Former CDC Director Reveals The Formula for Better Health | Dr. Tom Frieden

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 you're taking vitamin B12, vitamin D, omega-3, or a daily multivitamin, Dr. Newman explains how to personalize your nutrition safely and effectively.   In This Episode:   - The truth about supplements and what's actually backed by science - Why multivitamins don't extend lifespan — and can sometimes harm your health - How to get vitamin B12 safely - The risks of "natural" supplements - The difference between fish oil vs. algae-based omega-3s - Dr. Newman's SMART method: Science, Mechanism, Aim, Risk vs. Benefit, Tracking - How to spot fake supplement ads and AI deepfakes online   Known as The Plant Power Doctor, Dr. Newman is a respected physician and lifestyle medicine expert helping patients reverse chronic disease through evidence-based nutrition and lifestyle change.   🌱 Start your journey to better health today! Work with the expert doctors and dietitians at the Barnard Medical Center: https://www.BarnardMedical.org   👩🏼‍⚕️ Visit Dr. Newman's website: https://gemmanewman.com   💻 Apply to become a Building Healthy Communities intern or see current career openings at PCRM: https://www.pcrm.org/about-us/careers   If you feel like you've raised your health IQ, please leave a 5-star rating and nice review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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.

A Fortune 250 company in Des Moines, Iowa transformed employee health through a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle.    Discover how Gretchen Barress teamed up with PCRM and Dr. Jim Loomis to launch a 16-week wellness program at Principal Financial that helped 240 participants dramatically lower cholesterol, reverse prediabetes, lose weight, and boost energy — all for just $108 per person.   Chuck Carroll sits down with Jean McGinnis and participants like Malcolm & Suzanne Showalter who conquered migraines, reversed heart disease risk, and experienced newfound vitality. Learn how this evidence-based approach from the Barnard Medical Center and PCRM is revolutionizing corporate wellness — even in the heart of the Midwest!   What You'll Learn in This Episode - How a Fortune 250 company implemented a plant-based program on a small budget - The average 23% LDL reduction and 18% A1C improvement among participants - Why employees reported better sleep, focus, and mental health - The difference between "health care" and "sick care," explained by Dr. Loomis - How to bring programs like this to your own workplace   📫 Email Gretchen: [email protected] 📞 718-915-4093   🔗 Make an appointment with Dr. Loomis at the Barnard Medical Center: https://www.pcrm.org/barnard-medical-center   🎤 Exam Room taping at GreenFare in Herndon, VA on Oct. 21: https://bit.ly/ERLiveOct21   If you feel like you've raised your health IQ, please leave a 5-star rating and nice review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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 production, and how these changes could impact your risk for chronic diseases. Dr. Bulsiewicz also shares practical tips for protecting your microbiome while eating fewer carbs, and compares low-carb diets to Mediterranean and plant-based eating patterns.   What You'll Learn in This Episode:   - How low-carb diets influence the diversity of gut bacteria - The impact of reduced carbs on digestion and fiber intake - Why short-chain fatty acids like butyrate matter for colon health - Links between low-carb diets, inflammation, and chronic disease - Ways to support your microbiome even while cutting carbs - How plant-based and Mediterranean diets compare for gut health     🔗 Dr. B's Gut Health Collective and courses: https://theguthealthmd.com/collective 📘 Pre-order Dr. B's new book: https://amzn.to/42vFhKz 👟 Exercise snacks article: https://nbcnews.to/3IZ9Lhv   If you feel like you've raised your health IQ, please leave a 5-star rating and nice review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

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.

There is no reason to fear potatoes ... even if you have diabetes or want to lose weight. Dr. Hana Kahleova breaks down the latest research on this humble tuber, busting myths and making the case for including more potatoes in your diet.   In this episode of The Exam Room podcast Dr. Kahleova joins Chuck Carroll to teach:   - Why potatoes get such a bad reputation - What the science says about potatoes and diabetes - How potatoes compare to basmati rice - Why potatoes rank #1 on the satiety index - Why potatoes may actually help with diabetes and weight loss   Check out the latest research here: https://bit.ly/PotatoStudy25   PCRM's Best In The World cookbooks can be purchased here: https://bit.ly/PCRMCookbooks   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.