5 Powerful Habits for Staying Healthy in a Junk Food World

We know that kombucha is better for you than soda, right? But just how differently do these two beverages affect the gut? When you choose a ginger kombucha over, say, a cherry cola, the impact of that decision may be greater than you think. Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, gastroenterologist and best-selling author of Fiber Fueled, takes us inside the digestive tract to help us understand the big impact of these seemingly small choices.   Plus -- an update on Chuck Carroll's health journey. Doctors at the Mayo Clinic have a new theory about what may be causing Chuck's debilitating symptoms.   In this episode of The Exam Room you'll learn:   - How kombucha benefits the gut - The impact of soda vs kombucha on the body - How acid in soda and kombucha can put microplastics in your body - What to know about alcohol in kombucha - How added sugar impacts the microbiome and the immune system   — — SHOW LINKS — — Will Bulsiewicz Courses: https://theplantfedgut.com 38Tera: https://38tera.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theguthealthmd — — — GreenFare 21-Day Kickstart with Chuck Starts July 12 in Herndon, VA. Register: https://greenfare.com/product/july-12th-saturday-21-day-kickstart-with-chuck — — — Chef AJ’s Plant Powered Party in Las Vegas https://theplantpoweredparty.com — — EVENTS — — International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine Where: Washington, DC When: August 14-16, 2025 Tix & Speakers: https://www.pcrm.org/icnm — — BECOME AN EXAM ROOM VIP — — Sign up: https://www.pcrm.org/examroomvip — — THIS IS US — — The Exam Room Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theexamroompodcast — — — Chuck Carroll Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChuckCarrollWLC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChuckCarrollWLC X: https://www.twitter.com/ChuckCarrollWLC — — — Physicians Committee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/physicianscommittee Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PCRM.org X: https://www.twitter.com/pcrm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PCRM Jobs: https://www.pcrm.org/careers — — SUBSCRIBE & SHARE — — 5-Star Success: Share Your Story Apple: https://apple.co/2JXBkpy​​ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2pMLoY3 — — — Please subscribe and give the show a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or many other podcast providers. Don’t forget to share it with a friend for inspiration!

How do you stick to healthy eating when there’s a fast food restaurant on every corner and healthy options are hard to come by. Brenda Workman knows the struggle — and she’s found a way through it. After decades of yo-yo dieting, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure, she made a mindset shift that changed everything. Now she’s 60 pounds lighter, off her medications, and thriving on a plant-based diet… in one of the unhealthiest states in the U.S. Brenda shares the five practical habits that helped her stay the course, even when surrounded by junk food and temptations.   You’ll learn: - Brenda’s five go-to strategies for eating healthy in an unhealthy world - Why focusing on health — not weight loss — is the key to real change - How to fight cravings and ditch junk food for good - Practical tips for starting, and sticking with, a plant-based lifestyle   — — SHOW LINKS — — Support PCRM https://www.pcrm.org/match All donations doubled through July 10 up to $500,000 — — — Brenda Workman Wellness Weekend: https://www.brendaworkmanspeaks.com/wellness-weekend YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@brendaworkmancooksplants — — — Dr. Brooke Bussard https://drbrookebussard.com — — EVENTS — — International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine Where: Washington, DC When: August 14-16, 2025 Tix & Speakers: https://www.pcrm.org/icnm — — BECOME AN EXAM ROOM VIP — — Sign up: https://www.pcrm.org/examroomvip — — THIS IS US — — The Exam Room Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theexamroompodcast — — — Chuck Carroll Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChuckCarrollWLC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChuckCarrollWLC X: https://www.twitter.com/ChuckCarrollWLC — — — Physicians Committee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/physicianscommittee Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PCRM.org X: https://www.twitter.com/pcrm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PCRM Jobs: https://www.pcrm.org/careers — — SUBSCRIBE & SHARE — — 5-Star Success: Share Your Story Apple: https://apple.co/2JXBkpy​​ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2pMLoY3 — — — Please subscribe and give the show a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or many other podcast providers. Don’t forget to share it with a friend for inspiration!

