When I treat patients with bio-identical hormones I like to share with them natural ways to ensure that their body processes estrogen correctly. Your body has several different metabolites of estrogen–some help to prevent cancer and others help to promote it. Obviously you want your body to metabolize estrogen in a way that does not promote cancer and helps your body to prevent cancer formation.
I3C is a naturally occurring compound that is derived from cruciferous vegetables (brussel sprouts, broccoli, and cabbage). I3C actively promotes the breakdown of estrogen to the beneficial metabolite (2 OH Estrone).
According to a fairly recent study in both men and women, supplementation with I3C (500 mg men and 400 mg women) resulted in a significant improvement in the production of 2 OH Estrone.
I3C not only helps to promote a healthier estrogen metabolism, it also appears to be able to help the body detoxify against xenoestrogens (false estrogens).
You can get I3C by eating a large amount of the cruciferous vegetables and you can also use a supplement form of I3C. Whether or not you are on bio-identical hormones, I advise that you follow this advice. You want your body to properly process the estrogen that your body naturally makes as well as the hormones that you give it.