The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee

Dr. Akil Taher, a cardiologist and heart-attack survivor, discusses the often-overlooked threat of lipoprotein(a), a genetic cholesterol risk that can lead to heart disease. He explains why standard tests miss it, affecting millions unaware. With a focus on dietary strategies, Dr. Taher highlights the benefits of a whole-food, plant-based diet and specific foods like amla that may significantly reduce LP(a) levels. He also covers emerging medications that promise drastic reductions in LP(a), urging awareness and testing, especially among high-risk ethnic groups.

In this discussion, Dr. Matthew Nagra, a physician and nutrition researcher, dismantles the myth that vegan diets require extreme planning, a notion that often undermines plant-based eating. He highlights how omnivorous diets also frequently miss essential nutrients. Dr. Nagra explores the reasons behind perceptions of vegan diets, reveals surprising findings on diet quality, and offers practical advice for new plant-based eaters, including the importance of calcium and vitamin B12. His insights could reshape public health narratives around diet and nutrition.

Dr. Gemma Newman, known as the Plant Power Doctor, dives into the multifaceted world of supplements, exposing the myths and marketing ploys of the industry. She highlights that multivitamins often do more harm than good and emphasizes how a whole-food, plant-based diet can provide essential nutrients. Newman discusses the importance of personalized supplementation, especially vitamin B12 and vitamin D, and introduces her SMART framework for making safe supplement choices. She also warns against the risks of high doses of herbal supplements and how to spot fake supplement ads.

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 inflammation. Dr. Barnard also reveals how dairy, iodine, selenium, and soy all play surprising roles in thyroid function — and what you can do starting today to protect and restore this vital gland. 🍎 In This Episode You'll Learn: - How dairy proteins can trigger autoimmune thyroid disorders - Why people eating a plant-based diet have the lowest rates of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism - The best foods for your thyroid — including seaweed, Brazil nuts, and antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables - The truth about soy and cruciferous vegetables like kale and broccoli - How stress, sleep, and crash diets affect thyroid hormones - The role of environmental toxins and processed foods in hormone disruption 🌱 Start your journey to better thyroid health today! Work with the expert doctors and dietitians at the Barnard Medical Center: https://www.BarnardMedical.org 📕Order your copy of Dr. Barnard's book Your Body In Balance which covers thyroid dysfunction: https://amzn.to/3JcPrcI 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.

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 framework — "See, Believe, Create" — a practical guide for improving personal and public health. Discover what science says about potassium deficiency, the dangers of ultra-processed foods, and how nutrition, environment, and policy can come together to create a healthier world for everyone. Dr. Frieden also discusses: - Why the potassium-to-sodium ratio is one of the strongest predictors of heart health - The impact of microplastics, PFAS, and air pollution (PM2.5) on chronic disease - How food industry tactics mirror Big Tobacco's playbook - The truth about processed meats, sugar-sweetened drinks, and trans fats - What governments can learn from Chile's bold food labeling laws - Why plant-based, high-fiber diets are key to longevity and disease prevention - The risks of animal agriculture and wet markets in future pandemics 📘 Get Dr. Frieden's book: https://amzn.to/4nf1xzU If you feel like you've raised your health IQ, please leave a 5-star rating and nice review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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 and reverse disease. Ruby shares the exact steps she took to restore her health—including how she eliminated dairy, sugar, and processed foods, and the mindset shift that helped her truly heal. Today, she's thriving as a wellness coach, author, and founder of Ruby Reds Vegan, teaching people that food truly is medicine. What You'll Learn - How Dr. Ruby Lathon reversed thyroid cancer with plant-based nutrition - The foods that help regulate thyroid function and fight inflammation - Ways to make whole-food, plant-based meals delicious and satisfying 📕 Order Dr. Ruby's cookbook, Stop Playin' Go Vegan: https://bit.ly/DrRubyCookbook 🥦 Check out Ruby Reds Vegan meal delivery service: https://www.rubyredsvegan.com This episode is powered by Menopause Makeover that unites the science of strength and the power of transformation—so you can reclaim your body, your life, and your confidence. Check the program out online at https://menopausemakeover.online If you feel like you've raised your health IQ, please leave a 5-star rating and nice review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, a leading gastroenterologist and author of "Fiber Fueled," dives into the complexities of gut health and low-carb diets. He reveals how low-carb eating can disrupt microbiome diversity and impact digestion, stressing the importance of fiber for producing short-chain fatty acids essential for colon health. Will offers practical tips to protect the microbiome while reducing carbs and compares low-carb diets to Mediterranean and plant-based approaches. He also addresses common issues like bloating and incomplete evacuation with insightful solutions.

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 cause of death in the U.S. - The truth about statins: small benefit, real risks. - How plant-based eating can reverse heart disease. - Foods that raise cholesterol: meat, dairy, eggs, coconut & palm oils. - The top foods and spices proven to lower LDL include black soybeans, apples, and garlic powder. - Why olive oil raises cholesterol on a vegan diet. - Green tea and mushrooms: health boosters, but not major LDL-reducers. - Practical tips: even one small daily change makes a big difference. 👉 Share your questions for Dr. Greger in the comments! Dr. Greger's Book: Lower LDL Cholesterol Naturally with Food Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/4h14QcA Dr. Greger's Cholesterol seminar is on Oct. 10 at 2pm ET. Register by Oct. 8: https://bit.ly/DrGregerCholesterolEvent If you feel like you've raised your health IQ, please leave a 5-star rating and nice review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Breast cancer prevention is possible, and the latest science is showing exactly how. On this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, host Chuck Carroll sits down with leading breast cancer surgeon Dr. Kristi Funk to reveal six steps every woman can take to prevent breast cancer and dramatically reduce breast cancer risk. From the role of a plant-based diet in breast cancer prevention to lifestyle habits that strengthen breast health, these strategies come directly from new research and could make a lifesaving difference. The conversation also tackles one of the most debated questions in women's health: Should women over 75 still get mammograms? A groundbreaking new study suggests the benefits are greater than many once believed. Dr. Funk shares her expert perspective on mammograms after 75 and what this means for women and their doctors. In this episode you'll discover: - The six scientifically proven lifestyle habits that reduce breast cancer risk - The role of diet, exercise, and alcohol in prevention - How sleep and stress management affect breast cancer risk - Why mammograms after age 75 may be more beneficial than expected - What women of all ages can do today to improve long-term breast health Have a question for Dr. Kristi Funk? Drop it in the comments below! Become a member of Dr. Funk's breast cancer support community: https://pinklotus.com PCRM's Let's Beat Breast Cancer store: https://pcrm.org/shop Breast cancer lifestyle medicine study: https://bit.ly/LMBCStudy If you feel like you've raised your health IQ, please leave a 5-star rating and nice review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

What if food could help you fight cancer? New research suggests that diet can play a role in improving outcomes for cancer patients, even slowing the progression of the disease. And Dr. Urvi Shah is leading the charge. Dr. Shah was training to be an oncologist when she was diagnosed with cancer herself. This diagnosis sent her down a rabbit hole of cancer diet research, and today she's contributed to six dietary trials examining whether and how nutrition can play a role in improving outcomes for cancer patients. In this episode of The Exam Room Dr. Shah and Chuck Carroll discuss: - How diet could improve outcomes for cancer patients - The best foods for cancer patients - The role your gut health plays in recovery - How to join a cancer diet trial Dr. Shah's research can be found here: https://bit.ly/DrUrviShahResearch Information on cancer clinical trials can be found here: https://bit.ly/ClinicalTrialsDrShah If you feel like you've raised your health IQ, please leave a 5-star rating and nice review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.