Conjugated Linoleic Acid and Weight Loss

Nowadays, obesity has become one of the most common health concerns for many, all across the world. Apart from hampering your appearance and self-confidence, obesity is also a root cause of numerous health problems, including heart attack, stroke, diabetes, hypertension, etc. Hence, most of us in the quest of losing weight faster, look out for different techniques that can help lose weight in an effective as well as healthy way.

However, most of us, at some point or the other, have tried different weight loss diets and exercise regimes, which are helpful in losing weight, but call for lots of dedication and hard work. Hence, today one of the most talked about methods for quick weight loss that demands no strict diet or strenuous exercise is Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA). However, what is CLA and how is it related to weight loss? Let us try to understand it in the upcoming sections.

CLA is a naturally occurring fatty acid, which is produced in the human intestine. This form of fatty acid is commonly found in the animal and dairy products like meat, milk, egg, cheese, poultry, etc. Research shows that one of the probable reasons for obesity and weight gain in people, is absence or insufficient amounts of CLA in their diet.

It is believed that CLA is quite effective in helping people lose weight and gain muscle mass. Moreover, this fatty acid is also beneficial in reducing risks of different types of cancers like breast, prostate, lung, and stomach cancer by inhibiting cell proliferation.

Also, these supplements improve the immune system by increasing the body tolerance to glucose, and moderately reducing the blood glucose level and triglyceride levels, hence, minimizing the chances of diabetes. However, whether CLA is effective in humans for losing weight is still a debatable issue, as some studies support this point while others don't.

According to some studies, these supplements benefit people, who want to lose weight without making major changes in their diet. CLA supplements focus more on reducing the body fat by increasing the body's metabolism. The supplements work by increasing the lean muscle mass, which increases the body's fat burning process and helps tone the body.

Basically CLA interferes with the functioning of lipoprotein lipase, an enzyme that stores fat in the body and keeps the small fat cells from enlarging, which makes the body use more stored fat and burn more calories. In fact, some practitioners have also reported significant weight loss in the abdominal and face regions with the use of this fatty acid supplement.

However, studies show that instead of consuming CLA supplements or pills for weight loss, it is better to look out for natural ways of increasing its concentration in the body. Eating a balanced diet comprising dairy products like cheddar, cottage cheese, mozzarella, butter, whole milk, and yogurt can help increase the CLA content in the body in a natural way.

However, remember to have only a few servings of dairy products per day, as, instead of losing weight you may end up gaining more weight. Another natural and safe way to obtain more CLA in the diet is by using safflower oil, which is rich in monounsaturated fats that help in easy digestion of foods and enhances the body's metabolic rate.

Whether you choose CLA weight loss supplements or other natural ways of increasing CLA concentrations in the body, remember that it is not a magic pill that will work overnight and help you shed those extra pounds. Whichever way you choose, make sure you don't overdo it, as it may take a toll on your health in a serious way. On an average, the recommended dosage of conjugated linoleic acid, for a weight loss regime is 3.4 g or 3400 mg per day, hence try not to exceed this limit.