Using DIM and SGS

Your liver plays a large role in hormone metabolization and levels. The liver detoxifies from the body all the chemicals and toxins found in food and the environment. The liver has a two-part natural detoxification that occurs on a daily basis. For most, phase one works well, but phase two is slower and not breaking down the toxins properly so the toxins come back into your system and makes your liver more sluggish.

One of the most important tasks your liver has is to remove excess hormones from your body, particularly estrogen. Estrogen builds the uterine lining, can help your mood stay high and keeps your vagina lubricated. When your liver is blocked-up from excess toxins it is reabsorbed into the body, cannot remove estrogen and unable to keep estrogen at normal levels.

If your chronically constipated then the liver sends the broken down estrogen to your colon. If you do not have enough fiber for the bowels to move estrogen then it get reabsorbed back into the bloodstream.

The results of estrogen build-up in your bloodstream is called estrogen dominance. This means you have more estrogen in your body in relation to progesterone.

Indole 3 Carbinol (I3C) is a compound found in cruciferous vegetables, such as brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage and broccoli. I3C breaks down into the metabolites Diindolylmethane (DIM) and Sulforaphane Glucosinolate (SGS). DIM is more popular than SGS because it has been studied more. I3C is not taken because it has been shown to promote tumor growth in studies on mammals and other undesirable side effects in human clinical trials.

DIM and SGS can be helpful for estrogen dominance. Please see your medical provider for diagnosis, herbal suggestions, and before taking either of these supplements. There can always be a risk of an interaction with other medications or supplements, especially with toxins including medication broken down by the liver.  Consult a healthcare provider.

 What’s the difference between DIM and SGS?

DIM

DIM is supportive of phase one of the liver detoxification process. It improves the breakdown of estrogen by the liver to good metabolites rather harmful ones. Another role, it prevents testosterone to convert to estrogen. It also blocks the effects of testosterone such as acne and hair loss.

SGS

SGS is supportive of phase 2 of the liver detoxification. When there is a backlog of byproducts of phase one for phase two to keep up, it can cause significant harm to the body. When a person is overexposed to harmful toxins, such as caffeine, pesticides, radiation, heavy metals and alcohol, it can cause phase two to not work properly. SGS can help harmful toxins to detoxify out of the system in phase two.

Recommendation

It’s suggested to start with SGS for 30 days. As we learned in this article, most people have a slower phase two liver detoxification. If you don’t have the desired results, then move onto DIM.

SGS: I recommend Thorne Research Crucera SGS

DIM: Designs for Health DIM or BioResponse DIM 75