Conjugated Linoleic Acid

Conjugated Linoleic Acid is one of the most popular weight loss, fat burning supplements around nowadays.

Since there are so many of these products proliferating the market, one has to wonder why this one stands out.

That's the goal of our review...read on for the essential conjugated linoleic acid info you need to know.

Research Conjugated Linoleic Acid

What makes CLA different

First, as many of you who take weight loss/fat burning supplements probably realize: most of the effective products on the market are loaded up with stimulants that can have other less than desirable effects, such as racing heartbeats, the jitters, and so forth.

However, conjugated linoleic acid is not a stimulant, which makes it stand apart from the others. Moreover, it does truly work -- as some double blind scientific studies have shown.

But first....

What is CLA?

Conjugated linoleic acid is a fatty acid naturally present in meats and dairy products.

Years ago, the common wisdom used to be that eating meats and dairy products would make you fat, but the latest research has shown this is not the case. In fact, the research strongly suggests that people who consume more dairy products tend to be leaner.

Now, you shouldn't start eating 3 steaks and a pound of cheese a day. The calories you would consume would obviously more than offset any benefits.

It's important to realize that it's been shown that beef sources, once naturally high in CLA are now no longer so because cows are fed grain and hay and silage, have much lower levels of CLA than cows that are allowed to graze on pasture. (If you can, always buy grass fed beef for a richer source of CLA).

This phenomenon partly explains the increasing popularity of conjugated linoleic acid supplements -- because they will give you a very concentrated dose of CLA. And you will get the CLA without all the calories it would take to consume if you obtained it from food.

It should be noted that CLA cannot be manufactured by the human body by itself...it needs to be obtained from our diets (or through supplements).

Again, research conjugated linoleic acid has shown it to have a great many health benefits.

One of these studies was published in the Journal of Nutrition, which showed it can reduce BMI (Body mass Index) and increase lean muscle. And what person, either man or woman, wouldn't want that?

Interestingly, research conjugated linoleic acid has also shown it may be much more than just an effective fat burning/weight loss supplement.

Other Research Cojugated Linoleic Acid

Perhaps the most promising thing about Conjugated linoleic acid is that it has been shown to harbor potent anti-cancer potential. For example, consumption of CLA by animals in studies has shown it to inhibit tumor growth.

More studies need to be conducted, especially with human participants, but the preliminary data is very promising.

Lastly, CLA is a potent antioxidant, and can, therefore, help neutralize free radicals before they damage bodily cells.

If you try Conjugated linoleic acid product, make sure you follow the recommended doses and use commonsense.

Don't take twice the daily dosage in the hopes you might lose twice the body fat; things don't often work out that way at all.

In addition, high doses have been known to cause upset stomach and diahrrea.