The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee

Nearly one-third of American adults may have some form of iron deficiency. Does that mean we should be eating more meat—or could that advice create an entirely different set of health problems?
 
Dr. Neal Barnard joins Chuck Carroll to examine a Washington Post article recommending meat, poultry, and seafood as sources of highly absorbable heme iron. They also explore the counterargument from Dr. Jim Loomis of Barnard Medical Center, who says beans and greens are the healthier choice.
 
You'll learn how to meet your iron needs while eating a plant-based diet, including the best foods, the importance of vitamin C, and common mistakes that can interfere with absorption.
 
Dr. Barnard also examines the complete nutritional package that comes with each source of iron. How do beans compare with beef when calories, total fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, fiber, and protein are considered? And what could the choice mean for LDL cholesterol, blood sugar, insulin sensitivity, inflammation, blood pressure, weight, and other metabolic markers?
 
Plus, discover the potential concerns surrounding heme iron, including its associations with colorectal cancer, cardiovascular disease, oxidative stress, and type 2 diabetes.
 
Topics discussed include:
Heme iron vs. non-heme iron
The best plant-based sources of iron
Beans, lentils, tofu, seeds, whole grains, and leafy greens
How vitamin C improves iron absorption
Ferritin, hemoglobin, and transferrin saturation
When an iron supplement may be necessary
The potential risks of taking iron without medical supervision
Calories, saturated fat, cholesterol, and fiber in iron-rich foods
Heme iron and the risks of cancer and heart disease
 
🥩 Iron in Meat Linked to Heart Disease
👉 https://bit.ly/meat-iron-risk
 
This episode of The Exam Room Podcast is sponsored by the Gregory J. Reiter Memorial Fund. Our sincere thanks to Alysoun Mahoney and everyone at the fund for their generous support of the Physicians Committee and The Exam Room Podcast.
 
🙂 Gregery Reiter Fund
👉 https://gregoryreiterfund.org
 
Make a gift to support The Exam Room Podcast and the life-changing work of the Physicians Committee.
 
🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM
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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

Why can a fast-food commercial still trigger a craving 16 years after someone stopped eating it? And how can a health movement compete with the enormous marketing power of Big Food?
Communications pioneer David Fenton joins Chuck Carroll, who lost nearly 300 pounds, to reveal how advertising, repetition, emotion, and social media shape what people believe—and ultimately what they eat.
David has spent more than 50 years helping activists, artists, nonprofits, and social movements make their voices heard. Often called the "Robin Hood of Public Relations," he explains why facts alone rarely change minds, why the most effective messages reach the heart as well as the head, and how one person with a phone can build an extraordinary movement.
Chuck also shares his experience weighing 420 pounds, consuming as many as 10,000 calories a day, and battling a severe fast-food addiction. Even after 16 years without fast food, some advertisements can still awaken old cravings.
In this episode:
How food companies program cravings through repetition
Why simple messages are easier to remember and share
How small nonprofits can compete with enormous marketing budgets
Why stories can persuade people when statistics cannot
How one person can mobilize hundreds of thousands of followers
Billie Eilish, Support + Feed, and the one-meal plant-based pledge
The role of artists and influencers in social change
Why hope should lead—and fear should play a smaller role
David's largely plant-based journey beginning in a 1970s commune
How ordinary people can begin making a difference today
📕 Get David Fenton's Book
👉 https://link.amazon/B0iZiSRlS
🎧 David's Podcast
👉 https://apple.co/3SPi70f
- Exam Roomie of the Week -
Angela Lugenbeel
Make a gift to support The Exam Room Podcast and the life-changing work of the Physicians Committee.
🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM
👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom
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

Why do some healthy habits become part of your life while others disappear after a few days or weeks?
Dr. Gemma Newman joins Chuck Carroll to explore the psychology behind lasting lifestyle change — and why willpower alone may not be enough.
They discuss research suggesting that sustainable change is often connected to identity, purpose, personal values, and finding a deeper "why." Dr. Newman also shares her BLEND IT framework for helping patients, friends, and family make healthier choices without lecturing, judging, or telling them what to do.
Plus, discover how whole-food plant-based diets may support weight management without constant calorie counting, why high-fiber lower-calorie-density foods can help with hunger, the role of volume eating, and how healthy eating can become something you genuinely enjoy.
You'll also hear a deeply personal discussion about compassion, self-worth, motivation, and why major life transitions can sometimes become powerful opportunities for change.
Dr. Newman is also the author of Get Well, Stay Well.
Make a gift to support The Exam Room Podcast and the life-changing work of the Physicians Committee.
🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM
👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom
🙏 Dr. Gemma Newman
👉 https://gemmanewman.com
📗 Get Well, Stay Well
👉 https://amzn.to/4r9xHAu
This episode is fueled by Dr. Brooke Bussard
👉 https://drbrookebussard.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

Can chocolate actually protect your heart or are we giving candy a health halo it doesn't deserve?
Dr. Howard Sesso from Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School joins Chuck Carroll to reveal what the landmark COSMOS trial discovered about cocoa extract, cardiovascular disease and cognition.
The randomized clinical trial included more than 21,000 participants. One secondary outcome showed a 27% reduction in cardiovascular disease death among participants assigned to cocoa extract. However, the primary cardiovascular outcome did not reach statistical significance. Dr. Sesso explains what both findings mean and why the distinction matters.
You'll also learn:
Whether dark or bitter chocolate is automatically healthier
The difference between cocoa, cacao and cocoa flavanols
Why cocoa powder and cacao nibs may be better choices
Cocoa's effects on inflammation and cognition
Flavan-3-ols sources and why they matter
Why the findings still need to be replicated
Exam Roomie of the Week
Charles Shryock
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
🍫 COSMOS Trial
👉 https://cosmostrial.org
📗 Howard Sesso Additional Research
👉 https://bit.ly/sesso-research
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

Can an athlete become stronger, recover faster, and clean and jerk more than 440 pounds without eating meat?
Three-time Olympian Kendrick Farris says the answer is yes.
Kendrick represented the United States at the 2008, 2012, and 2016 Olympic Games and was featured in the hit documentary The Game Changers. He ate a standard American diet during his first two Olympic appearances. By his third, he was completely plant-based—and he says the difference was extraordinary.
Kendrick tells Chuck Carroll that he did not lose explosiveness after changing his diet. He believes he gained more, recovered faster, completed more work, and became stronger.
He also opens up about growing up in poverty in Shreveport, Louisiana, where there were days when his family did not have enough food. When he asked his mother what they were eating, her answer was sometimes, "Fast and pray." That experience helped build the faith and discipline that would eventually carry him to the Olympic stage.
In this episode:
How much protein an Olympic weightlifter eats
How his performance changed after going plant-based
His experience competing nine times in one year
Why recovery became his greatest advantage
Why he replaced whey with plant-based protein
The bloating he experienced before changing protein sources
How to order plant-based food at any restaurant
What The Game Changers did for plant-based athletes
Why he believes strength is physical, mental, and spiritual
The Physicians Committee's Plant-Powered Performance sports nutrition course begins Sept. 14 and features live instruction, expert Q&A, recordings, athlete-focused recipes, and practical strategies for improving energy, endurance, strength, and recovery.
🎉 PCRM Sports Nutrition Course
👉 https://bit.ly/PlantBasedAthletePCRM
🏋🏿‍♂️ Kendrick Farris
👉 https://blessthegymforever.com
🙏 Support The Exam Room Podcast & PCRM
👉 https://bit.ly/SupportExamRoom
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