New research reveals that what you eat during the day directly impacts how well you sleep at night — and it’s not what you think.   Dr. Neal Barnard breaks down a new study showing that fruits, vegetables, and complex carbohydrates can significantly improve sleep quality, while high-protein diets, red meat, and even that “harmless” evening glass of wine may leave you feeling exhausted.   In this episode of The Exam Room with Chuck Carroll, you’ll learn:   - The best foods for a good night's sleep - The top foods for natural melatonin production - What NOT to eat before bed (including some surprising ones) - Dr. Barnard’s 5 research-backed rules for better sleep - Whether sugar is really the enemy of a good night’s sleep   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.   — — SHOW LINKS — — Support PCRM https://www.pcrm.org/match All donations doubled through July 10 up to $500,000 — — — Fruit & Veg Sleep Study https://bit.ly/FruitVegSleep — — — Gregory J. Reiter Memorial Fund https://gregoryreiterfund.org — — EVENTS — — International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine Where: Washington, DC When: August 14-16, 2025 Tix & Speakers: https://www.pcrm.org/icnm — — BECOME AN EXAM ROOM VIP — — Sign up: https://www.pcrm.org/examroomvip — — THIS IS US — — The Exam Room Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theexamroompodcast — — — Chuck Carroll Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChuckCarrollWLC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChuckCarrollWLC X: https://www.twitter.com/ChuckCarrollWLC — — — Physicians Committee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/physicianscommittee Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PCRM.org X: https://www.twitter.com/pcrm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PCRM Jobs: https://www.pcrm.org/careers — — SUBSCRIBE & SHARE — — 5-Star Success: Share Your Story Apple: https://apple.co/2JXBkpy​​ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2pMLoY3 — — — Please subscribe and give the show a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or many other podcast providers. Don’t forget to share it with a friend for inspiration!

Can changing your diet change your life? This psychologist says yes, and in ways you don't expect.   Angela Crawford studied 350 vegans around the world and found that adopting a plant-based lifestyle had profound psychological, emotional and even spiritual impacts on her subjects.   In this episode of The Exam Room podcast, Angela joins Chuck Carroll to unpack the findings of her research and her new book Vegan Transformation: A Journey to Heal Yourself and the World. If you've ever wondered about what it means to be vegan, this episode is for you.   You'll learn:   - How a plant-based diet affects emotional well-being - What psychological benefits vegans report - Why going vegan can deepen your sense of purpose - The role of values and identity in plant-based living - How to stay true to your values in a meat-eating world   — — SHOW LINKS — — Support PCRM https://www.pcrm.org/match All donations doubled through July 10 up to $500,000 — — — Angela Crawford The Vegan Transformation Book: https://amzn.to/46jNJiC Website: https://angelacrawfordphd.com — — EVENTS — — International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine Where: Washington, DC When: August 14-16, 2025 Tix & Speakers: https://www.pcrm.org/icnm — — BECOME AN EXAM ROOM VIP — — Sign up: https://www.pcrm.org/examroomvip — — THIS IS US — — The Exam Room Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theexamroompodcast — — — Chuck Carroll Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChuckCarrollWLC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChuckCarrollWLC X: https://www.twitter.com/ChuckCarrollWLC — — — Physicians Committee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/physicianscommittee Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PCRM.org X: https://www.twitter.com/pcrm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PCRM Jobs: https://www.pcrm.org/careers — — SUBSCRIBE & SHARE — — 5-Star Success: Share Your Story Apple: https://apple.co/2JXBkpy​​ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2pMLoY3 — — — Please subscribe and give the show a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or many other podcast providers. Don’t forget to share it with a friend for inspiration!

