmond also talks about his new book, What Your Doctor Isn't Telling You About Food, and the chapter that has drawn more pushback than any other.

In this episode:

• Yogurt and the microbiome
• Dairy versus plant-based yogurt
• Kefir studies
• Lactose intolerance
• Fiber and gut health

🙏 Become and Exam Room VIP and get early access to the interview with Dr. Michael Greger before anyone else!

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📕 Dr. Alan Desmond Book

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📱 Website

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This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

- 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.

Too tired to cook, but still want a meal you feel good about? PlantYou creator and bestselling cookbook author Carleigh Bodrug joins Chuck Carroll live on The Exam Room to talk about quick, easy plant-based meals for busy people. Carleigh's new cookbook, PlantYou Quickies, is packed with approachable recipes and ideas for the nights when your time and energy are limited. Chuck and Carleigh explore pantry staples, convenient shortcuts, flexible meals, low-effort dinners, and ways to make plant-based cooking feel doable in real life. What would you make with fifteen minutes and the ingredients already in your kitchen? Bring your questions to the live chat and join the conversation. 📕 PlantYou Quickies Book 👉 https://link.amazon/B0bZyi4fT 📱 PlantYou Videos 👉 https://www.instagram.com/plantyou Make a gift to support The Exam Room Podcast and the life-changing work of the Physicians Committee. All gifts of $20 or more receive a mention on the show. Gifts of $100 or more receive an exclusive Exam Room Podcast tote! Exam Roomie of the Week - Lorraine Smith 🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM 👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle. - 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.

Nearly one-third of American adults may have some form of iron deficiency. Does that mean we should be eating more meat—or could that advice create an entirely different set of health problems? Dr. Neal Barnard joins Chuck Carroll to examine a Washington Post article recommending meat, poultry, and seafood as sources of highly absorbable heme iron. They also explore the counterargument from Dr. Jim Loomis of Barnard Medical Center, who says beans and greens are the healthier choice. You'll learn how to meet your iron needs while eating a plant-based diet, including the best foods, the importance of vitamin C, and common mistakes that can interfere with absorption. Dr. Barnard also examines the complete nutritional package that comes with each source of iron. How do beans compare with beef when calories, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, fiber, and protein are considered? And what could the choice mean for LDL cholesterol, blood sugar, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, blood pressure, weight, and other metabolic markers? Plus, discover the potential concerns surrounding heme iron, including its associations with colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease, oxidative stress, and type 2 diabetes. Topics discussed include:

• Heme iron vs. non-heme iron
• The best plant-based sources of iron
• Beans, lentils, tofu, seeds, whole grains, and leafy greens
• How vitamin C improves iron absorption
• Ferritin, hemoglobin, and transferrin saturation
• When an iron supplement may be necessary
• The potential risks of taking iron without medical supervision
• Calories, saturated fat, cholesterol, and fiber in iron-rich foods
• Heme iron and the risks of cancer and heart disease

🥩 Iron in Meat Linked to Heart Disease 👉 https://bit.ly/meat-iron-risk This episode of The Exam Room Podcast is sponsored by the Gregory J. Reiter Memorial Fund. Our sincere thanks to Alysoun Mahoney and everyone at the fund for their generous support of the Physicians Committee and The Exam Room Podcast. 🙂 Gregery Reiter Fund 👉 https://gregoryreiterfund.org Make a gift to support The Exam Room Podcast and the life-changing work of the Physicians Committee. 🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM 👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle. - 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 action

Why can a fast-food commercial still trigger a craving 16 years after someone stopped eating it? And how can a health movement compete with the enormous marketing power of Big Food?

Communications pioneer David Fenton joins Chuck Carroll, who lost nearly 300 pounds, to reveal how advertising, repetition, emotion, and social media shape what people believe—and ultimately what they eat.

David has spent more than 50 years helping activists, artists, nonprofits, and social movements make their voices heard. Often called the "Robin Hood of Public Relations," he explains why facts alone rarely change minds, why the most effective messages reach the heart as well as the head, and how one person with a phone can build an extraordinary movement.

Chuck also shares his experience weighing 420 pounds, consuming as many as 10,000 calories a day, and battling a severe fast-food addiction. Even after 16 years without fast food, some advertisements can still awaken old cravings.

In this episode:

• How food companies program cravings through repetition
• Why simple messages are easier to remember and share
• How small nonprofits can compete with enormous marketing budgets
• Why stories can persuade people when statistics cannot
• How one person can mobilize hundreds of thousands of followers
• Billie Eilish, Support + Feed, and the one-meal plant-based pledge
• The role of artists and influencers in social change
• Why hope should lead—and fear should play a smaller role
• David's largely plant-based journey beginning in a 1970s commune
• How ordinary people can begin making a difference today

📕 Get David Fenton's Book

👉 https://link.amazon/B0iZiSRlS

🎧 David's Podcast

👉 https://apple.co/3SPi70f

- Exam Roomie of the Week -

• Angela Lugenbeel

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This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

- 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 action

Why do some healthy habits become part of your life while others disappear after a few days or weeks?

