

That’s a problem for bodybuilders, because higher levels of estrogen: Because we’ve all got this enzyme called aromatase, which converts some of our testosterone to estrogen, any time we produce more testosterone (naturally or otherwise), we also end up with higher levels of this female hormone. The take-home message? If you’re worried, talk to a doctor before you get started with a supplement.ĭiindolylmethane Benefits & Why Bodybuilders Use ItĮstrogen, and specifically the bad kind of estrogen, has been a prime enemy of bodybuilders everywhere since time immemorial. WebMD, for instance, notes that taking a DIM supplement could potentially worsen osteoporosis (brittle bones) in postmenopausal women, adding that DIM supplements have not been proven to be safe for pregnant women or breastfeeding mothers. Taking a DIM supplement could potentially lead to better prostate health and help fight gynecomastia (better known as “man boobs”) which is a common side effect of hormonal imbalances and general HPTA issues associated with transitioning off or reducing dosages of common performance enhancers like SARMs or testosterone.ĭespite the fact that DIM supplements have taken the health-conscious world by storm recently, it’s crucial to note that the safety and efficacy of these supplements is still very much subject to research. However, because DIM acts as an aromatase inhibitor, it can absolutely be beneficial to men, too. They’re most often advertised as alleviating menopause symptoms, helping with the female reproductive condition PCOS, and fighting acne related to the menstrual cycle. This natural compound (DIM), which would otherwise only be created within your own body from indole-3-carbinol when you eat cruciferous vegetables, is now widely and freely available in the form of supplements as well.ĭIM dietary supplements can be found on the market in the form of capsules and bulk powders, in various doses. Yes, whole foods are best but as we’ve covered before, they are not always practical, which opens to door to various types of supplements to help make up any deficits created with sub-optimal fresh food consumption. If you aren’t regularly checking your hormone levels to measure overall hormonal health that is something you should consider looking into if trying to build an ultimate physique, or just as you age as your body produces less and less of key anabolic hormones.Īt the same time that it is helping support healthy hormone levels, DIM also limits the effects of 16 alpha-hydroxyestrone, a “bad” type of estrogen that has been linked to fat retention, slower muscle gains, and even reduced sexual function, while limiting the role that aromatase, an enzyme that converts testosterone into estrogen, plays in the body.Īs modern science is working hard to understand what role diindolylmethane can play in the body if we consume it in larger quantities, and how it might decrease the risk of various cancers and other diseases, folks who are just discovering the potential benefits of DIM do not have to load their plates up with tons of broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts to reap the benefits. That’s because research has found that people who eat a lot of cruciferous vegetables have a significantly lower risk of developing cancers like breast cancer and prostate cancer - and DIM is to thank for that.ĭIM specifically helps to reduce the development of certain cancers because it plays a role in promoting a healthy hormonal balance, namely by modulating the estrogen we’re all exposed to (yes, including men) by converting it to a healthier form of estrogen known as 2-hydroxyestrone. Whether you’re an aesthetics-chasing bodybuilder, a different flavor of fitness enthusiast, or even a couch potato, DIM has the potential to work wonders for your health. The stuff you’ll find in crucifers is technically indole-3-carbinol, but your body converts that stuff to DIM during the digestive process, in the stomach.ĭIM should be interesting to you no matter who you are. What’s the Ideal Dose of DIM for Bodybuilders?ĭiindolylmethane, or DIM for short, is a bioactive indole that you are naturally exposed to when you eat cruciferous vegetables - like broccoli, cabbage, bok choy, Chinese cabbage, watercress, radishes, horseradish, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and the list goes on. The point is, you should listen to us when we tell you there are fitness benefits to be had by eating fresh whole foods!įor the uninitiated, “bioactive” simply means that the substance has some sort of measurable affect on living tissue (like the human body, for instance), while “indole”, to keep things simple, is basically a compound.Diindolylmethane Benefits & Why Bodybuilders Use It.
