Trying to shred for an upcoming event or holiday? There are so many supplements currently on the market that claim to help you lose fat and gain muscle, so it’s difficult to know which ones to try.
That said, there’s one supplement that’s extremely popular in athletic and bodybuilding circles — and it’s called Conjugated Linoleic Acid (or CLA).
Naturally present in meat and dairy, CLA has been found to be beneficial to your health, as well as aid weight loss.
Want to know what all the fuss is about? Not to worry — we’ve got you covered with this simple guide to CLA and its advantages.
What Is CLA? An Overview
Let’s go back to basics for a second. CLA is the most common omega-6 fatty acid. This means it’s technically a trans fat that can be found in various healthy foods.
Meat and dairy are classed as sources of CLA in your diet, but it can also be present in vegetable oils and other foods. The average woman in the US already consumes around 151 mg per day, whereas the average man has about 212 mg.
The CLA in supplements doesn’t come from natural foods. It’s chemically made by altering linoleic acid from vegetable oils. Because of this, CLA supplements can’t quite provide the same health benefits as the CLA from foods.
3 Key Benefits of CLA
When you take CLA in capsule or liquid form or consume it naturally through healthy foods, there are some health benefits.
1. It Can Help With Fat LossAnimal studies have shown that CLA can reduce body fat levels by:
- Decreasing food intake
- Accelerating fat burning
- Initiating fat breakdown
- Hindering fat production
Some human studies had the same findings, improving body composition by reducing fat and increasing muscle mass. CLA can also boost energy expenditure, allowing you to burn more calories both during and after a workout.
In addition to the above, some people report feeling fuller for longer while taking CLA and therefore have a decreased appetite, which can aid dieting.
2. It Can Strengthen Your Immune SystemProne to picking up illnesses? It may be worth upping your CLA intake, given that it has been found to enhance the body’s immune system response.
In actual fact, CLA has anti-inflammatory properties, which can help the immune system to function optimally and fight off infections more efficiently. It can also boost liver health to support detoxification.
3. It Can Regulate Your Blood SugarResearchers discovered in a human study that CLA had a positive effect on blood glucose and type 2 diabetes when it was supplemented. Essentially, CLA could help them control their blood sugar.
Furthermore, people who get CLA from foods have a lower risk of developing diseases like type 2 diabetes and cancer, especially when it’s teamed with a healthy, low-glycemic diet. It can increase insulin sensitivity, making it easier for the body to move glucose out of the blood and into the muscle cells where it’s stored for energy.
Supplementing With CLA
The majority of people may be satisfied with consuming CLA naturally through their diet. However, if you’re a vegan or vegetarian and you don’t eat meat or dairy, you may struggle to obtain CLA through foods.
Alternatively, if you’re specifically looking to lose weight and give your metabolism a boost, you may want to try CLA in the form of our ProCLA Essential supplement.
Either way, make sure to follow the guidelines on the bottle in terms of how and when to take CLA. If you’re unsure about dosage or whether CLA supplements are suitable for you, consult a health professional.