Can you eat your way to a longer life? A healthy diet helps — but it’s not the whole story. Dr. Roxie Becker says strength training plays an underrated but essential role in healthy aging and longevity.   And no, you don’t need to lift kettlebells or sprint on a treadmill to see results. Dr. Becker believes anyone — at any age or fitness level — can start building muscle from home. No gym. No pressure. Just smart, sustainable progress.   In this episode of The Exam Room, she shares practical tips for getting started with strength training, what to eat to support your goals, and what the latest research says about aging and recovery.   Dr. Becker joined Chuck Carroll at GreenFare Organic Café in Herndon, Virginia for this special live show.   In this episode, you’ll learn:   - How much protein you actually need - Which plant-based proteins Dr. Becker recommends - How plant protein compares to animal protein for muscle-building - What VO₂ Max is — and how to improve it - Why lean muscle matters for long-term health - How to build strength without stepping into a gym   This is your no-pressure guide to getting stronger!   — — SHOW LINKS — — Support PCRM https://www.pcrm.org/match All donations doubled through July 10 up to $500,000 — — EVENTS — — NHA Conference Where: Cleveland, OH When: June 26-29, 2025 Tix & Speakers: https://bit.ly/NHAtix2025 — — — International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine Where: Washington, DC When: August 14-16, 2025 Tix & Speakers: https://www.pcrm.org/icnm — — BECOME AN EXAM ROOM VIP — — Sign up: https://www.pcrm.org/examroomvip — — THIS IS US — — The Exam Room Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theexamroompodcast — — — Chuck Carroll Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChuckCarrollWLC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChuckCarrollWLC X: https://www.twitter.com/ChuckCarrollWLC — — — Physicians Committee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/physicianscommittee Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PCRM.org X: https://www.twitter.com/pcrm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PCRM Jobs: https://www.pcrm.org/careers — — SUBSCRIBE & SHARE — — 5-Star Success: Share Your Story Apple: https://apple.co/2JXBkpy​​ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2pMLoY3 — — — Please subscribe and give the show a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or many other podcast providers. Don’t forget to share it with a friend for inspiration!  

There may be a plastic spoon’s worth of microplastics in your brain. And if you have dementia? Research suggests you might have even more.   So how are these tiny plastic particles ending up inside us—and what are they doing to our health?   Dr. Hana Kahleova joins Chuck Carroll to break down the latest science on microplastics: where they come from, how they’re infiltrating everything from food to arteries, and what you can do to protect yourself.   In this episode, you’ll learn:   - What microplastics are and why they’re everywhere - How microplastics get into the human body - The surprising link between microplastics and heart disease - Why seafood is one of the biggest sources of exposure - How to spot avoid foods containing microplastics - Why plastic containers and coffee cups are riskier than you think - The powerful role plants play in helping your body eliminate plastic   — — SHOW LINKS — — Support PCRM https://www.pcrm.org/match All donations doubled through July 10 up to $500,000 — — EVENTS — — NHA Conference Where: Cleveland, OH When: June 26-29, 2025 Tix & Speakers: https://bit.ly/NHAtix2025 — — — International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine Where: Washington, DC When: August 14-16, 2025 Tix & Speakers: https://www.pcrm.org/icnm — — BECOME AN EXAM ROOM VIP — — Sign up: https://www.pcrm.org/examroomvip — — THIS IS US — — The Exam Room Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theexamroompodcast — — — Chuck Carroll Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChuckCarrollWLC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChuckCarrollWLC X: https://www.twitter.com/ChuckCarrollWLC — — — Physicians Committee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/physicianscommittee Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PCRM.org X: https://www.twitter.com/pcrm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PCRM Jobs: https://www.pcrm.org/careers — — SUBSCRIBE & SHARE — — 5-Star Success: Share Your Story Apple: https://apple.co/2JXBkpy​​ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2pMLoY3 — — — Please subscribe and give the show a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or many other podcast providers. Don’t forget to share it with a friend for inspiration!

