The phrase “fat-burning fat” maybe too good to be true, but it is real. Michael W. Pariza, a professor in the Department of Food Microbiology and Toxicology at the University of Wisconsin, Madison discovered a fat burning substance during the late 1980s inside fried hamburgers.
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) refers to a group of chemicals found in the fatty acid linoleic acid. There are a number of health benefits given by CLA
Weight Loss Management
When used together with diet and exercise, CLA not only supports healthy body fat levels but also t in the muscle strength and exercise endurance.
And this claim has been backed by numerous studies and science.
- Among the research most cited is a Norwegian study published in The Journal of Nutrition in 2000. It found that CLA reduced body fat and preserved muscle tissue in overweight people who did not change their diet. According to the research project manager, individuals in the CLA group lost six more pounds of body fat, on average, compared to those in the placebo group.
- Another study in The Journal of Internal Medicine Research said that CLA reduced body fat in healthy exercising humans of normal body weight.
- Louisiana State University scientists showed up to an 88 percent reduction in the body fat of male mice that were fed CLA over a period of six weeks.
CLA has also been embraced and advocated by nutrition and natural-weight-loss gurus, including Ann Louise Gittleman, a registered nutritionist and author of the bestselling book, The Fat Flush Plan. (McGraw-Hill Trade, 2001). She cites CLA's fat-burning capacity as well as its tendency to help the body to translate weight gains into lean muscle. In Phase 3 (the maintenance phase) of the Fat Flush diet plan, she recommends taking 1,000 mg of CLA before meals, three times a day.
CLA reduces body fat by increasing basal metabolic rates, effectively burning more fats. In other words, it helps the body convert food more efficiently into energy.