CLA

CLA and Dietary Sources

CLA is found naturally in beef, lamb, milk and cheese. It is also a listed ingredient in several processed foods. The Kraft product, Cheez Whiz, is one example of a food that has a high CLA content.

A person who is looking to get enough CLA through diet alone would find it highly impractical to try to do so. Eating a lot of processed foods means ingesting a high amount of calories, fat and sodium. Eating in this manner is not healthy, and a person who does so will be putting themselves at a higher level of risk for heart disease, stroke and other cardiovascular ailments.

CLA Benefits

Several studies have been conducted on CLA in recent years. Some of the results are listed here:

• Fat Loss: The results of a double blind study found that participants who took this substance lost an average of six pounds of body fat, compared to the people who were given a placebo.
• Diabetes: Another study conducted on people with diabetes found that taking CLA improved their insulin levels in approximately two-thirds of participants. Taking it also helped to reduce the participants' blood glucose and triglyceride levels. This supplement can also work to lower insulin resistance. Bringing this level down can help to prevent diabetes in some adults, as well as help with weight control. However, there are also warnings against using this if you have diabetes. So check with your doctor.
• Thyroid Issues: Taking CLA increases metabolic rate, which would be an important benefit for people with thyroid issues. Patients who are being treated for hyperthyroidism can still have a low metabolic rate. It also works to decrease the level of abdominal fat for people who take it regularly. Thyroid patients also deal with hormone shifts and adrenal gland imbalances that make it much more likely that they will accumulate belly fat, which is harmful to health.
• Muscle Growth and Metabolism: An important benefit of taking CLA is its ability to enhance muscle growth. Muscle has the ability to burn fat, which gives metabolism a boost. A higher metabolism makes it much easier for a person to lose weight and keep it off.
• Lower Cholesterol: Taking CLA can help to lower cholesterol and trigylcerides in the body. Triglycerides are fats in a chemical form, and they are found in foods as well as in blood plasma. High cholesterol and triglyceride levels have been linked to increased risk of heart attack and stroke.
• Food Allergies and Weight Loss: Food allergies may contribute to some people having difficulty losing weight. Taking CLA can help to reduce their reactions and make it easier to shed unwanted pounds.
• Immunity: CLA can help to give the immune system a boost, as well. When it is working properly, the individual is better able to fight off disease and enjoy good health. It is not a magic solution for people who are overweight, though. Using this product, when combined with a healthy diet and exercise program can help an individual to achieve and maintain a healthy weight.

CLA Dosage

CLA is available in softgel capsules. The advantage to this formulation is that there is no guesswork about how much to take or whether the measurement was accurate. The CLA can be taken at specific times and at a precise dosage.

This product is available in softgels or capsules at 600 mg and 1000 mg potencies. To get the full benefit from this substance, a dosage of 3400 mg per day is recommended. The CLA should be taken with meals to reduce the likelihood of any stomach upset. If the product is used at the recommended dosage, it is considered safe and non-toxic.

CLA is available on a non-prescription basis and can be bought health food stores. It is also carried by some pharmacies, both in store and online. To find convenient and reliable sources of CLA, use the free supplement finder now!