| How to lose weight without the pain of dieting |
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CLA is a naturally occurring fatty acid. Found in many dairy products and in beef, its biological activity has been studied intensively since it was discovered more than a decade ago. In animal studies, CLA has been found effective in fighting several types of cancer, atherosclerosis and diabetes; enhancing immune functioning and energy; and helping to control weight.
Overweight people who participated in two recent studies, one conducted in Norway and the other in the United States, experienced significant reductions in body fat gain with no serious side effects. In another Norwegian study, people who took CLA lost weight without changing their diets. Eighty overweight people took part in the six-month U.S. study, conducted at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. The participants dieted and exercised and, as expected, most initially lost weight, according to Michael Pariza, Ph.D., director of the university's Food Research Institute, and one of the lead researchers for the study. But, as often happens, many regained some of the weight lost when they stopped their diets, he said. The people who did not take CLA put pounds back on at a ratio of 75 percent fat to 25 percent lean, which is typical for most people, points out Pariza. For the people taking CLA, less fat was regained and more muscle mass was retained. “The ratio was more like 50:50 - 50 percent fat and 50 percent muscle,” according to Pariza. “That is very significant. It leads to the idea that CLA could be useful in weight management,” he said. “Our results also showed that CLA made it easier for people to stay on their diets.” Another Norwegian study suggests that CLA could help people take off pounds as well as reduce body fat. The 60 overweight people who participated in the study were not allowed to diet, yet those who took CLA experienced a statistically significant weight loss. The researchers linked this to the supplement. |