Conjugated Linoleic acid or CLA is the hot topic weight loss supplement right now. Stop the press we have yet another valuable natural weight loss supplement! This one actually works though! CLA is a healthy fat, or trans free fatty acids, that occurs naturally in several organic dairy products and lean pasture fed beef. CLA belongs to a group of essential fatty acids known as omega 6, one of the two most beneficial fatty acids in the world. CLA has been extensively studied and clinically tested for decades to prove its health benefits. CLA has often been found to be effective in boosting weight loss, combating the onset of cancer and preventing heart disease. CLA is also thought to be responsible for benefits including fat burning, reducing inflammation, boosting metabolism, lowering cholesterol, supporting lean muscle mass and increasing immune strength.
Daily Requirements and Sources
CLA can be obtained from dietary sources. Your body does not really need to have CLA in order to work well. In other words, CLA is not an essential fatty acid. The bacteria within your gastrointestinal system convert dietary linoleic acid into CLA through chemical alterations.
However, this may not be enough to produce the health benefits indicated above. In order to be effective, you need to ingest 3-5 grams of CLA per day. This cannot be obtained from diet and so must be provided through a dietary supplement which contains high purified and concentrated extract from dairy, beef or vegetable sources.
Recommended CLA Dosage
Unlike clinical trials for new medications carried out until and effective dosage is determined, herbal or natural supplements are seldom required to carry out dose determination. As such it is difficult to tell the right dosage of CLA supplement. However, the dosage of CLA to take can be estimated from the total amount needed to produce the desired effects. Research so far suggest that an additional 2-7 grams of CLA per day is good enough to produce the health benefits. However, some studies believe that taking doses above 3.4 grams may not have any additional health benefits.
Is CLA Safe?
The main concern for people using or intend to use any supplements is whether the supplements are safe at the given doses. In addition, you may wish to consult a doctor or a specialist in nutrition if there is something you do not really understand. If you have any side effects that you may relate to taking this supplement at those doses then you may need to discontinue taking the supplement and see your doctor straight away. In general, CLA is considered to be a safe and effective supplement for most people when used at the directed dose.
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