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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