The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee

Could eating late at night be hurting your gut health? Are prebiotic and probiotic sodas actually good for your microbiome? And what do GLP-1 weight loss drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy mean for digestion, constipation, and gut bacteria?
Dr. Will Bulsiewicz joins Chuck Carroll on The Exam Room Podcast to answer the most Googled gut health questions from listeners.
🧠 On this episode:
- Why late-night eating and chronic stress may be a double hit to your gut
- How your microbiome follows a circadian rhythm
- Whether "healthy" sodas are really worth the hype
- The best fermented foods for gut health
- Why cabbage is having a nutrition moment
- What constipation may reveal about Parkinson's disease risk
- Whether microbiome stool tests can really tell you what to eat
- What we know so far about GLP-1 medications and the microbiome
- How to support gut health while losing weight
Dr. B also shares his thoughts on cravings, nighttime routines, tart cherry juice, fiber supplements, and why diet and lifestyle still come first.
Exam Roomies of the Week
Linda Verchimak
Luanne Siwiec
Marlene Erven
🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM
👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom
👨‍⚕️ Dr. Will Bulsiewicz
👉 https://theguthealthmd.com
📺 Dr. B's YouTube Channel
👉 https://www.youtube.com/@theguthealthmd
📗 Dr. B's Books
👉 https://amzn.to/4e1CiQd
🎉 International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine
👉 https://www.pcrm.org/icnm
This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about cancer screening, treatment, and 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.

You can build strong bones and muscles as you age without eating meat or dairy foods.
Registered dietitian Brenda Davis joins Chuck Carroll on The Exam Room Podcast to explain how a well-planned plant-based diet can support strength, bone health, and independence after 50.
Can plant protein really support muscle? What nutrients matter most for preventing osteoporosis and sarcopenia? And how much protein do older adults actually need?
🧠 In this episode, you'll learn:
How much protein older adults may need
Whether plant protein can support muscle as well as animal protein
The best plant-based protein sources for aging muscles
Why some vegans may have higher fracture risk
How to get enough calcium without dairy
Why spinach is healthy but not the best calcium source
The role of vitamin D, B12, omega-3s, and other nutrients
How resistance training and weight-bearing exercise help protect bones
Why a high-quality plant-based diet matters more than just "going vegan"
Brenda's practical, nonjudgmental approach to healthy eating
Brenda also discusses her upcoming book, Plant-Powered Seniors, and shares simple food swaps that can help increase protein from 40 grams a day to 70 grams a day without overhauling your entire diet.
This is a must-watch conversation for anyone over 50, anyone caring for aging parents, anyone worried about osteoporosis, and anyone wondering whether a plant-based diet can truly support strength and longevity.
This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about cancer screening, treatment, and any changes to your diet or lifestyle.
🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM
👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom
📗 Brenda's Plant-Powered Seniors Book
👉 https://amzn.to/49G33Hq
📕 Brenda's Plant-Powered Protein Book
👉 https://amzn.to/4ukIbgr
💪 Brenda's Website
👉 hhttps://brendadavisrd.com
- 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.

Dr. Hana Kahleova reveals the surprising science behind mint. From digestion and blood flow to coughing, inflammation, exercise performance, and antioxidants, mint may be doing far more for your health than you realize.
In this episode, you'll learn how compounds in mint may support the body in multiple ways. Dr. Kahleova joins Chuck Carroll to explain how mint has been used for centuries, what modern research shows, and why simple options like mint tea, fresh mint leaves, and topical menthol can offer unique and powerful benefits.
🧠 You'll learn:
Why Dr. Kahleova ranks mint as a "12 out of 10" healthy food
How menthol may increase local blood flow
Why mint may help calm coughing and support the airways
How peppermint oil may help digestion, bloating, spasms, and IBS symptoms
Whether mint may improve exercise performance and breathing
Why mint is surprisingly rich in antioxidants
The best ways to use mint: fresh, tea, inhaled, or topical
Exam Roomies of the Week
Arin Weitzman
Ana Jag
🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM
👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom
🩺  Dr. Brooke Bussard
👉 https://drbrookebussard.com
🎉 International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine
👉 https://www.pcrm.org/icnm
This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about cancer screening, treatment, and any changes to your diet or lifestyle.
- About Us -
The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving and improving human and animal 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 nearly one million members and supporters worldwide.

Chris Wark was just 26 years old when he was diagnosed with stage 3 colon cancer.
What happened next changed his life forever.
In this deeply personal conversation, Chris joins Chuck Carroll on The Exam Room Podcast to share the story behind Chris Beat Cancer, the decisions he made after surgery, and why he believes food, faith, mindset, purpose, and self-advocacy all became part of his healing journey.
You'll hear the emotional story of how Chris went from fear and uncertainty to feeling empowered again and why he says healing happens at home.
🧠 In this episode, you'll learn:
What Chris wishes every cancer patient would ask their oncologist
Why he believes nutrition became a turning point in his journey
The hospital meal that shocked him after colon surgery
How he built his "overdosing on nutrition" approach
Why purpose and family became central to his will to live
What "healing happens at home" means to him
How a whole food plant-based diet fits into the cancer conversation
Colorectal cancer is rising among younger adults, making conversations like this more important than ever. The American Cancer Society reports that colorectal cancer rates have been increasing in adults under 50 in recent years, while rates have declined among many older adults.
Exam Roomies of the Week
Harriet Leveen 
Robert Callahan
🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM
👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom
📗 Chris Beat Cancer Book
👉 https://amzn.to/4nbVsFY
💪 Chris Beat Cancer Website
👉 https://www.chrisbeatcancer.com
🎉 Las Vegas Plant Powered Party
👉 https://bit.ly/ChefAJParty
This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about cancer screening, treatment, and 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.

Binge eating and emotional eating are not simply about willpower. According to Dr. Vanita Rahman, they are often driven by stress, shame, biology, habits, food environment, and the way the brain learns to use food as a coping mechanism.
In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, Dr. Rahman joins Chuck Carroll to explain what is really happening when someone feels out of control around food — and how to begin breaking the cycle.
Chuck also shares his own experience with food addiction, emotional eating, and eating in secret before losing 280 pounds and transforming his health.
🧠 You'll learn:
- The difference between binge eating, bulimia, emotional eating, and stress eating
- Why shame keeps the binge eating cycle alive
- Why nighttime can be the biggest danger zone
- Why binge eating can happen even with healthy vegan foods
- Why "willpower" may be the wrong word entirely
- How a whole food, plant-based diet may help reduce cravings and support recovery
- Why group support can be so powerful for long-term success
- What to do after a binge to avoid falling into a spiral
Dr. Rahman is leading a 12-week Binge and Emotional Eating Program through the Physicians Committee beginning June 10. The program focuses on mindfulness, identifying triggers, nourishing foods, reducing vulnerability, and building tools for long-term success.
Also mentioned in this episode: The Rochester Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota is hiring a Lifestyle Medicine physician or provider. Learn more at https://www.RochesterClinic.com or call 507-218-3095.
Exam Roomies of the Week
- Sharon Smith
- Mary DeCoster
💪 Binge & Emotional Eating Program
👉 https://bit.ly/overcoming-binge-eating
🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM
👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom
🏥 Barnard Medical Center
👉 https://www.pcrm.org/barnard-medical-center
🎉 International Conference on Nutrition in Medicine
👉 https://www.pcrm.org/icnm
This episode is not medical advice. Always speak with your doctor about cancer screening, treatment, and any changes to your diet or lifestyle.
- About Us -
The Physicians Committee is dedicated to saving and improving human and animal 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 nearly one million members and supporters worldwide.