DIM for Women: Supporting Metabolism and Hormones

When you were a child, you might have been told, “Eat your broccoli.” As it turns out, broccoli has a lot to offer beyond just vitamins and minerals.

Studies have shown vegetables like broccoli play an important role in women’s health.

Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable. This group of vegetables belongs to the Brassicaceae family (also known as the crucifer family or mustard family). They are named for their four-petaled flowers, which resemble a cross and give them their common name “cruciferous.”

Common cruciferous vegetables include:

Broccoli: Known for its dense, green heads of clustered florets, broccoli is a versatile and nutritious vegetable.

Cauliflower: Cauliflower is similar in appearance to broccoli but is typically white in color. It can be eaten raw or cooked and is often used as a low-carb alternative to grains and legumes.

Cabbage: Cabbage comes in several varieties, including green cabbage, red cabbage, and savoy cabbage.

Brussels sprouts: These small, green vegetables resemble miniature cabbages and grow on stalks. They have a slightly bitter flavor and are often roasted, sautéed, or steamed as a side dish.

Kale: Kale is a leafy green vegetable high in nutrients like vitamins A, C, and K, as well as minerals like calcium and potassium.

Bok Choy: Also known as “Chinese cabbage,” bok choy has dark green leaves and crisp white stems. It’s commonly used in Asian cuisine and can be stir-fried, steamed, or added to soups and stews.

Arugula: Arugula is a leafy green with a peppery flavor. It’s often used in salads, sandwiches, and for garnish because of its unique shape and taste.

So what makes cruciferous vegetables unique?

What makes these vegetables unique is indole-3-carbinol – or I3C – a compound found in cruciferous vegetables.

It’s a member of the class of phytochemicals known as indoles. When these vegetables are chewed, chopped, or digested, I3C is released. Recently, I3C has been studied for its health benefits, including its influence on hormonal health. 

The role of DIM

Here’s where things get even more interesting. When cruciferous vegetables release I3C into the body, it is converted into diindolylmethane or DIM. This is a promising compound with the potential to support hormonal balance and overall health.*

The best way to get DIM is to eat your vegetables. Whether enjoyed raw in salads, lightly steamed as a side dish, or incorporated into hearty soups and stir-fries, incorporating cruciferous vegetables into your daily meals is a simple yet effective way to eat more cruciferous vegetables. 

However, DIM is also available in supplement form. 

Puritan’s Pride DIM^® Complex is a standardized, bioavailable form of diindolylmethane that promotes women’s metabolism and cellular health, and supports healthy estrogen metabolism.*

DIM^® Blend Complex provides 25 mg of diindolylmethane. Always ask your doctor before taking a new supplement to see if this is an option for your healthy routine.