The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee

Why can ultra-processed foods be so hard to stop eating? Kevin Hall, Ph.D. explains the surprising results of a brain-imaging study—and why they do NOT settle the debate about food addiction.
The nutrition, metabolism, and obesity scientist joins Chuck Carroll to unpack research that challenged his own expectations. After participants consumed an ultra-processed milkshake high in fat and sugar, researchers did not detect the average increase in dopamine they anticipated under the study conditions.
But Hall is clear: that does not prove food addiction is imaginary or that ultra-processed foods cannot drive overeating.
For Chuck, who once weighed 420 pounds and ate as many as 10,000 calories of fast food and junk food a day, the findings raise deeply personal questions.
In this conversation:
What the 50-person milkshake study measured—and what it could not establish
Why overeating and addiction are different research questions
How calorie density and combinations of fat, sugar, and salt may influence food intake
How Hall's team changed calorie intake while keeping diets highly ultra-processed
Why Hall left the NIH after 21 years
His account of restrictions on communicating research findings
His concerns about research funding and the next generation of scientists
Hall also discusses his subsequent work at AstraZeneca on obesity medications.
🥤 Milk Shake Study
https://bit.ly/milkshakestudy
👨‍🏫 Kevin Hall, Ph.D.
https://www.kevinhallphd.com
Exam Roomie of the Week
- Judy Leahy
Make a gift to support The Exam Room Podcast and the life-saving work of the Physicians Committee. All gifts of $20 or more receive a mention from Chuck. Gifts of $100 or more receive an exclusive Exam Room Podcast tote!
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- 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.

Certain foods produce similar pain fighting effects as Tylenol and ibuprofen. 
Dr. Michael Greger joins Chuck Carroll for an early look at his forthcoming book, How Not to Hurt, and the research that surprised him while investigating food, lifestyle, and pain.
This conversation explores ginger and cinnamon in migraine research, turmeric and curcumin, and an unexpected study comparing a kale preparation with ibuprofen after wisdom-tooth surgery.
Dr. Greger also introduces his "Soothing Seven," explains the evidence threshold for making that list, and names three members: ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric.
Plus, he discusses:
Research on topical flaxseed oil for carpal tunnel symptoms.
Why short-term pain relief and long-term outcomes can differ.
Questions raised by sham-controlled procedure studies.
Why some inexpensive interventions receive little attention.
How dietary changes can fit alongside other medical care.
There's serious science, plenty of Big Greger Energy, and a shared goal of helping people spend less of their lives hurting.
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📕 How Not To Hurt by Dr. Greger
https://link.amazon/B0dw88WWh
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
https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom
- 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.

Can a bag of frozen berries earn a place on your immune-health grocery list? What do beans and mushrooms bring to the table?
Dr. Niki Davis from Lifestyle Telemedicine joins Chuck Carroll on The Exam Room to explore five foods and food groups for supporting a healthy immune system, with practical ideas for cold and flu season.
Her five picks:
Mushrooms
Beans, peas, and lentils
Leafy greens and cruciferous vegetables
Berries
Sweet potatoes
Learn why Dr. Davis highlights beta-glucans in mushrooms, how gut bacteria turn fiber into butyrate, and why variety matters when choosing plant foods. The conversation also covers broccoli and sulforaphane, frozen versus fresh berries, and different sweet potato varieties.
Beyond the plate, Dr. Davis discusses movement, strength training, sleep, and stress. Audience questions explore oxalates and kidney stones, dairy, yogurt and kefir, probiotics after antibiotics, and eating with Hashimoto's.
Plus, Chuck shares his experience eating a mushroom steak at one of the top rated plant-based restaurants in the world, and Dr. Davis reveals her favorite frozen blueberries.
🩺 Lifestyle Telemedicine
https://lifestyletelemedicine.com
👩🏻‍⚕️ Dr. Niki Davis
https://drnikidavis.com
🩺 Barnard Medical Center
https://www.barnardmedical.org
Exam Roomie of the Week
Andrea Csuvay
Make a gift to support The Exam Room Podcast and the life-saving work of the Physicians Committee. All gifts of $20 or more receive a mention from Chuck. Gifts of $100 or more receive an exclusive Exam Room Podcast tote!
🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM
👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom
- 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.

Before you buy another gut-health product, hear what the human research actually found. Stanford nutrition scientist Christopher Gardner, PhD, explains the evidence on fiber, fermented foods, and inflammation.
When you're trying to feel better, a promise of billions of beneficial bacteria can sound convincing. But what do those numbers really tell you about the product you're buying?
Gardner joins Chuck Carroll on The Exam Room Podcast to unpack a human trial that surprised his own research team. The fermented-food group increased gut microbial diversity and had lower levels of several inflammatory markers, while the fiber group's responses were more complicated. He explains why these findings do not mean fiber has failed, and why a study of foods cannot automatically validate every product marketed for your microbiome.
In this episode:
What prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics mean
Why a bigger CFU count does not establish a better health outcome
How fermented foods and fiber produced different results in a small human trial
Why mouse findings did not predict the human results
Why fibermaxxing can be a rough transition for your gut
The limits of research measurements of inflammation
Gardner's response to seed-oil claims
How to build a varied, plant-rich eating pattern you can sustain
What he has learned from making 250 batches of kombucha
📕 Food Sense: What to Eat and Why
👉 https://link.amazon/B0ebl1EAc
🔬 Gut Immune System Trial
👉 https://bit.ly/gutimmunetrial
Exam Roomie of the Week
- Lori Goosmann 
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
👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom
- 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

You're eating healthier, but the bloating won't quit. By afternoon, your stomach feels tight, your clothes feel uncomfortable, and you're wondering which food to give up next.
Before you cut out another healthy food, Dr. Will Bulsiewicz wants you to consider something surprising: You can poop every day and still be constipated.
The gastroenterologist joins Chuck Carroll to explain five approaches to reducing bloating and why simply eating more fiber isn't always the answer.
DR. B'S FIVE TIPS FOR REDUCING BLOATING
Address constipation. Going every day doesn't necessarily mean you're emptying your bowels fully.
Reduce swallowed air. Look at habits such as drinking carbonated beverages, sipping through straws, chewing gum, and gulping drinks.
Increase fiber gradually. "Low and slow—that's the tempo." Start with what you tolerate and build at your own pace.
Consider a trial without dairy and artificial sweeteners. Dr. B explains how lactose and certain sweeteners, including sugar alcohols, can contribute to gas and bloating.
Slow down when you eat. Take time to chew, avoid rushing through meals, and try putting your fork down between bites.
BONUS: Take a "fart walk"! Dr. B explains how moving your body can help move gas through your digestive system.
You'll also hear the difference between feeling bloated and having a visibly distended abdomen, plus when ongoing symptoms deserve a conversation with your doctor.
Dr. B discusses BDR, the supplement he developed through his company, 38TERA, and explains its peppermint oil, probiotic, and capsule design.
There are plenty of laughs along the way—but the message is serious: You deserve to feel comfortable, and persistent bloating shouldn't be something you simply accept.
🙏 Become and Exam Room VIP and get early access to the interview with Dr. Michael Greger before anyone else!
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🩺 Dr. Will Bulsiewicz
👉 https://www.theguthealthmd.com
🩺 38Tera
👉 https://www.38tera.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