In this episode of Take Charge of Your Health, the hosts Corinne Furnari and Carol Petersen, explore a comprehensive, integrative approach to pain management, focusing on strategies that go beyond conventional medications. The discussion opens with a careful critique of widely used pain relievers, highlighting the liver toxicity risks of Tylenol and the long-term dangers of NSAIDs and opioids, including gastrointestinal damage, kidney strain, and dependency.

Rather than relying solely on chemical pain suppressants, the hosts advocate for treatments that identify and address the root causes of inflammation. They emphasize proven natural anti-inflammatories such as curcumin, ginger, and boswellia, which can help reduce pain while supporting immune and tissue health.

A major theme of the episode is the significant influence of hormonal balance on pain sensitivity. Adequate levels of hormones like testosterone and progesterone are described as essential for modulating inflammation, improving resilience, and enhancing tissue recovery. The conversation expands to include regenerative therapies such as Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) and emerging anti-aging peptides, including Klotho, which show promise for restoring joint and muscle function.

Listener calls further illustrate the challenges faced by individuals suffering from chronic pain who are seeking non-surgical, restorative alternatives. Many describe running into barriers within the conventional system, where regenerative medicine and holistic pain solutions are often underutilized or inaccessible.

Throughout the program, the hosts underscore a key message: true pain relief requires a multifaceted approach—one that integrates hormonal health, regenerative therapies, natural anti-inflammatories, and personalized care, rather than relying solely on temporary symptom-suppressing medications. 

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In this episode of Take Charge of Your Health, hosts Corinne Furnari and Carol Petersen, explore several timely and often misunderstood topics in modern health and wellness. The conversation begins with the FDA’s recent decision to remove black box warnings from certain menopausal hormone therapies, prompting a critical look at how fear-based messaging around hormones has shaped both public perception and medical practice. The hosts review historical biases against hormone replacement and highlight emerging research that supports its safety and efficacy when properly managed.

The discussion then shifts to a retrospective study linking melatonin use to increased mortality risk, which Furnari and Petersen challenge as methodologically flawed and misleading. They reaffirm melatonin’s well-documented benefits for sleep regulation, immune health, and antioxidant protection, encouraging listeners to view such studies through a discerning lens.

Finally, the episode examines creatine, emphasizing its dual role in muscle strength and cognitive performance. The hosts explain proper dosing, safety, and long-term benefits, positioning creatine as one of the most thoroughly researched and effective nutritional supplements available.

Throughout the segment, Furnari and Petersen take listener calls, offering practical advice on topics such as progesterone use for prostate health and the broader importance of individualized, evidence-based approaches to wellness. Together, these discussions reinforce the show’s central message: empowered, informed health choices come from questioning outdated dogma and embracing both scientific and holistic insight.

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In this episode of Take Charge of Your Health, hosts Corinne Furnari, and Carol Petersen speak with Dr. Bradford Weeks, an integrative medical doctor, about the often-overlooked importance of progesterone in men’s health. The discussion reframes progesterone as far more than a “female hormone,” highlighting its critical roles in neurological protection, stress regulation, prostate health, and hormonal balance.

Dr. Weeks explains that progesterone acts as a natural counterbalance to excessive estrogen, a condition that can arise from environmental toxins, stress, and aging. By supporting the brain, reducing inflammation, and stabilizing mood, progesterone contributes to both cognitive clarity and emotional well-being. The conversation also distinguishes between bioidentical progesterone, which aligns with the body’s natural chemistry, and synthetic progestins, which can have harmful or disruptive side effects.

Throughout the episode, Furnari, Petersen, and Weeks advocate for a holistic, evidence-informed approach to hormone management—one that considers the interplay between progesterone and other key hormones such as testosterone and cortisol. They emphasize that optimal male health depends not just on boosting testosterone, but on maintaining hormonal harmony through balanced, integrative care.

Ultimately, the discussion underscores that progesterone is not merely a reproductive hormone, but a vital component of male physiology, influencing everything from brain resilience and stress adaptation to cardiovascular and prostate health.

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In this insightful episode of Take Charge of Your Health, hosts Corinne Furnari and Carol Petersen, welcome Dr. Sande Bargeron certified anesthesiologist assistant and PhD in natural medicine, for a groundbreaking discussion on the hidden impacts of anesthesia and surgery on brain function, recovery, and long-term wellness.

