Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA) Weight Loss

images-4 Conjugated Linoleic Acid is an acid that is found commonly in dairy products and meat from cows. There are those who believe that CLA has the benefits of cancer prevention, weight control and reducing high cholesterol. The human studies using CLA for weight reduction is mixed showing some reduction in body fat in obese people with little change in non-obese women and increased insulin resistance.

Because the studies to this point have had very different designs, the results have not been replicated from study to study. This reduces the consistency between studies and the ability of researchers to generalize the results to a general population.

However, in a meta-analysis of many different studies performed in 2007, researchers did find that CLA had an impact on reduction of fat mass. However, the size of the impact has not been clearly established.

CLA is also a strong antioxidant and is readily absorbed by the cell membranes in the body. Cooking or heating the product, like beef, will increase the CLA content in foods. It was accidentally discovered in 1979 when researchers were looking for something else.

There have been some adverse effects in people who are taking CLA supplements. These supplements can increase insulin resistance at the cellular level which triggers symptoms of type 2 diabetes. There are two types of CLA supplementation, one of which will dramatically increase the rates of stress on the body – as high as those in people who are heavy smokers!

Although supplementation with CLA holds long-term risks to your health, foods that are naturally rich in CLA are safe. Kangaroo meat has the highest concentration of CLA but grass-fed beef is also a very good source of CLA and contains much more than those same animals that are grain-fed.

In fact, other health benefits of eating grass-fed beef include reduction in cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, osteoporosis and better asthma control. Researchers have also found that those who eat grass-fed beef high in CLAs have a reduction in fat mass while preserving their muscle mass – which also burns more calories at rest than fat.

Although supplementation with CLA is not yet safe for your health long-term, including grass-fed beef in your weekly dietary plan is probably a good idea to help you lose the weight while enjoying the meal.

Resources:

Mercola: The Secret Sauce in Grass-fed Beef

http://www.mercola.com/beef/cla.htm

Shape: Will CLA Help You Lose Weight

http://www.shape.com/weight-loss/weight-loss-strategies/ask-diet-doctor-will-cla-help-you-lose-weight

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center: Conjugated Linoleic Acid

http://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/herb/conjugated-linoleic-acid

News Medical: What is Conjugated Linoleic Acid

http://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Conjugated-Linoleic-Acid.aspx

NYU Langone Medical Center: Conjugated Linoleic Acid

http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=21676

Progress in Lipid Research: Conjugated Linoleic Acids: Are they beneficial or detrimental to health