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CLA can greatly affect the look of your physique through a relatively complex cellular process but with an easy-to-follow supplementing protocol.
What is CLA and Why Do I Need it?
CLA is a family of at least 28 isomers of linoleic acid found mainly in meat and dairy products derived from ruminants. Due to the processing of many of our foods, CLA is broken down and lost by the time it reaches our dinner plates. This poses a great problem for us as we are not able to convert enough linoleic acid into conjugated linoleic acid.
When we do not get enough CLA in our diets, there is a greater chance of accumulating fatty deposits.
As obesity levels continue to rise, the need for higher levels of CLA in our bodies increases and the need for supplementing with CLA grows.
How Can I Benefit from CLA?
CLA has been studied extensively in animals, but it was not until the early 2000s that scientists really saw a benefit for human consumption. Once the research began, it quickly became apparent that supplementing with CLA caused a decrease in overall body fat mass, even without a restrictive diet plan in place.
How does this happen?
CLA works to reduce body fat by preventing fat accumulation in fat cells. Fat normally enters the fat cell through a door that is controlled by an enzyme that acts as the key. By acting on this enzyme, CLA keeps the door locked. When the door is locked, fat cannot enter the cells, preventing them from increasing in size. The less fat present in the cells, the smaller and less mature they become. This helps to reduce the level of fat in your body. The increased breakdown of fat helps to fuel and preserve muscle mass, which in turn increases lean muscle mass.
Sources:
Henrietta Blankson, Jacob A. Stakkestad, Hans Fagertun, Erling Thom, Jan Wadstein and Ola Gudmundsen, “Conjugated Linoleic Acid Reduces Body Fat Mass in Overweight and Obese Humans”, Journal of Nutrition. 2000;130:2943-2948.
Pariza, Michael, Park, Yeonhwa, Cook, Mark; “The biologically active isomers of conjugated linoleic acid”, Progress in Lipid Research, volume 40, issue 4, July 2001, pgs. 283-298.
What is CLA and Why Do I Need it?
CLA is a family of at least 28 isomers of linoleic acid found mainly in meat and dairy products derived from ruminants. Due to the processing of many of our foods, CLA is broken down and lost by the time it reaches our dinner plates. This poses a great problem for us as we are not able to convert enough linoleic acid into conjugated linoleic acid.
When we do not get enough CLA in our diets, there is a greater chance of accumulating fatty deposits.
As obesity levels continue to rise, the need for higher levels of CLA in our bodies increases and the need for supplementing with CLA grows.
How Can I Benefit from CLA?
CLA has been studied extensively in animals, but it was not until the early 2000s that scientists really saw a benefit for human consumption. Once the research began, it quickly became apparent that supplementing with CLA caused a decrease in overall body fat mass, even without a restrictive diet plan in place.
How does this happen?
CLA works to reduce body fat by preventing fat accumulation in fat cells. Fat normally enters the fat cell through a door that is controlled by an enzyme that acts as the key. By acting on this enzyme, CLA keeps the door locked. When the door is locked, fat cannot enter the cells, preventing them from increasing in size. The less fat present in the cells, the smaller and less mature they become. This helps to reduce the level of fat in your body. The increased breakdown of fat helps to fuel and preserve muscle mass, which in turn increases lean muscle mass.
Sources:
Henrietta Blankson, Jacob A. Stakkestad, Hans Fagertun, Erling Thom, Jan Wadstein and Ola Gudmundsen, “Conjugated Linoleic Acid Reduces Body Fat Mass in Overweight and Obese Humans”, Journal of Nutrition. 2000;130:2943-2948.
Pariza, Michael, Park, Yeonhwa, Cook, Mark; “The biologically active isomers of conjugated linoleic acid”, Progress in Lipid Research, volume 40, issue 4, July 2001, pgs. 283-298.