Conjugated linoleic acid (or CLA) is a substance that is contained in many kinds of food. Studies that have been conducted on it show that CLA reduces fat while at the same increases muscle mass. Participants taking CLA as a supplement lost fat even without making any changes in either their diet or physical activities.
CLA is usually used by bodybuilders who want to lose weight while building muscle. However, it can be beneficial for any person who is overweight since increases in muscle will help increase metabolism rate, burning off more calories.
In combination with a nourishing diet, conjugated linoleic acid does cause weight loss. Nutritional experts tend to agree that the best diet is what is referred to as the non-diet. In other words, you just consume smaller portions of a normal but well-nourished diet and not limit yourself to having only some kinds of food while not eating others. So you may still eat your fries, but in smaller servings and certainly not everyday.
If that kind of diet appeals to you, then CLA can aid in reinforcing your weight loss by giving a boost to your fat loss. Understand that CLA will not make a fat cell become little. Rather, it keeps the fat cells from getting bigger.
The Journal of Nutrition published a study on CLA. Compared to participants that were taking a placebo, people who took CLA lost more body fat. In fact, they lost an average of six pounds more.
The study estimates that a person needs a total of 3.4 grams daily so that CLA could really be effective. As previously mentioned, CLA is contained in foods including meat and dairy products but in order to attain that total on a daily basis, supplementation would be essential.
An additional study reports that CLA affects insulin levels in diabetics, as well. It also reduced their levels of blood glucose and triglyceride. These effects suggest that CLA might additionally help maintain normal insulin levels.
There are currently no magic pills in existence for weight loss and CLA certainly should not be construed as being one, but if you truly want to reduce your body fat, it may help you. When taken with a healthy diet, conjugated linoleic acid may help you towards your ideal weight.