Dr. Gemma Newman joins Chuck Carroll to explore the psychology behind lasting lifestyle change — and why willpower alone may not be enough.

They discuss research suggesting that sustainable change is often connected to identity, purpose, personal values, and finding a deeper "why." Dr. Newman also shares her BLEND IT framework for helping patients, friends, and family make healthier choices without lecturing, judging, or telling them what to do.

Plus, discover how whole-food plant-based diets may support weight management without constant calorie counting, why high-fiber lower-calorie-density foods can help with hunger, the role of volume eating, and how healthy eating can become something you genuinely enjoy.

You'll also hear a deeply personal discussion about compassion, self-worth, motivation, and why major life transitions can sometimes become powerful opportunities for change.

Dr. Newman is also the author of Get Well, Stay Well.

Make a gift to support The Exam Room Podcast and the life-changing work of the Physicians Committee.

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🙏 Dr. Gemma Newman

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📗 Get Well, Stay Well

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This episode is fueled by Dr. Brooke Bussard

👉 https://drbrookebussard.com

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

- 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 action

Can chocolate actually protect your heart or are we giving candy a health halo it doesn't deserve?

Dr. Howard Sesso from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School joins Chuck Carroll to reveal what the landmark COSMOS trial discovered about cocoa extract, cardiovascular disease and cognition.

The randomized clinical trial included more than 21,000 participants. One secondary outcome showed a 27% reduction in cardiovascular disease death among participants assigned to cocoa extract. However, the primary cardiovascular outcome did not reach statistical significance. Dr. Sesso explains what both findings mean and why the distinction matters.

You'll also learn:

• Whether dark or bitter chocolate is automatically healthier
• The difference between cocoa, cacao and cocoa flavanols
• Why cocoa powder and cacao nibs may be better choices
• Cocoa's effects on inflammation and cognition
• Flavan-3-ols sources and why they matter
• Why the findings still need to be replicated

Exam Roomie of the Week

• Charles Shryock

Make a gift to support The Exam Room Podcast and the life-changing work of the Physicians Committee. All gifts of $20 or more receive a mention on the show. Gifts of $100 or more receive an exclusive Exam Room Podcast tote!

🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM

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🍫 COSMOS Trial

👉 https://cosmostrial.org

📗 Howard Sesso Additional Research

👉 https://bit.ly/sesso-research

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

- 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 action

Can an athlete become stronger, recover faster, and clean and jerk more than 440 pounds without eating meat?

Three-time Olympian Kendrick Farris says the answer is yes.

Kendrick represented the United States at the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympic Games and was featured in the hit documentary The Game Changers. He ate a standard American diet during his first two Olympic appearances. By his third, he was completely plant-based—and he says the difference was extraordinary.

Kendrick tells Chuck Carroll that he did not lose explosiveness after changing his diet. He believes he gained more, recovered faster, completed more work, and became stronger.

He also opens up about growing up in poverty in Shreveport, Louisiana, where there were days when his family did not have enough food. When he asked his mother what they were eating, her answer was sometimes, "Fast and pray." That experience helped build the faith and discipline that would eventually carry him to the Olympic stage.

In this episode:

• How much protein an Olympic weightlifter eats
• How his performance changed after going plant-based
• His experience competing nine times in one year
• Why recovery became his greatest advantage
• Why he replaced whey with plant-based protein
• The bloating he experienced before changing protein sources
• How to order plant-based food at any restaurant
• What The Game Changers did for plant-based athletes
• Why he believes strength is physical, mental, and spiritual

The Physicians Committee's Plant-Powered Performance sports nutrition course begins Sept. 14 and features live instruction, expert Q&A, recordings, athlete-focused recipes, and practical strategies for improving energy, endurance, strength, and recovery.

🎉 PCRM Sports Nutrition Course

👉 https://bit.ly/PlantBasedAthletePCRM

🏋🏿‍♂️ Kendrick Farris

👉 https://blessthegymforever.com

🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM

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This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

- 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 action

Can fiber be even more important than protein for athletic performance, muscle health, and healthy aging?

Dr. Regan A. Stiegmann and Dr. Sharon McDowell-Larsen join "The Exam Room Podcast" to challenge some of the biggest assumptions in fitness and sports nutrition.

Dr. McDowell-Larsen is an exercise physiologist, nine-time Ironman finisher, and age-group world champion who remains an elite competitor at 65. She reveals how changing her diet helped resolve debilitating breathing problems, eliminate her need for three asthma medications, and revive an athletic career she thought was over.

Dr. Stiegmann is a former U.S. Air Force major and flight surgeon who helped advance lifestyle and performance medicine in the military. She explains why nutrition can influence everything from muscle recovery and cognitive performance to military readiness and long-term health.

Together, they explore the emerging gut-muscle connection and explain why America's obsession with protein may be causing athletes to overlook fiber.

