Can CLA Help You Avoid Holiday Weight Gain?
Can CLA Help You Avoid Holiday Weight Gain?
Aug 5th, 2009 | By Coach Nancy | Category: Nutrition & Weight Loss
Many of us put on a few extra pounds come the holidays. There’s just something about this time of year where the latent baker in all of us comes out. Perhaps it’s the focus on tradition and with that comes the preparation of sweets and comfort foods that are part of each of our family legacies.
Those of you who visit here often know how intrigued I am about the supplement CLA. Here’s just one more study that suggests that this is one of the few supplements we really should consider:
A study in the prestigious International Journal of Obesity suggests that conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), a naturally occurring fatty acid, could have long-term health benefits by preventing common weight and fat gain attributable to overeating and aging. These findings are consistent with past scientific trials of the popular dietary supplement.
Prof. Dale Schoeller, Ph.D., University of Wisconsin-Madison and a principal author of the study published today, recognized that “small, often cumulative weight gains during the holiday season contribute to ‘weight creep’ during adulthood.” He sought to determine if CLA would help overweight adults reduce body fat and prevent weight gain during a six-month period that included the holiday season.
The dramatic findings showed that participants taking CLA supplements did reduce body fat by 2.2 pounds and their body weight by 1.3 pounds. In comparison, those in the placebo group gained 1.5 pounds of body fat and 2.4 pounds of body weight during the test period.
“These findings suggest that CLA may serve a critical role in reducing the cumulative weight and fat gain that occurs with age,” Schoeller said. “About 65 percent of the U.S. population is obese or overweight — that’s a dangerous trend on many levels. We need more research like this to help overweight individuals when they are susceptible to weight gain.”
Courtesy of Medical News Today
Nancy, a very interesting post thanks for writing it!
Hi Nancy –
Thank you for such a wonderful and knowledgeable blog.
What do you think about ALA and L-Carnitine as natural fat burners? I took these for a while, along with exercise and good diet, and noticed that my weight just dropped off. I stopped taking them to give my body a break, and then when I started them up again (after a 6 week break) I noticed that it didn’t have that much impact.
Just wandering what your thoughts are. I prefer taking natural supplements to help release fat, particularly as I do need a boost, being just over 40 now (the weight doesn’t come off like it used to). I look forward to your thoughts.
Hi Anne,
L-carnitine has potential as a fat burning enhancer but ALA, to my knowledge has no fat burning properties. However, ALA is an outstanding anti-oxidant and L-carnitine and ALA taken together on an empty stomach is a brain function enhancing combo. I find it’s great at helping to pick me up if I happen to suffer from mid afternoon grogginess. I’d keep both in your regime but not expect them to melt away your extra pounds. That’s going to take diet and exercise.
Nancy