Small amounts of CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) can be consumed when eating meat and dairy products. That’s because it naturally occurs in grazed animals. Though, this type of CLA is less effective than CLA supplements.
One of the benefits of taking CLA supplements is for your heart, as it contains omega-6. This helps to prevent unhealthy fat from building up as it breaks down dangerous fats. Even better, it helps to develop lean body mass by reducing these fat deposits. For this reason, CLA supplements can be useful for athletes.
The 5 Best CLA Supplements:
Below we’ve listed and reviewed the 5 best CLA supplements currently available for sale online.
1. Bradeson Naturals CLA 2000
First up, we have the Bradeson Naturals CLA 2000 supplement. Like we said, losing fat around the belly is the hardest when you want to lose weight, and this is exactly where Brandeson Naturals comes in. The supplement’s major ingredient is CLA – conjugated linoleic acid, a fatty acid that betters your metabolism. By increasing your metabolic rate, your body will consume energy more efficiently, leading to weight loss.
But the supplement doesn’t stop there. It also enhances muscle growth and supports your immune system. The supplement contains powerful antioxidants too, and is free of antibiotics, hormones, artificial flavors, or preservatives, making this product 100% natural.
2. Sports Research Max Potency CLA 1250 Supplement
The next item on our list comes from Sports Research. Their CLA 1250 supplement contains up to 95% active CLA in each capsule. Because of this, CLA 1250 is one of the most prolific and most effective supplements of this kind, helping you achieve amazing results in a very short time period. The product does not only reduce your body fat percentage but promotes muscle growth, ensuring a slim, lean and well-defined physique.
One of the best things about this product is that it does not incite jitters as many other products do. Supplements of this kind often contain caffeine as an addition to give you an energy boost, but this leads often to unwanted side effects. CLA 1250 is derived from non-GMO safflower, and the product is made in GMP certified facilities, ensuring you of its genuine quality.
3. Revolution AB Cuts CLA Supplement Capsules
Right at the middle, we find Revolution AB Cuts capsules. This excellent supplement is made of 100% naturally occurring oils. These oils all contain CLA, meaning that the product has a very high CLA percentage. As we said, the goal of these supplements is to increase your metabolism rate. This particular product does its job very well as it’s enhanced, ensuring that you burn fat and burn it fast.
Naturally, no supplement worth its weight in gold will be made of anything artificial. AB is strictly made with natural ingredients and contains no artificial stimulants. As we said, many products incite jitters and other unwanted side effects. By eliminating stimulants, AB prevents all those side effects altogether.
4. Natrol Tonalin CLA Softgels Supplement
Another excellent safflower-based supplement. Natrol has carried out clinical trials to perfect a supplement that promotes lean muscle mass. It then goes on to help you retain that lean muscle. This is a dietary supplement that’s free of wheat, soy, eggs, milk, yeast, and sugar. It’s also 100% natural with no chemicals, or other ingredients, that could compromise your health.
Use CLA supplements in conjunction with a healthy diet and regular exercise. It’s meant to be taken with meals, 3 times a day. You may not lose weight, but you will gain leaner muscle tone as it works on key enzymes to break down stored fat cells. Tonalin is a trusted brand that carries out clinical trials to guarantee the right results.
5. Sports Research High Potency CLA 1250 Supplement
Last on our list is yet another Sports Research supplement. Again in capsule form, this product packs a punch just as good as the previous Max Potency CLA 1250. The supplement makes sure you get the most out of every capsule, and each one contains a very high percentage of CLA. The CLA has been derived from safflower just like with the last product.
The supplement is also free of any negative side effects, like jitters, and is entirely vegan and strictly non-GMO. Sports Research has a 90-day return policy on all its products, and, if you’re not satisfied, you can send the product back for a full refund.
Selecting The Right CLA Supplement
It’s best to research any supplements that you wish to take, so you can make an educated decision on the best brands. CLA can be found in certain foods, but it’s not as effective as CLA supplements. It’s important to take the right amount of CLA supplements as large doses can be mildly harmful.
Though studies show that it’s only harmful in very high doses. If you follow the guideline, then CLA Supplements are quite safe. The FDA approves CLA to be added to food. They grade it as “GRAS” (Generally Regarded as Safe).
On average, a daily dose of CLA will range between 3-6gms daily. By staying within these guidelines you should not suffer any negative effects. These effects are only mild, such as diarrhea or headaches.
