Maybe you've seen it as part of GNC's total lean package? CLA - aka Conjugated Linoleic Acid. The supplement boasts that it will help you build lean body mass, enhance weight loss and physique and supplement for your diet.
CLA is basically the fat that you get when you eat red meat. Here is a definition:
Conjugated linoleic acid is a naturally occurring trans fatty acid made from omega-6 essential fatty acids in the rumens or guts of pastured ruminants such as cows, goats, and sheep. If you're hearing warning bells over the phrase "trans fatty acid," it's because trans fatty acids have recently received a lot of negative attention from health experts. However, the general consensus is that man-made trans fatty acids may not be healthy for humans. CLA, however, is a naturally occurring trans fatty acid, and is exempted from the labeling requirement because it is not considered to be harmful.
Naturally present in dairy and beef, CLA consists of subcomponents called isomers. Different isomers have been isolated in animal research as having various health benefits. For example, the isomer most prevalent in dairy products has potential anti-carcinogenic benefits, while the one most prevalent in pastured beef is potentially effective in regulation of body fat. Some research suggests other CLA isomers could have other health benefits such as protecting the heart, preventing thickening of arteries, preventing cancer, particularly breast cancer, and helping to regulate the immune system. CLA is not an essential fatty acid, so technically we don't have to have CLA in our diets in order to be healthy. However, CLA has many potential health benefits which make it a welcome addition to a diet designed to nourish and protect. CLA is unique among foods with possible anti-cancer activity because it is derived from animal products, and seems to be effective in amounts humans typically get from eating food. Unlike other fatty acids, the human body cannot make CLA. We must rely on animal and dairy products for our intake of this nutrient. Changes in food processing, farming and the modern diet have contributed to an 80% reduction in the amount of CLA we take in. Because of the reduced consumption of red meat and dairy products, many of us do not have helpful quantities of CLA in our diets. Research by the University of Wisconsin shows that the best source of CLA is dairy and meat products from pastured cows, because they produce up to 500% more CLA than cows fed typical confinement rations. Despite efforts to find ways to artificially raise CLA levels, the only thing found to significantly raise CLA was fresh grass. This causes us to point out that, yes, Organic Valley farmers improve the quality of life for their cows and for you by employing pasturing practices that meet and exceed the National Organic Program Standards.
So I've recently came into taking it. I started a few days ago. I don't see immediate results...but as I said I just started taking it a few days ago. I do notice I'm not starving or thinking about food as much which is great. Although I've been very stressed over the course of the past few days, I'm not heart pounding twitching. (I'm trying to close on a house---it's got me on the edge, man!)
I hope this does assist me in my journey. Ran out of shake a few days ago. Back to Rite Aid! Damn...it's not "Gold Card" week. Oh well made 20% discount for year 2013 through wellness program so that's a plus :)
