For one they contain many phytochemicals which are important for good health.One important phytochemical is Indole-3-carbinol (I3C) and diindolylmethane (DIM). These two phytochemicals work together to support estrogen balance, cervical, breast and prostate health.

Can you get I3C and DIM from your diet? The answer is yes… BUT you would need to eat at least two pounds per day to get a therapeutic level. DIM not only found in the cruciferous vegetables, is also converted from I3C in the gut when ingested. DIM is the most active of the two phytochemicals.

1. DIM can stop cancer cells

Multiple studies show that DIM may have the ability to promote the growth of healthy cells and counter the formation of cancerous cells. In fact, the Linus Pauling Institute reported that DIM could potentially slow the growth of cancer cells by stimulating a process that leads to the death of the affected cells.

Additionally, results from studies conducted in vitro showed that DIM displayed anti-cancer activities in cancer cells, including prostate, breast, pancreatic, and leukemic cells. These results, published in the Journal of Biomedical Research, are promising indicators that DIM can slow or stop the growth of cancer cells.

2. DIM boosts your immune system

Experts conducting research at the University of California at Berkeley reported that DIM can stimulate the immune system in order to help it destroy viruses and bacteria. DIM has also been shown to increase the production of enzymes that help your body eliminate toxins and disease-causing compounds. With the help of DIM, the immune system is better equipped to keep you healthy and free of toxic, disease-causing molecules.

3. DIM normalizes hormone levels

DIM has been shown to normalize the levels of hormones within the body, including estrogen. Because an excess amount of estrogen can cause hormonal imbalance symptoms, countering this excessive amount of estrogen is important to a woman’s health. One study published in Nutrition and Cancer had post-menopausal women with a history of breast cancer consume a DIM supplement for 30 days, resulting in positive changes to their estrogen metabolism.

Estrogen is broken down into a number of substances (metabolites). Some of these metabolites are more concerning and have been linked to estrogen induced cancers.The goal is to keep your metabolites healthy. This is where I3C and DIM come into play.They work by altering the break down of estrogen into favorable and safe estrogen metabolites.