The human body is like any other system and process chain that exists in nature. There is a certain delicate balance that exists within the body. Even a little variation in the way things work inside can have an adverse effect on the body. A lot of minerals, vitamins, nutrients and resources are required every day to sustain and maintain this balance to ensure that the human body works like a clock. One such lesser known component and required daily dietary intake is the Conjugated Linoleic Acid.
While the name sounds really complex, you can refer to it as CLA as well. CLA is not one, but a name for about 28 different isomers of Linoleic acid. They are also referred to as the Tonalin. It is found in dairy products and meat. Many products,like yogurt, shakes, fruit juices and nutritional bars as well as soy milk also contain ample amounts of CLA.
Given below are the naturally occurring sources of CLA:
There are certain proven health benefits of CLA. Many studies and tests have confirmed the myriad benefits of CLA. Some of the ways in which CLA works for us are:
CLA is known to work as an anti-carcinogen, which means it prevents the growth of cancer cells and tumors in the body. This health benefit of the CLA has been proven in numerous studies, and in fact, it was one of the first cancer research experiments that lead to the discovery of the CLA’s in beef ruminants. It also helps reduce the occurrence of cancer by almost 50% in the case of lung, breast, skin, colon, rectal and stomach cancer.
CLA is known to treat asthma since it fights two of the most potent causes of Asthma. CLA fights the enzymes that cause an asthmatic attack due to inflammation in blood vessels and constricts the oxygen supply.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid is known for its ability to reduce the chances of any kind of cardiovascular disease due to the presence of trans-11 and CIS-9 in the CLAs.
CLA, with the presence of CIS-9 and trans-11, have the capacity to reduce inflammation in the body.
CLA is known to have properties that keep the blood pressure in control. It also reduces triglycerides and cholesterol levels in the body.
Conjugated Linoleic Acid is known to help the body fight against osteoporosis, a common ailment that comes with old age.
CLA is known to help bring the blood glucose levels down to normal and improve the production level of insulin in your body. It works much like the diabetic drugs of today. The results have been verified and validated by their tests on mice and human trials have also verified the positive impact on the treatment of diabetes. People with more than 8 weeks of consumption of CLA reported improved levels of blood sugar.
This part of the paper might elate you and many others as conjugated linoleic acid is known to effectively reduce the unnecessary amount of body fat and contributes to increasing the good muscle and body mass. Recommended CLA consumption, coupled with a good health care regime, can help you get the body you always wanted.
Some studies also suggest that CLA is beneficial in case of atherosclerosis (hardening of blood vessels) as it helps reverse the process by removing the excess body fat and at the same time works as an anti-inflammatory substance. Our body, sometimes feels like magic, doesn’t it? These small things go a long way in keeping the magic alive and healthy! So, make sure your diet consists of adequate CLA for a healthy and fit body! Please do share your feedback with us! We love hearing from you.