Why DIM?
Patients who seek assistance in optimizing their hormones at Vitality Natural Wellness will frequently be recommended the supplement EstroDIM, also known as DIM.
DIM has three main benefits:
Makes estrogen metabolize down the 2-hydroxy estrone pathway
Frees up bound testosterone
Acts as a natural aromatase inhibitor.
What is DIM?
Diindolylmethane (DIM) is a phytonutrient that is found in high concentrations in cruciferous vegetables. It has the potential for enhancing the multiplication of healthy cells and improving cellular activities. DIM promotes beneficial estrogen metabolism in both women and men by supporting the formation of healthy estrogen reactions and improving the body’s ability to detoxify.
Simplified, DIM works two ways. First, it blocks the enzyme that converts testosterone into estrogen. Second, it converts bad estrogens into good/safer estrogen metabolites. This is important for everyone but particularly important for patients undergoing hormone therapy.
DIM is found in the cruciferous vegetable family. This family of vegetables includes Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, and broccoli. You would have to eat at least two pounds of cruciferous vegetables per day to get the proper amount of DIM in your diet to combat modern-day levels of xenoestrogens (chemicals that act like estrogen) and protect your testosterone from changing to estrogen. DIM is both an antioxidant and phytonutrient. Within the body, it competes for binding sites, thus blocking the activity of estrogen receptors.
Xenoestrogens have been introduced into the environment by many industrial, agricultural and chemical companies, and are found in foods, drugs, cosmetics, insecticides, herbicides, plastics, oils, paints and adhesives. Although the environmental effects of xenoestrogens are a concern, your greatest exposure may be from common products in foods, food containers and personal care products.
Why are Xenoestrogens harmful? Xenoestrogens can make women estrogen dominant, which affects their menstrual cycles, fertility, etc. It also affects men’s hormone balances, making them have more estrogen than they should. The balance of testosterone to estrogen is quite delicate. It doesn’t take long for an imbalance to rear it’s head and cause you to begin experiencing adverse symptoms.
Where are xenoestrogens found?
Feminine hygiene products
BPAs - found in plastic bottles, and in the lining of many food cans and juice containers.
Plastic-lined items and Styrofoam
Bovine Growth Hormone injected in non-organic meats
Many creams and cosmetics contain parabens and stearal konium chloride.
Phthalates- commonly found in baby lotions and powders.
Most skin lotions, creams, soaps, shampoo, cosmetics use parabens and phenoxyethanol as a preservative.
Sunscreen can contain benzophenone-3, homosalate, 4-methyl-benzylidene camphor, octalmethoxycinnamate, octal-dimethyl-PABA.
Birth control pills
Dryer sheets, fabric softeners, and detergents
As Hippocrates, the father of medicine, said, “let food be thy medicine and thy medicine food.” DIM supplementation is a natural approach to achieving a safer and healthier estrogen metabolism – in addition to its other good health benefits.
References available upon request.