You probably already know that vegetables are good for you,
They contain lots of essential vitamins and minerals and can help you maintain a healthy weight and good health. And now, there’s a lot of talk about a new benefit to eating your veggies and it has to do with a compound called diindolylmethane. So, here’s what we know so far about this substance and whether it’s living up to the hype.
What is Diindolylmethane?
Your body generates diindolylmethane when you eat vegetables and breaks down a compound known as indole-3-carbinol. This is found in cruciferous vegetables like:
Kale
Cabbage
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Mustard greens
Brussel sprouts
Collard greens
Watercress
These vegetables are very healthy for you even if they don’t have anticancer benefits. They’re full of essential vitamins and minerals and contain antioxidants, which are essential for good health. As long as your body tolerates them, you should be eating these vegetables regularly as part of a healthy diet. This will help enhance your overall health.
You can also find diindolylmethane in supplement form. However, there’s very little evidence about the most effective dosage. So, make sure that you get medical advice before taking this supplement. Those with adrenal fatigue should also beware of just starting a supplement without checking with your medical professional as your body might be sensitive to this supplement.
The Health Benefits of Diindolylmethane
Diindolylmethane is said to have several vital benefits, many of them linked to a healthy hormone balance. This is particularly relevant to women, as this compound is said to make changes in how estrogen is metabolized. Estrogen metabolism is linked to the development of hormone-dependent cancers like breast cancer. So, eating more foods that contain this substance might offer anticancer effects. However, there isn’t enough research at this stage to support this idea.
Studies on the issue have explored whether this substance could help with:
Breast Cancer
There are only a few studies on the effects of diindolylmethane on breast cancer. A small study involving 19 post-menopausal women with a history of early-stage breast cancer found that this substance led to changes in estrogen metabolism.
This effect may only occur with large concentrations of diindolylmethane. Studies have found that low levels of this compound can stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells. Significantly, this effect was noticed when the compound was given in concentrations that can also be provided by dietary or supplement intake.
Another study discovered that 300mg a day of diindolylmethane didn’t significantly change the urinary estrogen ratio. This is a biomarker that has an inverse relationship with breast cancer development.
As you can see, at this stage the research is undecided. That’s why you must always consult with a medical professional before adopting these kinds of health strategies.
Other Types of Cancer
There is little evidence that diindolylmethane can affect other kinds of cancer. In one study, participants were given either supplements or a placebo for 6 months, but no beneficial effects on the cervical cells were found. There is some early evidence that diindolylmethane may offer benefits against ovarian, colon, and prostate cancer. However, these results have come from animal-based studies, so it’s too early to tell.
Weight Loss
At this stage, there’s no evidence that diindolylmethane promotes weight loss.
The Potential Side Effects of Diindolylmethane
Supplementing is always a little risky. The long-term effects of supplementing are mostly unknown, and this applies to diindolylmethane supplements too. That’s why it’s always best to get your nutrients from eating a healthy, balanced diet. Also, women who are pregnant or nursing should never use these supplements. Anyone who’s having cancer treatment should also refrain from them.
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If you do supplement, then here are some possible side effects:
Toxicity
There is some evidence that high doses of diindolylmethane may be toxic. In a recent animal study, dogs that were given high doses of this supplement experienced several signs of toxicity. These include reduced food intake, weight gain reduction, anemia, thymic atrophy, possible mild liver damage, and mild kidney damage.
Skin Rash
Some people who supplement with this substance will experience a skin rash or raised levels of eosinophils. This kind of reaction is usually related to allergies.
Muscle and Joint Pain
Muscle and joint pain, particularly in the hips and knees, have also been noticed in people who supplement.
Worsening of Hormone-Sensitive Conditions
Certain health conditions like endometriosis, hormone-dependent cancers, and uterine fibroids can be sensitive to changes in estrogen metabolism. So, if you have any of these conditions, it’s best to avoid these supplements.
As stated before, some of these side effects can be very serious, which is why you should never try to supplement without medical advice and supervision. This is particularly true if you’re supplementing because of adrenal fatigue and its associated problems.
Hormonal Imbalances with Adrenal Fatigue
Hormonal imbalances are very common in people who have Adrenal Fatigue Syndrome (AFS) or adrenal fatigue. This can occur because the adrenal glands are part of the Hormonal Circuit, an essential part of the NeuroEndoMetabolic (NEM) stress response.
When you’re stressed, the NEM stress response prompts the release of cortisol from the adrenals. This causes changes to occur throughout the body’s circuits. These changes are designed to protect the body against the effects of stress. They also have the effect of preparing you to respond to the cause of the stress by increasing your body’s energy and alertness and preparing you to fight or flee.
When a predator chases you, this stress response is very important. But in the modern world, you’re far more likely to get stressed because of a poor diet, work pressure, relationship problems, or a sedentary lifestyle. Unfortunately, your body still registers these issues as stress and activates the NEM stress response. And because these stressors are long-lasting or even ongoing, they can cause problems.
The NEM becomes overused, which causes an ongoing high demand for cortisol. This isn’t good for your body’s organs or circuits and can cause widespread imbalances. The constant demand for cortisol can also fatigue the adrenal glands and even cause them to start to degrade. If the situation isn’t corrected, then the results can truly be catastrophic. And this can have a devastating effect on your hormonal balance.
Unfortunately, at this stage, there’s no evidence that supplementing with diindolylmethane will help correct any of the problems associated with AFS. By improving your diet and eating plenty of healthy greens, you should get enough of this substance to satisfy your body’s basic needs.
The Effects of AFS on the Hormones
The Hormonal Circuit includes the ovaries or testes, the adrenal glands, and the thyroid. Each of these organs must be in a precise balance within themselves and with each other for good health. However, as cortisol levels soar and AFS sets in, this balance can be lost, resulting in a wide variety of symptoms and problems. Many of these symptoms and problems are related to the hormonal imbalance that occurs with AFS.
When the Hormonal Circuit becomes unbalanced, the adrenal glands are often affected first. They start to fatigue and struggle to keep up with the high demand for cortisol. And because the adrenals secrete other hormones that are essential for effective functioning, this will cause a range of symptoms that will worsen your adrenal fatigue. The adrenal problems will also affect the thyroid, which will cause problems with metabolism, energy levels and also the ovaries.
Once the ovaries start to malfunction, hormone levels will become unbalanced. Estrogen dominance is very common at this stage as progesterone levels drop. Progesterone acts as a counter to estrogen, so when your levels are low you will experience symptoms relating to estrogen dominance. These include abnormal menstruation, PMS or more severe PMS, loss of sex drive, mood swings, and fatigue. These, in turn, will further stress your body and worsen your AFS.
If you’re trying to correct the issues that occur when you have Hormonal Circuit imbalances, you must address the underlying AFS rather than just the surface symptoms. That means that supplementing with diindolylmethane probably won’t be as effective as you hope. Instead, you should focus on removing stressors such as a poor diet and rebalancing your body’s circuits.
Conclusion
At this stage, there isn’t enough evidence to say that diindolylmethane is helpful in the fight against cancer. It may be quite harmful, particularly if you’re avoiding other, more effective cancer management strategies. So, here’s what to do if you’re thinking of increasing your intake of this substance:
Talk to your medical professional first to ensure that it’s right for you and your body.
Watch for side effects and signs of toxicity and discontinue use if necessary.
Make sure you eat cruciferous vegetables regularly (even if not for anticancer benefits) as they’re full of health-promoting benefits.