If a product is FDA (which is a federal government department) approved, then you know it is safe. That is so long as the companies using this label are trustworthy. Trusted brands are vital when buying health products. Look for information that tells you the manufacturer do clinical tests. If they take the time and money to study their products, you know that they care.
FAQs
Do CLA Supplements help you to lose weight?
After many clinical studies, results are showing that CLA can help to reduce stored fat. That’s the excess fat your body hasn’t used for nutrition, and has stored away. However, there is a limit to how much this process happens. With a healthy diet and exercise, CLA supplements may help you shed around 0.2lbs of excess fat per week. After around six months, this may plateau off as the effects only work at the beginning.
Your body will adjust to the supplements and you may find they no longer work for losing weight. Let’s not forget though that there are many benefits to CLA supplements, such as the ones we’ve mentioned.
Are there any bad effects with taking CLA Supplements?
CLA is made up of linoleic acids taken from vegetable oils. You should not suffer from any ill side effects unless you take more than the recommended dose. Too much CLA over a long time could potentially result in ill side effects, such as a build-up of fat on the liver, the lowering of good HDL cholesterol levels, and the possibility of insulin resistance.
These are rare effects. The worse you’re likely to experience is possibly mild diarrhea, which again is only for some individuals. One university in Finland has shown in their studies that how the human body reactions to linoleic acids, is dependent on inherited genes, specifically on the FADS1 variant.
Certainly, there are no ill effects immediately and, even then, only if you take more than the recommended dose.
How does CLA compare to BCAA supplements?
The molecules of BCAAs (Branched-Chain Amino Acids) directly help to promote the strength of muscle mass. In CLA, the effects are more aimed at the metabolism which first promotes fat loss, leading to leaner muscles.
How much does conjugated linoleic acid cost?
Conjugated linoleic acid is a widely known omega-6 fatty acid. It has been used as an anti-inflammatory agent in the treatment of various diseases.
The cost of conjugated linoleic acid varies depending on the type, dose, and brand. The cheapest variant is around $0.05 per gram while the most expensive one is around $1 per gram.
Which type of supplements should I use to increase my levels of conjugated linoleic acid?
The human body needs linoleic acid for many reasons, such as for the production of hormones, neurotransmitters and prostaglandins. It is also important in the formation of cell membranes.
In addition to a healthy diet, there are certain supplements that can increase your levels of conjugated linoleic acid. These supplements include flaxseed oil, safflower oil and fish oils.
What are the benefits of taking conjugated linoleic acid?
Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a type of polyunsaturated fatty acid. It is found in dairy products, meat, and some vegetable oils.
CLA has been shown to have many benefits such as reducing inflammation, improving immune function, and reducing cancer risk. CLA may also help with weight loss by increasing the amount of fat that your body burns for energy.
There are different types of CLA including trans-10, cis-9, trans-11 and cis-12 isomers. The most common form of CLA is trans-10 which has been shown to be beneficial for heart health and cancer prevention.
How long does it take for CLA to take effect?
CLA is a supplement that is designed to help with weight loss. It is a thermogenic fat burner that works in the body to increase the metabolism and break down fat cells.
CLA can take anywhere from two to four weeks for its effects to be felt by the body but it can take up to six weeks for maximum results.
The supplement also has appetite suppressing properties so it may be used as part of a weight loss program or as a tool for people who are trying to eat better in general.
Conclusion
When taking food supplements, don’t expect drastic changes overnight. It can often be months before you notice any changes to your health. CLA is not a supplement taken for nutrition, such as vitamins, so what is its purpose?
Learn more about the functioning of Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA). There are potential health benefits when including CLA into your dietary intake. Studies show the improvement of metabolic rate and the lowering of the risk of heart disease. Although CLA is polyunsaturated fat, it provides you with Omega 6. This is a fatty acid whereby the chemical compounds act at a cellular level. It’s this process that improves your ability to reduce fat mass, resulting in lean muscle gain.
All the products we have reviewed use natural and transparent ingredients. This way, you know what you are taking and can be confident about the results. All that’s left to do now is take a CLA capsule and hit the gym!
Exercise is as important as healthy dietary needs. All our CLA products can be used by vegetarians. Don’t compromise on your energy levels if you are not meat or dairy consumer, use a vegan pre-workout supplement to make sure you benefit both nutritionally and physically. Alternatively, take an organic pre-workout or organic energy drink before each workout.
This article was last updated on December 13, 2022 .