CLA (conjugated linoleic acid) has gained a lot of attention over the past few years, due to its safe and effective use as a weight-loss product. Many other ‘weight-loss' supplements such as thermogenics increase the body's temperature, often containing very high levels of caffeine that speed up your metabolism. Some of them can however have adverse affects like altering sleeping and mood patterns.
So what is CLA? It is a type of fat found naturally in beef and dairy products, only nowadays the amount of CLA contained in these has declined drastically over the last few decades, primarily due to the fact that so many beef and dairy cows are being fed grains and feed instead of being able to graze in fields and eat grasses. Eating these products alone would not give you enough CLA to have any benefit.
What does it do? Studies have shown that taking CLA as a dietary supplement increases the rate of fat burning, speeds up the breakdown of fat in fat cells, and decreases the amount of fat that is stored after eating food. Research shows significant reductions in body fat, and much of the fat loss seems to be concentrated in the abdominal area when people take CLA for around three months.
It's extremely important to realize that just taking CLA alone is not going to do much if you never exercise and have bad eating habits. But when used in conjunction with a healthy, reduced calorie diet and regular exercise, CLA really can help you tone up and lose weight.
Even though CLA is a natural product, you should consult with your doctor before taking any supplements or change of diet/exercise.
