CLA Weight Loss Supplements, Studies, and Information
In recent years, medical studies have shown that supplemental CLA, or conjugated linoleic acid, is vital for digesting fat, weight loss and maintaining good health. Evidence even shows that it could help fight off certain cancers.
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Where CLA Comes From
CLA is an omega 6 essential fatty acid, a fat that the body needs for health but cannot produce on its own. Usually, we get it from red meats, especially beef, or from dairy products.
However, around the middle of the century, cattle feeding practices changed, shifting from a diet of grass to a diet of grain, which led to a decrease in the amount of CLA produce. Some studies show that Americans are only getting one-third of the CLA that they used to. Some have even speculated that this has been a factor in the increase in obesity over the past 40 years.
In the past few years, CLA has received a lot of medical attention, some good and some bad. Around 2001, it was hailed as a wonder drug for weight loss. Since then, competing studies have arisen that contradict the findings of the original studies, leading to a common joke that CLA can help with weight loss, but only if you are a rat.
However, the use of CLA for weight loss should not be dismissed so flippantly. Several studies have shown that the effectiveness of a CLA supplement depends much on the dosage and the types of isomers it contains. Many studies suggest that if a CLA supplement, such as Tonalin CLA, contains at least 80% CLA with isomers nine, 10, 11, and 12 are very effective in weight loss. These are the isomers that are produced naturally in grass-fed cattle, and they are easy to digest.
The nine and 11 isomers help build lean muscle, while 10 and 12 help process fat so it becomes energy instead of excess weight. Because of these properties, CLA can be a useful, natural bodybuilding supplement .
Although human tests on the effects of CLA is limited, in laboratory experiments it has been shown to inhibit the growth of tumors in lab animals, leading to some hope that it may do the same for human beings.
On the flip side, there is some evidence that CLA may result in lower glucose metabolism in people, and may increase LDL cholesterol, commonly referred to as the "bad" cholesterol, and reduce HDL, or "good," cholesterol. If you suffer from diabetes or high cholesterol, or if these diseases run in your family, you should consult a doctor before adding a CLA supplement to your diet.
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