Why DIM May be Right For You

Today we are going to look at an exciting little supplement called DIM. We are also going to talk about why DIM may be right for you.

But first, do you suffer from any of the following?
Bloating. Moodiness. Headaches. Abnormal periods. Tender breasts. Weight gain. Endometriosis. PCOS. Fibrocystic breasts. Infertility. Autoimmune issues. Estrogen dominant tumors. Skin problems, including adult acne.

If you answered yes, there is something that may help. That something is DIM. If you answered no, DIM may be beneficial for you, as well!

Estrogen Dominance At A Glance

In many cases, estrogen dominance is the cause of these common symptoms/diagnoses.

Did you know that you can struggle with estrogen dominant health issues before lab work would reflect high serum estrogen levels? It’s true. But, there is something natural and affordable that might be able to help!

Even if you do not have estrogen dominance, DIM may still be right for you.

DIM At A Glance

Let’s start with the basics– what is DIM?

DIM is technically known as Diindolylmethane. This is a natural chemical occurring in something you’re familiar with– cruciferous vegetables. Think broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. 

Cruciferous veggies are full of health benefits, especially for women. To reap these benefits solely by eating raw cruciferous veggies, we’d need to eat an average of 1.5 pounds of raw cruciferous vegetables.

Every. Single. Day.

For YEARS!

DIM makes this so much easier. 

So, if you’re not eating around 2 heads of broccoli every single day, DIM may be right for you.

Xenoestrogens- What?

Diindolylmethane increases good estrogen. It also reduces undesirable estrogen.

Undesirable estrogen, what?!? Where is undesirable estrogen coming from?!

The easiest answer to this is: likely our environment. 

Xenoestrogens are an example of undesirable estrogen. They are disruptive to our health and are found in…well, everything.

Here’s a short list of common sources of xenoestrogens:
*plastics
*pesticides
*parabens
*cosmetics
*deodorant/antiperspirant
*lotions
*fragranced products
*bleach used in most feminine hygiene products

So, what’s the big deal?

Firstly, as we are exposed to these xenoestrogens, our bodies can become overloaded with estrogen. This has the potential to cause us to become estrogen dominant. We may also begin to exhibit symptoms we don’t want to have.

DIM can help our regular, healthy estrogen to stay, while flushing the undesirable estrogens from our bodies. 

Secondly, it is important to note that xenoestrogens are everywhere. You can do some things to reduce your exposure to them (changing products, for example). However, you can’t completely avoid them.

DIM supports your body to remove the xenoestrogens you can’t avoid.  It works with our own hormones, adjusting them to avoid imbalance. 

DIM and Weight Loss

With evened out estrogen levels, our metabolism functions better. Appropriate estrogen levels lean our metabolism more towards fat-burning.
This means DIM helps some people shed a few pounds. This also explains that struggling to lose weight may be related to estrogen levels.

Studies have found that DIM increases lipolysis (fat burning). This means it may be associated with weight loss and healthy weight management.  

So…DIM is a chemical compound found in cruciferous vegetables. And DIM might help our metabolism burn more fat. Got it. What else can it do for us?

We’re so glad you asked!

How DIM Benefits You

Here are some of the ways DIM can help us function at our best.
DIM may:
*resolve skin issues like acne or sporadic breakouts.

*alleviate pain associated with the menstrual cycle– bloating and breast pain, for example.

*ease the discomfort or pain associated with fibrocystic breast disease/breast cysts. 

*reduce menopausal symptoms.

*help with hair loss.

*contain anti-inflammatory effects. Studies show anecdotal evidence supporting the idea that DIM can help lessen chronic pain. 

*offer some benefit to diseases caused by HPV.

*have anti-cancer and cancer-preventative properties. This is due to a couple of things: the effect it has on regulating hormones, and DIM’s antioxidant properties. Many cancers, including some of the breast, prostate, ovaries, and uterus, are hormonally driven. DIM has been found to be protective for normal cells. DIM is also capable of causing tumor cells to kill themselves.

*assist in clearing excess estrogen from the body. This is generally of benefit in polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). DIM can also reduce the amount of testosterone in the body. This is relevant to PCOS as well, as higher testosterone is usually present in this condition.

Can Men Benefit From Taking DIM?

Some of the above listed benefits of DIM apply to men as well as women (antioxidant properties, anti inflammatory possibilities, etc.). But DIM may be particularly beneficial for men regarding prostate health. Studies have noted that DIM inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell death in prostate cancer cells. 

Who Should NOT Take DIM?

Pregnant or breastfeeding women should avoid taking a DIM supplement.

There is a possibility DIM could affect how your liver breaks down certain medications. DIM may decrease the effectiveness of drugs metabolized by the liver like imipramine, propranolol, and olanzapine. 

Should I Expect Side Effects?

At high doses, some people have experienced headaches or stomachaches with DIM. In appropriate doses, these side effects are non-existent. 

Some people experience a change in  urine color when taking DIM (darkening/orange). This change in color is usually indicative of xenoestrogens leaving the body and is not harmful.

It is important to drink enough water while taking DIM (and always!) because your body is flushing out toxins. Adequate hydration helps our body do that.

DIM is generally regarded as safe (GRAS) by the FDA, because it is derived from vegetables. 

Studies indicate DIM presents no detrimental side effects. While not suitable for everyone, DIM offers benefits to men and women with little to no side effects. 

How Much DIM Should I Be Taking?

100-300 mg of DIM a day is a general recommendation for men and women. 

Conclusion

With multiple potential benefits and little to no risk, DIM is a great supplement to consider trying. Don’t hesitate to discuss with your doctor before beginning DIM or any new supplement regimen, especially if you’re concerned about medication interaction.

If you’re looking for potentially clearer skin, reduced hair loss, improved weight loss, improved PMS or menopausal symptoms, and overall improved cellular health, DIM may be right for you!

If you’d like to schedule an appointment or discuss your health further, contact us at Insight Thermography of Oklahoma. We’d love to help you move forward in better health!

(This post contains affiliate links.)

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