In this episode:

• Why protein alone may not prevent age-related muscle loss
• How fiber supports muscle, bone, and metabolic health
• What a 65-year-old Ironman champion eats in a typical day
• The relationship between gut health and muscle function
• Why exercise cannot erase the effects of a poor diet
• The potential risks of extreme endurance exercise
• How a plant-based diet may improve recovery
• Why some professional athletes keep plant-based eating a secret
• How daily choices determine the trajectory of aging

Dr. Stiegmann and Dr. McDowell-Larsen are the co-authors of "Staying in the Game," an evidence-based guide to maintaining physical, mental, and metabolic performance throughout life.

The six-week online course begins Sept. 14 and features live instruction, expert Q&A, recordings, athlete-focused recipes, and practical strategies for improving energy, endurance, strength, and recovery.

Chuck and professional wrestler Dan Healy, known to wrestling fans as Austin Aries, will be among the featured presenters.

🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM

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🎉 PCRM Sports Nutrition Course

👉 https://bit.ly/PlantBasedAthletePCRM

📕 Staying In The Game Book

👉 https://amzn.to/3UUx5T4

🚴‍♀️ Sharen McDowell-Larsen Substack

👉 https://sharonmcdowelllarsen.substack.com

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

- 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 action

Why does healthy eating feel so hard—even when we know exactly what to do?

Dr. Doug Lisle joins Chuck Carroll on The Exam Room to explain the psychology behind The Pleasure Trap and why today's food environment may be even more difficult to navigate than it was two decades ago.

Dr. Lisle is the co-author of The Pleasure Trap and a longtime voice in evolutionary psychology. In this conversation, he shares his perspective on why highly processed foods can be so alluring, why shame and willpower are not enough, and how people can build a more sustainable whole-food plant-based way of eating.

In this episode:

• Why the modern food environment can feel impossible to escape
• The psychology of pleasure, pain avoidance, and habit
• Why healthy diets can fail when they feel too restrictive
• Dr. Lisle's "vegan Bushman" approach to calorie density and satisfaction
• What he thinks about GLP-1 weight-loss medications
• How to judge dietary progress without obsessing over daily scale changes
• A preview of his upcoming book, Sherlock Holmes and the Secret of Life

Dr. Lisle will also be joining Chuck at the Plant Powered Party in Las Vegas, September 4–6. Chef AJ, Dr. Michael Greger, Dr. Brooke Goldner, Dr. Joel Fuhrman, Dr. Columbus Batiste, and many more will be there, too.

Can't make it to Vegas? Watch all three days live from anywhere with replay access for a full year. This is Chef AJ's last event for a long while, so don't miss it.

Exam Roomies of the Week

• Evan Haas
• Lucy EverHope

Make a gift to support The Exam Room Podcast and the life-changing work of the Physicians Committee.

🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM

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🎉 Plant-Powered Party Las Vegas

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📕 The Pleasure Trap

👉 https://amzn.to/4xX1hes

📗 Sherlock Holmes and the Secret of Life

👉 https://bit.ly/SherlockLisleBook

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

- 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 action

Can food really be medicine? Dr. Ron Weiss is a physician who believes the answer starts long before a meal reaches your plate—it starts in the soil.

In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, Chuck Carroll visits with Dr. Weiss about his unique model of care at Ethos Farm in New Jersey, where regenerative farming and lifestyle-based primary care come together. They explore why soil health matters, what "living soil" means, and how whole plant foods can become a practical, powerful part of a healthier life.

Dr. Weiss also shares how he helps patients make lasting changes without turning healthy eating into an impossible all-or-nothing assignment. From the first plant-based meal to a more intentional plate, this is a conversation about making better health feel more approachable.

You'll learn:

• Why Dr. Weiss says the first priority is to eat more whole plants
• What regenerative farming and healthy soil have to do with the food we eat
• How minimally processed plant foods differ from heavily processed options
• Why a healthy lifestyle should be practical, personal, and sustainable
• What patients can expect from Dr. Weiss's farm-based model of care
• How coaching, lab work, and lifestyle changes can fit into a long-term health plan
• Why community support can make healthy change easier to maintain
• How to take your first realistic step toward eating more plant-based foods

Dr. Weiss will also be joining Chuck, Chef AJ, Carleigh Bodrug from PlantYou, Dr. Will Bulsiewicz and others at the Plant Powered Party in Las Vegas, September 4–6, 2026. It's a full weekend of inspiring speakers, practical presentations, delicious plant-based food, and community. Join in person or watch online from anywhere.

Exam Roomies of the Week

• Meng Tee
• Andrea Bonnett
• Carolyn Doyle

Make a gift to support The Exam Room Podcast and the life-changing work of the Physicians Committee.

🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM

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🎉 Plant-Powered Party Las Vegas

👉 https://bit.ly/ChefAJParty

🩺 Ethos Primary Care

👉 https://ethosprimarycare.com

🥕 Ethos Farm

👉 https://ethosfarmtohealth.org

This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about any changes to your diet or lifestyle.

- 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 action