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Page 1 of 2 Many people are taking CLA as an expensive supplement for the benefits described below. But wouldn't it make much more sense to get it for free in your food?
There is another important reason it may be beneficial to eat beef from cattle grazed on pasture. That reason involves a compound called conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).
CLA is a fatty acid found in beef and dairy fats. Scientific interest in CLA was stimulated in 1988 when a University of Wisconsin researcher discovered its antioxidant properties in a study of rats fed fried hamburger. CLA cannot be produced by the human body, but it can be obtained through foods such as whole milk, butter, beef, and lamb.
CLA may be one of the most potent antioxidant substances in our diet. In animal studies, as little as one half of one percent CLA in the diet showed promising health benefits.
In a preliminary study, CLA has also been shown to reduce body fat in people who are overweight.
by Mary Shomon
A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, published in the December 2000 issue of the Journal of Nutrition found that CLA reduces fat and preserves muscle tissue. According to the research project manager, an average reduction of six pounds of body fat was found in the group that took CLA, compared to a placebo group.
The study found that approximately 3.4 grams of CLA per day is the level needed to obtain the beneficial effects of CLA on body fat. |