Ultraprocessed foods are everywhere — and a lot of them are making us sick! These industrially processed foods are being linked to 32 different diseases, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancer, and depression.    But UFPs make up more than HALF the foods we eat. More when it comes to the diets of children and young people. And it's no wonder — even foods marketed as "healthy" choices fall into this category.    So how do you know what's safe, and what's making you sick? Are all of them unhealthy?   Dr. Neal Barnard is here to guide us. He joins Chuck to explain how this one category of food is quietly fueling a public health crisis — and how you can protect yourself.   You’ll learn: What qualifies as an ultraprocessed food — and why it matters– The difference between a healthy and unhealthy processed food– How these foods are designed to be addictive and override your hunger cues– What the latest research says about chronic disease risk– Simple, affordable swaps to cut ultraprocessed foods from your diet   Whether you're trying to lose weight, prevent disease, or eat more mindfully, this episode gives you the tools to take control of your health — starting with what’s on your plate.   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.   — — SHOW LINKS — — JAMA Processed Food Study https://bit.ly/UPFsHealthStudy — — — Gregory J. Reiter Memorial Fund https://gregoryreiterfund.org — — EVENTS — — NHA Conference Where: Cleveland, OH When: June 26-29, 2025 Tix & Speakers: https://bit.ly/NHAtix2025 20% off virtual tickets with code: PCRM20 $100 off in-person tickets with code: PCRM100 — — — International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine Where: Washington, DC When: August 14-16, 2025 Tix & Speakers: https://www.pcrm.org/icnm $50 off tickets with code: NUTRITION50 — — BECOME AN EXAM ROOM VIP — — Sign up: https://www.pcrm.org/examroomvip — — THIS IS US — — The Exam Room Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theexamroompodcast — — — Chuck Carroll Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChuckCarrollWLC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChuckCarrollWLC X: https://www.twitter.com/ChuckCarrollWLC — — — Physicians Committee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/physicianscommittee Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PCRM.org X: https://www.twitter.com/pcrm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PCRM Jobs: https://www.pcrm.org/careers — — SUBSCRIBE & SHARE — — 5-Star Success: Share Your Story Apple: https://apple.co/2JXBkpy​​ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2pMLoY3 Please subscribe and give the show a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or many other podcast providers. Don’t forget to share it with a friend for inspiration!

What if your mindset mattered more than your meals? Dr. Amit Sood explores the science of loneliness, the biology of connection, and how your self-worth directly affects your health.   Dr. Sood breaks down how meaningful relationships—and even the way you speak to yourself—can reduce inflammation, improve heart health, boost longevity, and lower your risk of depression. Research shows that how you feel about yourself, and your role in your community, can impact your gene expression.   In this episode you'll learn: - How cultivating social connection and self-compassion can radically transform your physical well-being - How social connection alters gene expression - The one question that predicts longevity, according to science - How to find self-acceptance in just three steps - How to never feel lonely again   Dr. Sood is the author of the groundbreaking new book, It Takes You to Tango.   — — SHOW LINKS — — It Takes You to Tango Book https://amzn.to/3SQjSXh — — — Dr. Amit Sood https://www.amitsood.com — — EVENTS — — NHA Conference Where: Cleveland, OH When: June 26-29, 2025 Tix & Speakers: https://bit.ly/NHAtix2025 20% off virtual tickets with code: PCRM20 $100 off in-person tickets with code: PCRM100 — — — International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine Where: Washington, DC When: August 14-16, 2025 Tix & Speakers: https://www.pcrm.org/icnm — — BECOME AN EXAM ROOM VIP — — Sign up: https://www.pcrm.org/examroomvip — — THIS IS US — — The Exam Room Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theexamroompodcast — — — Chuck Carroll Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChuckCarrollWLC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChuckCarrollWLC X: https://www.twitter.com/ChuckCarrollWLC — — — Physicians Committee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/physicianscommittee Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PCRM.org X: https://www.twitter.com/pcrm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PCRM Jobs: https://www.pcrm.org/careers — — SUBSCRIBE & SHARE — — 5-Star Success: Share Your Story Apple: https://apple.co/2JXBkpy​​ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2pMLoY3 — — — Please subscribe and give the show a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or many other podcast providers. Don’t forget to share it with a friend for inspiration!

