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.