Drawing from her dual background in conventional medicine and holistic health, Dr. Bargeron introduces the HARP framework — Holistic Anesthesia Recovery and Preparation — a comprehensive approach designed to help patients prepare for and recover from anesthesia more safely and effectively. The framework emphasizes nutrition, lifestyle optimization, and targeted supplementation as key strategies to protect the brain and body from anesthesia-related neurotoxicity and oxidative stress.

The conversation underscores how individual vulnerability plays a crucial role in surgical outcomes. Populations such as the elderly and those with neurodevelopmental conditions are particularly susceptible to the lingering cognitive and metabolic effects of anesthesia. Dr. Bargeron highlights the value of proactive preparation, including nutrient repletion, stress reduction, and maintaining metabolic and hormonal balance before undergoing any medical procedure.

The hosts and guest also discuss specific interventions—such as the use of magnesium to stabilize nerve and muscle function—and raise awareness about the potential risks associated with fluoride-containing anesthetic agents. Beyond these specifics, the episode broadens into a deeper exploration of how environmental toxins, hormonal dysregulation, and nutritional deficiencies can compromise recovery and overall resilience after surgery.

Ultimately, the discussion presents a transformative view of surgical care—one that merges science with holistic wisdom. Rather than seeing anesthesia and surgery as isolated medical events, the HARP framework positions them within a continuum of wellness, where preparation, detoxification, and mindful recovery are integral to protecting both the body and the brain.

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In this episode of Take Charge of Your Health, hosts Corinne Furnari and Carol Petersen, explore the essential yet often overlooked world of neurosteroids, focusing on pregnenolone and DHEA as critical hormones for maintaining vitality, cognitive function, and overall well-being. The discussion reframes these compounds not simply as secondary hormones but as foundational building blocks for the body’s entire endocrine network.

Furnari and Petersen emphasize that true hormonal balance requires attention to the precursor hormones from which others—such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone—are derived. Central to this conversation is cholesterol, which the hosts describe as the indispensable raw material for hormone synthesis. They challenge the widespread medical trend of aggressively lowering cholesterol, warning that doing so can inadvertently disrupt neurosteroid production and impair healing, energy, and brain performance.

The conversation also touches on real-world health concerns raised by listeners. Questions about low cholesterol levels in vegan diets, the neurological aftermath of stroke, and even the potential cognitive benefits of nicotine—particularly in addressing COVID-related brain fog—are used to illustrate how intricately connected neurosteroids are to brain and metabolic health.

Throughout the discussion, the hosts advocate for a holistic, systems-based view of hormone regulation, one that integrates nutrition, lifestyle, and biochemical individuality. By restoring balance to pregnenolone and DHEA, they argue, individuals can support not only hormonal harmony but also sharper cognition, emotional stability, and long-term vitality.

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In this episode of Take Charge of Your Health, hosts Corinne Furnari, and Carol Petersen, take on the increasingly common and often misunderstood issue of brain fog. They describe it not as a singular disorder but as a multifactorial symptom reflecting deeper imbalances in the body’s interconnected systems.

The discussion examines several root causes, beginning with poor-quality or insufficient sleep, which disrupts the brain’s ability to repair and reset. The hosts also highlight the impact of blood sugar fluctuations, noting that sharp insulin surges followed by low glucose levels can significantly impair concentration, energy, and mental clarity. In addition, hormonal imbalances—particularly low levels of cortisol and progesterone—are explored as key contributors, especially in cases of long COVID, where persistent fatigue and cognitive sluggishness often overlap.

Furnari and Petersen emphasize the importance of addressing brain fog through holistic means rather than quick fixes. They discuss the benefits of regular exercise, strategic fasting, and targeted nutritional support, including B1, Vitamin D, and proteolytic enzymes, which can all enhance metabolic and cognitive resilience.

Throughout the program, the hosts invite listener participation, fielding questions and sharing practical insights aimed at helping individuals understand and reverse the underlying causes of mental fatigue. By connecting sleep, hormones, and nutrition, the episode underscores that clear thinking and sustained focus depend on a healthy, balanced internal environment—one that can be restored through mindful lifestyle choices and integrative care.

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In this episode of Take Charge of Your Health, hosts Corinne Furnari and Carol Petersen, explore the often-overlooked role of progesterone in men. Traditionally labeled as a “female hormone,” progesterone is reframed here as a vital neurosteroid essential for both sexes, influencing far more than reproductive health.

