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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