fat slayer

Vegetarian Times, May, 2001 by Jordan Rothacker

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly two-thirds of American--or 61 percent--are overweight, and more than a quarter of those people are classified as obese (defined as weighing 20 percent to 30 percent more than their "ideal" weight). Excess body fat puts an individual at risk for a variety of illnesses, from heart disease, respiratory problems and diabetes to osteoarthritis and a number of cancers. Now researchers are telling us that the solution to this growing health concern could be as simple as taking a couple of extra capsules along with our regular vitamin and supplement regimen.

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is emerging as the latest weapon in the battle of the bulge. A recent study published in the Journal of Nutrition (December 2000) showed that CLA reduces fatty tissue while preserving lean muscle mass. Sixty overweight men and women were observed for 12 weeks while taking either CLA or a randomly designated placebo. A significant reduction in body fat mass was found in the groups taking at least 3.4 grams of CLA daily. Though researchers are not sure exactly how CLA boosts fat burning, the supplement has been deemed safe. The only side effects recorded were of a gastrointestinal nature.

These latest findings are a departure from the original research, which focused on the CLA's anticarcinogenic properties, especially tumor shrinkage and fighting breast cancer. Additionally, when CLA was first tested, it was derived from meat and dairy sources. Today, CLA is made from a process that uses 100 percent safflower oil.