Food Is Medicine: Reversing Diabetes and Chronic Disease in Native Communities

The Exam Room by the Physicians Committee

Physicians Committee

Nutrition, Medicine, Health & Fitness

4.9 • 3.5K Ratings

🗓️ 20 January 2026

⏱️ 46 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and depression are devastating Native American communities—but a powerful movement rooted in tradition, plant-based nutrition, and food sovereignty is changing lives.

In this episode of The Exam Room Podcast, host Chuck Carroll sits down with former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, former First Lady Phefelia Nez, and Food for Life instructor Chelsea Kleinmeyer, RN to explore how Indigenous wisdom and modern lifestyle medicine are coming together to restore health.

🌱 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN IN THIS EPISODE:
• Why traditional Indigenous diets were largely plant-based
• How Food for Life classes are reversing diabetes and reducing medications
• The role food sovereignty plays in healing Native communities
• How mental health, culture, and physical health are deeply connected
• Why food deserts exist—and how communities are fighting back

🥬 APPLY TO BECOME A FOOD FOR LIFE INSTRUCTOR
👉 https://bit.ly/FFLApply2026

🩺 CSKT Tribal Health
👉 https://www.cskthealth.org

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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.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Today on the exam room.
0:05.3	Right now in this country we see obesity going up.
0:09.0	But I truly believe here on the Navajo Nation that diabetes and heart disease is actually going down
0:14.3	because there's a big health and wellness movement happening on Navajo.
0:18.1	And maybe I can say that all in Indian country because there is a discussion
0:22.2	at the dinner table about our own personal health and well-being. That also equates to the
0:28.2	slowing down of diabetes in our communities and heart disease as well. So it's very encouraging,
0:34.6	very inspiring.
0:46.3	Welcome to the exam room podcast, brought to you by the Physicians Committee. Hi, I'm Chuck Carroll, raising health IQs coast to coast and around the world.
0:51.3	Hi to the exam room.
0:52.3	He's listening in Cleveland, Ohio, Santa Fe, New Mexico,
0:56.3	and Ottawa, Canada. Wherever you are, we appreciate you helping to make the world a healthier place.
1:02.5	This is episode six of season nine, number 705 overall. And today's conversation is one about healing,
1:15.1	hope, and a return to our roots. Because today, are talking about food truly as medicine and the power of plant-based eating. Today we are going
1:23.0	to learn how indigenous communities are reclaiming their health through food sovereignty and the
1:29.2	Physicians Committee's Food for Life program. We're going to hear powerful stories of diabetes
1:34.4	reversal and medications being reduced in these communities as they come together. And they use
1:41.0	traditional wisdom and align that with modern science.
1:45.2	And so if you have ever wondered how you can make a real difference in your own community,
1:50.1	stay with us because you will learn how you can become a Food for Life instructor as well.
1:55.9	And joining us today is the former president and first lady of the Navajo Nation,
2:00.7	Jonathan and Fafiel Yanez,
	...

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