Menopause & Hot Flashes: Dim Can Really Cool Things Down
One of the more poorly understood, but highly appreciated supplements on the market today is DIM or Diindolylmethane. DIM can provide relief for a wide range of female complaints involved in Menopause, PMS, and much more.
DIM is a molecule derived from cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, etc., that moderates the effects of estrogen in both females and males. In general, DIM helps you get more of the effects you want from estrogen, such as maintenance of skin, energy, mood, and memory, and less of those you don’t, like increased fat storage….or for females PMS, menopausal symptoms, and hot flashes. It does this by increasing the amount of favourable estrogen metabolites you produce, and simultaneously decreasing production of estrogen’s less favourable metabolites.
What does this mean?
A metabolite is produced when your body acts on and modifies a molecule or substance. For example, estrogen in the body can be modified by the addition of a molecule of one oxygen and one hydrogen, -OH, called a hydroxyl group. Where this group is tacked-on to the estrogen makes an immense difference in how it acts in the body. The specific spot the -OH is added to estrogen can mean the difference between the estrogen being reactive, proliferative, unhappy, and inflammatory…or being calm, anti-proliferative, friendly, and anti-inflammatory.
Prevent estrogen dominance with DIM.
Now what would you rather have?
Where To Find A Good Dim Supplement
While DIM is found in cruciferous vegetables, you would have to eat very large amounts of these vegetables daily to get the same benefits as you would from taking one or two capsules of DIM. Also, cooking, especially microwaving and boiling, can reduce the availability of DIM from food sources. To get maximum benefit from DIM look for it as a supplement.
Many of the published studies on the benefits of DIM have used BioResponse DIM because generic DIM is not absorbed very well . BioResponse is a patented form of DIM created by the company BioResponse Nutrients in the United States and you can buy it directly from their website .
Even if you arent in the U.S., its easy to find DIM supplements containing BioResponse DIM. If you try a generic DIM supplement and do not notice any changes after a few months, you may want to purchase a supplement with the BioResponse DIM instead.
Recently I have been using the Jarrow Formulas DIM which also has calcium-D-glucarate in it, another compound that helps with estrogen detoxification.
Dim Supplement Side Effects And Dosage
While there are promising benefits that can come with taking DIM, there are some potential side effects to take note.
DIM is safe for most individuals, but you may experience some mild detox-like symptoms including:
- Dark-colored urine
- Changes in menstrual cycle
Due to its effect on estrogen, its best to avoid DIM if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. It also has the potential to worsen hormone-sensitive conditions, including endometriosis, fibroids and breast, uterine or ovarian cancers.
Those being treated for cancer should also avoid taking DIM supplements without consulting a doctor first.
Currently, theres not enough evidence to determine the safest and most effective DIM dosage. It likely depends on numerous individual factors, including age and health.
Youll often see DIM come in 100-200mg capsules. One study determined that DIM was well tolerated at single doses of up to 200mg, and that it was possible to increase the dose to 300mg without major side effects .
As with any supplement, its best to talk with your doctor before using.
Summary: DIM is safe for most individuals, but some may experience mild detox-like symptoms, including fatigue, headache and nausea. The safest and most effective dosage is still unknown and likely depends on individual factors.
Also Check: Hormonal Acne After Birth Control
Dim For Estrogen Dominance
Estrogen dominance is the #1 hormone struggle I see in women over 35 .Thanks to a buildup of toxins, estrogenic exposures in our environment, high levels of inflammation, and a heavily burdened liver, estrogen dominance is one of the major contributors to the hormone hell you may suddenly find yourself in.Unless you are actively working to prevent it, estrogen dominance WILL happen to every woman at some point before, during, or after menopause.And thats because estrogen dominance is actually an umbrella term for several different scenarios:
- You could have high estrogen. This is probably what comes to mind when you hear the term, but this is actually the least common type of this hormone dysfunction.
- You may have high estrogen in relation to progesterone. This is MUCH more common . Estrogen and progesterone are designed to work synergistically in a delicate ratio. If progesterone levels are low , the estrogen may outweigh the progesterone and lead to a whole host of symptoms.
So to reverse estrogen dominance naturally, there are a few areas to focuson:
And heres the good news! DIM is a great supplement to help with both of these stages.
Dim: The Estrogen Buster
DIM stands for di-indolyl-methane. DIM comes from indole-3-carbinol, which is a compound naturally found in cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and collards. When these foods reach the stomach, indole-3-carbinol is broken down by the stomach acid. DIM is then released as a by-product.
However, the amount of DIM you get from digesting a serving or two of broccoli isnt going to be enough if youre in a state of estrogen overload. Youd need to eat about 6 pounds of these vegetables a day to get a therapeutic dose of DIM.
Thats where supplements come in. 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.
While taking indole-3-carbinol can be helpful for some women, I do not recommend taking supplemental I3C for two reasons:
The conclusion is: DIM works a lot better, and it does so without the potential negative effects you can get from taking I3C. This molecule is so great for getting rid of excess estrogen that its often referred to as the Estrogen Buster. However, its not a complete story.
