If your mom ever told you to eat your broccoli, she was onto something. While all vegetables contain healthful nutrients, cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage, turnip, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts and kale provide three of the most important plant compounds for human health. These plant compounds (phytochemicals) have been extensively researched with thousands of publications describing there efficacy in the prevention and treatment of cancer, atherosclerosis, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders and various other diseased states. They also slow down the aging process by protecting cells and DNA from damage, fighting inflammation and helping cells repair themselves.
So What Are They?
The three phytochemicals are indole-3-carbinol (I3C), 3,3’-diindolylmethane (DIM), and sulforaphane. They are all sulfur containing compounds and considered equal in their benefits. I3C is formed from a substance called glucobrassicin, and DIM is a compound derived from the digestion of I3C. Sulforaphane is a small molecule that occurs in stored form as glucoraphanin in cruciferous vegetables and is converted into sulforaphane in the body by the enzyme myrosinase.
The Benefits
I3C, DIM and sulforaphane are three of the most potent naturally occurring inducers of cytoprotective enzymes, which are enzymes that provide protection to cells against harmful agents. They increase the production of important antioxidants, and activate vital detoxification enzymes called xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes. These enzymes play a major role in regulating the toxic, oxidative damaging, and mutagenic effects of chemical carcinogens (cancer causing substances). If all that weren’t enough, they also stimulates the immune system so it can properly defend against the development of diseases; and halt the growth and proliferation of cancer cells.
Another major benefit of these three phytochemicals is that they activate Nrf2 pathways. This is beneficial because Nrf2 is a protein that regulates the cellular antioxidant response and preserves the health of cells and DNA . When Nrf2 is activated, it eliminates carcinogens and other toxins before they can cause the type of damage that drives cancer and many other types of chronic disease.
These phytonutrients also help regulate the metabolism of hormones which fuel hormone related cancers such as breast, prostate, uterine and ovarian cancer. And they protect against pathologies impacted by hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), helping prevent damage to the brain, kidneys, liver, heart, and muscles.
Preliminary studies suggest that I3C supplementation may be beneficial in treating conditions related to human papillomavirus infection, such as cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. And sulforaphane may protect against cardiovascular disease, and help autism, asthma, radiation dermatitis, schizophrenia and osteoporosis.
How to Receive All the Benefits
You can receive some of the disease fighting benefits of these three compounds by including cruciferous vegetables in your diet. However, you would have to eat them regularly and uncooked because heat inactivates the myrosinase enzyme that is needed for their absorption.
Supplementing with these three plant compounds is far easier, and a high quality supplement will provide them in doses that surpass what you could eat in a day. Our supplement, EstroBlock for instance, contains the same amount of DIM and I3C in just one serving as you would find in 2 lbs of cruciferous vegetables. Although we called it EstroBlock for it’s potent ability to metabolize harmful estrogens, it’s benefits extend to all of the positive effects of these plant compounds mentioned above. And thanks to its estrogen reducing properties, it also helps to reverse stubborn hormonal acne, eliminate man boobs and melt away belly fat.
If you want to increase your protection even further, try taking our EstroBlock Pro formula at the same time as you eat cruciferous vegetables. This triple strength formula not only contains a higher dose of DIM and I3C, it also contains wasabi root which is a natural source of the enzyme myrosinase. Researchers have found these nutrients work synergistically, and the addition of wasabi significantly boosts their cancer fighting power and ensures that absorption takes place in the upper part of the digestive system where you’ll get the maximum health benefits.
