
Phase II also makes the toxins water soluble, preparing them to be eliminated from the body through the bile or urine. Phase II is conjugation (combining the oxidized toxins and used up hormones with other substances to make them less dangerous).Phase I is all about oxidation (basically, burning up toxins, used up estrogens, etc., with oxygen and enzymes).Liver detoxification is made up of two phases: However, complete estrogen metabolism in the body requires support of both Phase 1 and Phase 2 liver detoxification pathways. The way DIM works is through supporting only Phase I of liver detoxification. DIM needs the help of a couple of other nutrients to help it completely flush out the extra estrogen. In fact, you can feel worse after taking it if you’re taking it by itself. While DIM can be an effective supplement for some, it doesn’t work as well alone. Protects cells from the damaging effects of oxidation (working as an antioxidant).Īll these benefits make DIM an attractive addition to one’s supplement regimen… That is until it stops working.Promotes a healthy balance of testosterone and estrogen by preventing some testosterone from converting into estrogen.Helps break down estrogen into “clean” estrogens, not the antagonistic “dirty” ones.Here are a few known benefits of DIM: ( 3 ) It’s also known as a supplement that can help in the prevention of hormone-related cancers due to its anti-estrogenic and anti-androgenic effects. Learn more about taking DIM as a supplement in this short video:ĭIM is best known as a nutrient that supports healthy estrogen metabolism. This molecule is so great for getting rid of excess estrogen that it’s often referred to as the “Estrogen Buster.” However, it’s not a complete story. The conclusion is: DIM works a lot better, and it does so without the potential negative effects you can get from taking I3C. In the process of improving 2:16 estrogen metabolism, I3C also increases 4-hydroxy estrone, which is linked to breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers in some women.( 3 ) Most people have low stomach acid and the conversion may not happen. I3C needs cofactors in the stomach to get converted to DIM.While taking indole-3-carbinol (I3C) can be helpful for some women, I do not recommend taking supplemental I3C for two reasons:
Dim diindolylmethane trial#
A clinical trial published in the journal Nutrition and Cancer has reported that it takes a dosage of about 100 mg of DIM to have any effect on estrogen dominance. You’d need to eat about 6 pounds of these vegetables a day to get a therapeutic dose of DIM. However, the amount of DIM you get from digesting a serving or two of broccoli isn’t going to be enough if you’re in a state of estrogen overload. When these foods reach the stomach, indole-3-carbinol is broken down by the stomach acid. DIM comes from indole-3-carbinol, which is a compound naturally found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and collards. DIM: The “Estrogen Buster”ĭIM stands for di-indolyl-methane. So, what happened? What’s missing? Stay tuned – that’s what we’ll cover in this article. However, many women report that it works really great for a while, but then it stops. ( 1 ) DIM is a great supplement that works well for women of all ages in reducing symptoms of estrogen dominance. In fact, its effects on estrogen are the main reason those with a higher risk for breast- or other estrogen-sensitive cancers are advised to eat more broccoli and other Brassica-family vegetables. It’s one of the top recommended supplements for overcoming estrogen dominance. Many women have been advised or have found recommendations from books or online to take a supplement called DIM. Too many “Dirty” metabolites created from breaking down estrone (E1).Protective/”good” (E3) and aggressive/”bad” (E1 and E2) estrogens.The short version is that Estrogen Dominance is an imbalance of one or more of the following:
Dim diindolylmethane free#
There, you’ll also find a FREE assessment you can take to help you figure out whether you’re likely to be estrogen dominant. If you are not familiar with this hormonal condition, start by either reading my book Overcoming Estrogen Dominance, or read this comprehensive article for a great overview of this condition. If you’ve spent much time on this website, you may have noticed that we dedicated most of our resources to help women address Estrogen Dominance.