Read Also: How Is Hormone Replacement Therapy Done
Safety Concerns Regarding Diindolylmethane
Of course, your body could be producing diindolylmethane every day depending on what your diet consists of. With that being said, you would need to eat an immensely large amount to experience the potential benefits associated with diindolylmethane. This is why supplements have been made available.
Currently, the effects of long-term use are not known. With that being said, diindolylmethanes potential to affect estrogen levels does raise some concerns regarding hormone-sensitive conditions, include hormone-dependent cancer and endometriosis. Based on these concerns, its critical that you speak with your doctor before taking diindolylmethane.
Concerns are raised when doses are too high. Always stick with the recommended dose as written on the supplements label. When taking doses over 300 mg, you can experience headaches and gastrointestinal distress.
Supplements are of course tested for safety, but companies differ. This is why you should always source your supplements from a reliable, trusted source. If you are pregnant or nursing, please refrain from taking diindolylmethane. Also, if youre currently taking on medications, speak with your doctor before your first dose.
How Dim Supplements Support Hormonal Health
Last updated on by Megan Lierley
Broccoli, Brussels, cabbage, cauliflower: what do they all have in common? Other than being what some might call an acquired taste, theyre an excellent source of folate, fiber, and vitamins C, E, and K. Just as importantly , they all also contain a plant compound called diindolylmethane .
DIM is a metabolite of indole-3-carbinol , a phytonutrient found in cruciferous vegetables, which is said to stimulate detoxifying enzymes that are found in the liver and gut. This action is essential to happier hormones because we know that the microbiome is a key player in regulating hormones, especially estrogen levels. When I3C comes into contact with your stomach acid , it sparks a chemical reaction that converts it to DIM. Thats when our bodies start to benefit!
Research shows that DIM can reduce the risk of estrogen-driven cancerssuch as breast cancer and cervical cancerby supporting healthy estrogen metabolism and promoting estrogen and testosterone balance. Another small study found that DIM may also have protective benefits against thyroid disorders, which are four to five times more likely to affect women than men.
DIM has also been shown to protect against acne, support healthy weight balance, and help with menopauseall side effects of those imbalanced hormones that were working each day to fix.
Sounds pretty good, right?
Here are some common hormonal issues DIM can help with:
Read Also: How Do I Test My Estrogen Levels
How Long Should You Take Dim Supplements
You will need to take DIM daily for at least 30 days before deciding if it works for you. Most people use DIM for about 6-12 months, but you can take DIM for as long as needed. If you choose to stop taking DIM supplements, you do not need to wean yourself off of it. You can stop taking it anytime.
When should I take Dim? If you have any of the previously mentioned conditions or symptoms, DIM supplements may be a good choice for you. Although DIM supplement is available over the counter, working with a physician who understands how DIM works and its many benefits is crucial if you want the best results.
DIM supplement does it work? Find out for yourself! Contact Evexias Denver Medical Centers and make an appointment today!
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Dim For Natural Protection From Estrogens Effect
Frequently Asked Questions
Compiled by Thomas Stearns Lee, NMD
What do perimenopause, premenstrual syndrome, enlarged prostate glands, and early heart attacks have in common? Estrogen. A new understanding of healthy estrogen metabolism is providing a natural treatments for these and other important conditions confronting both women and men.
Fortunately, phytonutrients discovered in cruciferous vegetables offer a natural approach to resolving estrogen imbalance. Dietary supplementation with an absorbable form of one of these phytonutrients, called DiIndoly Methane , helps promote healthier estrogen metabolism. DIMs hormonal balancing effects have revealed these midlife problems are not due to estrogen itself alone, but rather, to estrogen metabolism imbalances.
Q. What is DIM, and how can it help hormones?
Stated simply, supplementing the diet with DIM specifically promotes beneficial estrogen metabolism and helps restore a healthy hormonal balance.
Q. What is estrogen dominance?
A. Middle-aged men and women experience changes in hormone production and metabolism resulting in excess estrogen action. There are three basic forms of this common imbalance known as estrogen dominance.
Q. What benefits can DIM offer?
This improves estrogen metabolism and helps resolve all three forms of estrogen dominance.
NaturoDoc Note: Remember, 2-hydroxy is good 16-hydroxy is bad.
Q. Why not just eat more cruciferous vegetables?
Q. How much DIM is recommended?
Support Healthy Testosterone Levels
DIM may be effective at inhibiting aromatase. Aromatase is an enzyme that assists in the conversion of testosterone to estrogen. This is why DIM can possibly prevent the excess production of estrogen and support healthy testosterone levels.
DIM may also inhibit DHT, a form of testosterone that is five times more potent than testosterone. DHT is the form of testosterone associated with prostate cancer in men and conditions like hirsutism and acne in women.
