What is CLA?

Forget what you know about fats. The myths aren’t true. Not all fats are unhealthy. Your body does need them.

CLA, or Conjugated Linoleic Acids, are a type of healthy fat typically found in grass-fed products and weight loss supplements. These acids have several health benefits, like cancer resistance and weight loss.

This article aims to dispel a few pesky rumors about fats by exploring all you need to know about CLAs.

Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA): An Overview

CLA is an omega-6 fatty acid found in plant-based and animal products. Linoleic acids commonly stem from the grass – thus appear more regularly in grass-fed products.

These trans fats provide many health benefits for the body. However, the use of CLA has diminished over the years due to changes in cattle and farming. With less CLA present, many consumers turn to CLA supplements to retain the fat’s positive effects.

CLA Benefits

Conjugated Linoleic Acids provide many benefits throughout the body. Let’s explore a few of the most positive effects – and just how accurate these findings are.

First and foremost, consumers love CLA for its long-term help in body fat loss. Due to its popularity, CLA is one of the world's most studied weight loss fats. Research shows that CLA inhibits lipoprotein lipase, an enzyme that breaks down and stores fat throughout the body. By suppressing the enzyme, CLA reduces fat storage throughout the body.

Like many possible health aids, the research is varied. While animal-based studies showcased heavy weight loss, studies focused on humans offered more variance. While many studies show that CLA does indeed cause weight loss, others indicate that fats have little to no effect. Researchers believe the discretion may come from the used dosage.

However, CLA comes with several more concrete benefits. For instance, researchers discovered that consumers run less risk of getting certain diseases, like cancer and Type 2 diabetes. In animal studies, CLA helped lower the growth of tumors in mice. For humans, doctors found tumor shrinkage in those with breast cancer. Additionally, this healthy fat potentially aids in rheumatoid arthritis.

Additionally, studies in primarily grass-fed regions showcased that people with CLA had less risk of heart disease. Of course, this may also be a benefit of receiving other grass-fed nutrients, like Vitamin K2.

Further studies are needed to clarify these findings, but the potential is promising.

Where to Get CLA

CLA comes primarily from plant-based foods. Because of this, it can be harder to track your intake precisely – or to know how much it's aiding your diet. Unsurprisingly, the foods with the most offering are high-fat, animal-based options.

• Lamb: 4.0-19.0 mg per gram of fat content
• Butter: 6.0 mg per gram of fat
• Beef: 4.3 mg per gram of fat
• Cheese: 3.5-7.96 mg per gram of fat
• Ice Cream: 3.6 mg per gram of fat

While these are high-fat and animal-based, eating them can provide your body with Linoleic Acid’s beneficial effects.

CLA Supplements

Because of CLA’s effects on body composition, this healthy fat is famous for workout supplements. Like any supplement, there are plenty of options: from pill-based supplements to weight-loss powders.

At Ultimate Nutrition, we offer research-backed weight loss supplements. Our CLA Supplement contains 1000mg of CLAPure, which is 80% Conjugated Linoleic Acid. Adding this product to your workout can enhance your lean muscle mass and help you lose weight in the process.

Side Effects of CLA

Before diving into any additional supplement, following the safety guidelines and keeping track of any potential side effects is essential.

Since CLA is often plant-based, normal usage is typically safe. However, any new element can come with side effects – and much of the CLA found in supplementation is made from altering linoleic acid found in vegetable oils. Symptoms can include upset stomach, nausea, diarrhea, insulin resistance, and fatigue. 

While this fat is considered healthy for your body, it’s possible to consume too much – especially as supplements give you more than natural dairy products. Extreme doses can lead to excess fat in the liver, leading to metabolic syndrome and diabetes.

For this reason, follow the intake guidelines. If you have liver problems – or are on medication – talk to your doctor before taking a supplement. They can guide you toward healthy intake.

CLA for Weight Loss

To recap, Conjugated Linoleic Acids are healthy fats naturally occurring in grass-fed diets. These healthy fats suppress enzymes in the body that spread fats and are commonly found in high-fat, animal-based foods like pork and beef.

While research isn’t entirely sure– many statistics point toward weight loss benefits. By many accounts, taking CLA can aid your body, from cancer resistance to arthritis healing. For this reason, this healthy fat has many supporters. No matter what, by following the guidelines and pairing your supplement with a workout, you can’t go wrong.

Follow Ultimate Nutrition for the best in health and fitness. We’ll pair you with the supplements you want, from our BCAA 12,000 Powder to our Calcium Plus. We offer Fat Bloc to block your fat digestion and Flaxseed Oil to aid your cardiovascular and digestive health. 

No matter what you’re searching for, use our products to maximize your body to its fullest, leanest, strongest potential.