Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA): Benefits, Sources & Grass-Fed Beef

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) has many health benefits, including reducing fat and preserving muscle tissue. CLA also has anti-carcinogenic effects that can inhibit and reduce the growth of tumors.

Sources

• The best sources of CLA are beef, sheep and dairy products.

Grass-Fed Beef

• A study conducted by Larry Satter, head of the USDA-ARS U.S. Dairy Forage Research Center at the University of Wisconsin, revealed grass-fed beef had 500 percent more CLA in the meat and milk than grain-fed beef.

Types

• Some people supplement with CLA capsules, but a study published in a 2003 issue of the Journal of Lipid Research revealed pills showed no benefits for weight control and also caused enlarged livers, insulin resistance and a decrease in beneficial HDL cholesterol. CLA obtained from food showed all the stated benefits plus had none of the side effects associated with the pills.

Thyroid

• CLA can be beneficial for those with reduced thyroid function because it enhances the immune system and can help with weight loss. Excess weight gain is often a symptom of hypothyroidism.

Warning

• Conjugated linoleic acid is sometimes confused with linoleic acid. Linoleic acid can actually promote the growth of tumors.