Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)
What is Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA)?
Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) is an essential fatty acid that is produced naturally in the body. It’s one essential fatty acid that can be found in quite a few food products, but mainly beef, dairy, and eggs. CLA is formed within the digestive tract by bacteria. Structural changes take place as omega-6 fatty acids come in contact with linoleic acids which then produce CLA.
There are many experts that say that one of the leading causes of obesity in the United States is linked to a CLA deficiency. CLA has been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and has shown to be safe. CLA has claims of having anti-cancer and antioxidant properties which hasn’t been verified by the FDA but is still being researched. Again, CLA is naturally produced in the body and seems to have the benefits of packing on lean muscle mass while reducing body fat, thus making you a healthier person as you exercise.
How Does CLA Work?
CLA has been shown to hinder a substance found in the body (lipoprotein lipase) which aids the body in storing unwanted fat. So, by supplementing CLA into a healthy diet the excess fat taken into the body has little chance of being stored and a better chance of being burned; this is always a plus when trying to lose weight. As the body burns excess fat instead of storing fat it increases the amount of total lean muscle. Basically, as you exercise your body won’t be storing the fat that was consumed through diet. Instead, the fat is burned through exercise and muscle is created in its place—both positive outcomes of supplementing CLA.
Is CLA Effective?
CLA has been shown to be effective as CLA is complemented with a healthy diet and exercise routine. CLA has been shown to reduce body fat while increasing raw muscle mass. In addition, CLA helps maintain healthy heart, arteries, and skin. CLA isn’t intended to be taken as an immune system aide, but does help boost the body’s immune system.
A study conducted at the University of Wisconsin-Madison showed that the placebo group in the study gained much of the weight lost after one holiday period. The CLA group both lost weight before the holidays, kept the weight off throughout the holidays, and afterward.
Is CLA Safe?
Yes, CLA is safe. The FDA generally recognizes this ingredient as safe with no objection to CLA being used in any products. There is a small concern that CLA may increase the risk of developing diabetes, but hasn’t been proven.
CLA Conclusion?
Overall, CLA looks very encouraging in that CLA helps the body in burning fat while building lean muscle mass. Many products on the market have CLA because, when looking to shed unwanted fat, CLA is both safe and effective. There are many products available that contain CLA so just pick one that has a money-back guarantee and you should be good to go!