The discussion traces progesterone’s crucial functions, beginning in fetal development and extending throughout life in areas such as brain function, mood regulation, and stress management. The hosts argue that maintaining adequate progesterone levels is vital for men’s hormonal balance, particularly in countering age-related issues like prostate enlargement and mitigating side effects from medications such as finasteride.

They further emphasize progesterone’s biochemical importance as a precursor to other key hormones, including testosterone and cortisol, situating it as a cornerstone of the endocrine system. The program also addresses practical considerations—how to use and source progesterone safely, optimal dosage strategies, and common misconceptions about its effects.

Listener questions extend the conversation into related health concerns, including high cholesterol, statin use, and how these factors intersect with hormone balance. Throughout the episode, Furnari and Petersen highlight a central theme: progesterone is not merely a sex hormone but a systemic regulator critical to men’s overall health, cognitive vitality, and hormonal harmony.

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As a follow-up to last week’s discussion on iodine with Dr. David Brownstein, this episode of Take Charge of Your Health turns its focus to the broader challenges of thyroid hormone treatment and diagnosis. Hosts Corinne Furnari, and Carol Petersen, unpack the shortcomings of conventional thyroid care, emphasizing that the standard reliance on the TSH test and synthetic T4 medication (such as Synthroid) often fails to resolve the full spectrum of symptoms experienced by patients with hypothyroidism.

Instead, they advocate for a more comprehensive and individualized approach. This includes using whole glandular thyroid hormone preparations, ensuring sufficient nutritional co-factors like iodine, selenium, and key vitamins, and conducting broader diagnostic testing that incorporates T3, free T4, and reverse T3 for a more accurate picture of thyroid function.

The interactive program also features listener calls, with questions ranging from iodine loading tests to the relationship between thyroid health, high cholesterol, and the widespread prescription of statins. In nearly every case, the hosts connect these concerns back to underlying thyroid dysfunction, highlighting the organ’s central role in metabolism and overall vitality.

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In this episode of Take Charge of Your Health, hosts Corinne Furnari, a clinical nutritionist and physician assistant, and Carol Petersen, a pharmacist, interview Dr. David Brownstein, a leading holistic physician known for his research on iodine. The discussion centers on the critical role of iodine in maintaining overall health, with particular emphasis on its impact on thyroid function and the prevention of glandular cancers.

Dr. Brownstein challenges the conventional caution surrounding iodine supplementation, noting that medical fear of iodine—especially in cases of autoimmune conditions like Hashimoto’s disease—has left many patients deficient in a nutrient he argues is essential. Drawing from both clinical experience and research, he stresses that every cell in the body requires iodine, not only the thyroid gland.

The conversation also addresses related factors that influence iodine status. The hosts and Dr. Brownstein discuss key co-factors needed for effective iodine utilization, the growing problem of salt deficiency in modern diets, and the disruptive effects of competitive inhibitors such as bromide and fluoride, which can block the body’s ability to absorb and use iodine properly.

By reframing iodine as a foundational nutrient rather than a risky supplement, the program highlights its far-reaching importance for hormone balance, cancer prevention, and overall cellular vitality.

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In this radio program, hosts Corinne Furnari and Carol Petersen challenge long-standing medical assumptions surrounding kidney disease. Traditionally viewed as a progressive and irreversible condition, kidney decline has often been presented to patients as an inevitable trajectory. The discussion instead introduces a new health paradigm, emphasizing that with the right interventions, kidney function can often be supported, stabilized, and in some cases improved.

The hosts explore the complexities of kidney function and stress the importance of correctly interpreting common laboratory markers. They discuss the significance of creatinine, BUN (blood urea nitrogen), and cystatin C, explaining how each offers unique insights into kidney performance. By helping listeners better understand these markers, the program encourages a more nuanced view of kidney health than conventional medicine typically provides.

A wide range of therapeutic approaches are also presented. The hosts outline established strategies such as sodium bicarbonate for acid-base balance, digestive enzymes for improved metabolic efficiency, and niacin for circulatory and cellular support. They also highlight emerging therapies, including peptides and bio-regulators, which are currently being investigated for their ability to repair and optimize kidney tissue at a cellular level.

In addition to their discussion, the hosts engage directly with listeners through live calls, offering feedback on lab results and personal health concerns. This interactive element underscores the program’s goal of empowering individuals with practical knowledge, encouraging them to view kidney health not as a fixed destiny but as an area where preventive care and innovative therapies can make a meaningful difference.

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