DIM (diindolylmethane), is a food-based compound found in cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts.Studies have shown that it has the ability to reduce the risk of certain cancers, especiallythose influenced by excessive estrogen levels, such as breast, uterine and prostate. DIM can also stimulatefat breakdown and encourage an increase in muscle mass. I can attest, through my own personal experience supplementing with DIM as well as that of quite a few clients (both male and female), that DIM effectively modulates estrogen metabolism helping to do away with uncomfortable symptoms of PMS, perimenopause and prostate issues.

The following excerpt comes from Dr. Scott Rollins, MD, founder and Medical Director at the Integrative Medicine Center of Western Colorado (http://imcwc.com/news/index.php?id=3271124400587032289). Thisis a very well-written and comprehensive account of the effects of DIM and how to best use this supplement to make the most out of its incredible benefits:

Lower your risk of cancer, help lose weight and build muscle all remarkable benefits of a simple food supplement called DIM. For men or women, DIM is something to consider as part of an overall supplement program.

DIM, or diindolylmethane, is a plant based compound found in cruciferous vegetables, such as brussel sprouts,cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower. DIM has been shown in studies to reduce the risk of certain cancers, especiallythose driven by abnormally high estrogen levels, such as breast, uterus and prostate cancer. DIM can also stimulate the breakdown of fat while encouraging muscle development.

Estrogen hormones are naturally found in men and women and have many benefits such as preserving artery healthand brain function while fighting oxidative free radical damage. Higher estrogen levels found in women cause thefemale body shape with breast and hip development. Many women are estrogen dominant however, meaning theyhave too much estrogen accumulating in the body for the complementary progesterone to balance.

Natural estrogen dominance occurs as women near menopause, starting even ten years prior to menopause, where theyoften dont make as much progesterone to balance their estrogen. Symptoms such breast pain, water retention, heavypainful menstrual cycles, or irritable anxious moods are typical bothersome symptoms. Estrogens over-stimulation ofbreasts and uterus tissue can lead to breast cysts or adenomas and uterine growths both unpleasant and potentiallydangerous physical outcomes are too often accompanied by worrisome mammograms and hysterectomies.

Some women have estrogen dominance throughout their life for various reasons, such as low thyroid, high cortisol,exposure to environmental estrogen-like chemicals, or impaired detoxification pathways for estrogen.

Men often suffer from estrogen overload as well. With normal aging our testosterone levels drop as the conversion toestrogen increases, leading to a falling ratio of testosterone to estrogen. Higher estrogen levels in men lead to weightgain, loss of muscle mass, feminization of the body, further decreases in already falling testosterone levels, andincrease the risk of diseases such as heart disease and prostate cancer. The enzyme that normally converts testosteroneto estrogen is most abundant in fat, so as men put on weight the cycle of falling testosterone and rising estrogen simply picks up steam!

There are two main pathways in the liver for our estrogen to be normally metabolized and excreted. One pathwayleads to very good metabolites called 2-hydroxy estrogens. The other pathway leads to bad metabolites called 4 or 16-hydroxy estrogens. DIM stimulates the favorable 2-hydroxy pathway for estrogen metabolism and this is how DIMworks to improve our health.DIM is not a hormone, nor is it a hormone replacement. It is a plant compound that will improve our hormonebalance. By improving the metabolism of our natural estrogens DIM will help lower high levels of estrogen in thebody. This alone can help remedy estrogen dominant conditions and restore a healthy estrogen/testosterone ratio inmen and women.The favorable 2-hydroxy metabolites promoted by DIM are potent anti-oxidants and help prevent muscle breakdownafter exercise, as evidenced by female athletes having less muscle tissue breakdown after intense exercise than men.By reducing the estrogen dominance and also reducing the accumulation of cancer-promoting 4/16-hydroxymetabolites DIM can help lower the risk of cancer.The 2-hydroxy metabolites help increase the active testosterone levels in men and women by displacing inactiveprotein-bound testosterone to its active free portion. This leads to significant improvements in the ability to buildmuscle and enjoy the benefits of testosterone including better mood, increased stamina, endurance, sex drive anderectile function.The accumulation of fat around the belly, hips and buttocks is partly due to excess estrogen levels combined withfalling testosterone levels. DIM will help lower excess estrogen and promote the fat-burning 2-hydroxy metabolites.This can help you achieve a leaner body with less body fat.

More here:
DIM for Hormone Balance - blog.healthybynaturehwc.com

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