Can you reverse heart disease — even after doctors have written you off as a lost cause? What if your heart failure was so bad, you were considered too sick for surgery, or receiving end-of-life care? The late cardiologist Dr. Baxter Montgomery believed no patient was incurable. And the secret to reversing chronic disease all starts with your diet, lifestyle and mindset.   "It doesn't matter how sick the patient is, it's always my mindset that the patient can turn around," says Dr. Montgomery. "That mindset is based on our experience."   Dr. Montgomery's groundbreaking treatment philosophy has helped heart disease patients walk out of hospitals, and even hospice. Learn about Dr. Montgomery’s own health transformation and how it impacted his practice. And listen for practical insights on plant-based nutrition, hydration, and heart health.   Chuck Carroll revisits this conversation with Dr. Montgomery from The Exam Room archives.   In this episode you'll learn:   - How a natural plant-based diet can reverse heart disease - Dr. Montgomery's own health transformation - Real-life cases of terminally ill patients who recovered by following Dr. Montgomery's treatment method - How to adopt a healthy diet and transform your health - How you can be fit, but sick - The science behind how infrared saunas improve heart health - The best foods for heart health - Why dehydration is so bad for your heart   🎧 Subscribe for more life-saving insight.  — — SHOW LINKS — — Montgomery Heart and Wellness https://montgomeryheart.com — — — Heart & Soul of a Champion https://heartandsoulofachampion.com — — — PCRM Statement on Dr. Montgomery https://x.com/PCRM/status/1928503352863666473 — — EVENTS — — NHA Conference Where: Cleveland, OH When: June 26-29, 2025 Tix & Speakers: https://bit.ly/NHAtix2025 — — — International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine Where: Washington, DC When: August 14-16, 2025 Tix & Speakers: https://www.pcrm.org/icnm — — BECOME AN EXAM ROOM VIP — — Sign up: https://www.pcrm.org/examroomvip — — THIS IS US — — The Exam Room Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theexamroompodcast — — — Chuck Carroll Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChuckCarrollWLC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChuckCarrollWLC X: https://www.twitter.com/ChuckCarrollWLC — — — Physicians Committee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/physicianscommittee Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PCRM.org X: https://www.twitter.com/pcrm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PCRM Jobs: https://www.pcrm.org/careers — — SUBSCRIBE & SHARE — — 5-Star Success: Share Your Story Apple: https://apple.co/2JXBkpy​​ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2pMLoY3 — — — Please subscribe and give the show a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or many other podcast providers. Don’t forget to share it with a friend for inspiration!

A healthy diet is even more important for patients who have already been diagnosed with cancer. Alison Tierney — a dietician who supports cancer patients with nutrition — learned this firsthand after she was diagnosed with breast cancer at just 33 years old.   She led what many would consider the perfect lifestyle: She ate a healthy diet, exercised regularly, didn't drink, didn't smoke. And yet, she found a lump while she was nursing her youngest child. But she wasn't discouraged. Alison says her healthy lifestyle made her recovery so much easier, and it may have even saved her life.   She sat down with Chuck Carroll at the Lotus Health Foundation Symposium in Rochester, MN to share her journey back to health and her personal tips to fight cancer.   In this episode you'll learn:   - What to eat before and after chemotherapy - How food can support healing - Foods to avoid while recovering from cancer - How to talk to your kids about cancer - How to check for lumps after a mastectomy   — — SHOW LINKS — — Alison Tierney Website: https://wholesomellc.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wholesomellc YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@wholesomellc — — EVENTS — — NHA Conference Where: Cleveland, OH When: June 26-29, 2025 Tix & Speakers: https://bit.ly/NHAtix2025 — — — International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine Where: Washington, DC When: August 14-16, 2025 Tix & Speakers: https://www.pcrm.org/icnm — — BECOME AN EXAM ROOM VIP — — Sign up: https://www.pcrm.org/examroomvip — — THIS IS US — — The Exam Room Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theexamroompodcast — — — Chuck Carroll Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ChuckCarrollWLC Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChuckCarrollWLC X: https://www.twitter.com/ChuckCarrollWLC — — — Physicians Committee Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/physicianscommittee Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PCRM.org X: https://www.twitter.com/pcrm YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/PCRM Jobs: https://www.pcrm.org/careers — — SUBSCRIBE & SHARE — — 5-Star Success: Share Your Story Apple: https://apple.co/2JXBkpy​​ Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2pMLoY3 — — — Please subscribe and give the show a 5-star rating on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or many other podcast providers. Don’t forget to share it with a friend for inspiration!