Recommended Reading: What Hormones Contribute To Weight Gain
How Long Does It Take For Dim Supplement To Relieve Hormonal Acne
If youve got hormonal acne, youre probably in a hurry to get rid of it. If youre thinking about using DIM to diminish hormonal acne, then youve probably already knocked out the list of quick-fix potions and spot treatments that dont really deliver. Testosterone can inflame acne. DIM can effectively decrease acne because it blocks androgen receptors, which means that no testosterone can get into the receptor.
So when you take DIM for hormonal acne, you can expect your skin to start clearing up anywhere from 3 days to 30 days depending on your unique situation. For some women, it may take six months to see optimal results.
Best Dim Supplement For Women
To find the best DIM supplement for women, its helpful to know what to look for. Here are a few things to look for on the label to be sure youre grabbing a quality brand:
- Form – The form of your DIM supplement matters. Most supplements come in a capsule or powder. But if you despise swallowing pills or the taste of powders, this probably wont work for you. The best form is a lozenge, which is quick and easy and is delivered significantly faster to where you need it in the body.
Rebalances Energize & Relax Superceutical contains DIM and is available as a lozenge. A Superceutical is a patented product that helps targets the root causes of symptoms – at the teeny tiny cellular level.
- Look for the word nutraceutical– A nutraceutical is often used interchangeably with the word supplement, and they can appear to be the same. However, it is different from a supplement in that it is made from real food or part of a food.
It is a concentrated source of these ingredients combined together from food, rather than isolated ingredients in a supplement. Nutraceuticals also have moreclinical evidence to support their use. Rebalance products are all considered nutraceuticals as their ingredients come from whole foods like broccoli, mushrooms and beets.
Read Also: Is There Estrogen In Nexplanon
Side Effects Of Dim And How To Deal
DIM is generally well-tolerated with a few mild symptoms for a few days. Side effects of DIM include:
The consensus is that darkened urine is harmless and will return to normal once you stop taking your DIM supplement. Some say its a good sign that DIM is working on your liver to neutralize estrogen metabolites. Whatever the cause, dont be alarmed.
The rest of the side effects of DIM are short-lived and resemble the effects of general detox symptoms because thats precisely whats happening. DIM pulls excess estrogens out of your cells and sends them out into the bloodstream for elimination. While its all circulating, youll feel like crud.
Thats the case with any detox. When you pull things like chemicals, heavy metals, and mold toxins out of hiding, they have an effect on the cells they come into contact with while theyre on their way out. Thats why its crucial to support your bodys detox and elimination systems while youre taking DIM or doing other detoxes.
Heres how you can get the ick out ASAP:
If you had detox symptoms for a few days, its a sign that you had a lot of estrogen to deal with and you probably really needed to get it out.
Testosterone Supplementation And Why The Bodybuilding Community Likes Dim
Everyone has testosterone both men and women need it for cardiovascular health, bone density, skin quality, mental health, and more. By your mid-forties your testosterone typically drops low enough that some of your body processes arent working properly, and youll need to supplement.
We all have an enzyme called aromatase which converts a portion of our testosterone, whether we produce it naturally or supplement. Aromatase will convert a portion of testosterone into estrogen, which comes with all the effects that natural estrogen has. Some people have a gene that causes them to convert testosterone to estrogen more readily than others.
Bodybuilding presents a special case of too much estrogen from testosterone. Since testosterone promotes muscle tone in normal amounts and extreme muscle growth in excess, men and women of the bodybuilding community typically take more than replacement levels of testosterone. Its the norm in the world of bodybuilding, and if you want to compete without injecting yourself with hormones, you can find natural or drug-free bodybuilding competitions.
DIM inhibits aromatase, so that more testosterone is freely available in your system to benefit your heart, bones, skin, and brain. Plus, when aromatase isnt able to convert testosterone into harmful estrogen metabolites, you have fewer symptoms of estrogen dominance like acne and mood swings.
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Potential Side Effects Of Dim
Due to limited research studies in humans, there are few known long-term side effects of these supplements. Current studies havent found toxic or serious side effects of DIM supplements. However, those who have used these supplements have reported less common side effects, which include
- Darkened and stronger odor of urine
- Increased frequency of bowel movements
How Long Do DIM Supplements Take to Work?
Unlike prescription drugs, supplements take time to take effect. DIM supplements arent an exception. That said, it takes 30 days before these supplements to balance estrogen levels. Read more about pharmaceutical-grade supplements here.
Is DIM Safe?
Those who used DIM as dietary supplements for a few years havent reported any adverse effects. That said, while these supplements can be used to correct hormonal imbalance, especially in premenopausal women, they can also cause hormonal imbalances. Therefore, DIM has both positive and negative results on the body. A good example of this is a 2011 study on Thyroid, which found that DIM has the anti-estrogenic effect that reduces the risk of thyroid cancers.
More research should be done to define the specifics of DIM, especially the correct dosage and hormonal interactions.