 |
|
April 21, 2014
April 18, 2014
Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Clarifying one of the greatest philosophical conundrums in theology
John Ericson: Trying hard to be 'positive' but never succeeding? Blame Your Brain
The Kosher Gourmet by Julie Rothman Almondy, flourless torta del re (Italian king's cake), has royal roots, is simple to make, . . . but devour it because it's simply delicious
April 14, 2014
Rabbi Dr Naftali Brawer: Passover frees us from the tyranny of time
Eric Schulzke: First degree: How America really recovered from a murder epidemic
Georgia Lee: When love is not enough: Teaching your kids about the realities of adult relationships
Gordon Pape: How you can tell if your financial adviser is setting you up for potential ruin
Dana Dovey: Up to 500,000 people die each year from hepatitis C-related liver disease. New Treatment Has Over 90% Success Rate
Justin Caba: Eating Watermelon Can Help Control High Blood Pressure
April 11, 2014
Rabbi Hillel Goldberg: Silence is much more than golden
Susan Swann: How to value a child for who he is, not just what he does
Susan Scutti: A Simple Blood Test Might Soon Diagnose Cancer
Chris Weller: Have A Slow Metabolism? Let Science Speed It Up For You
April 9, 2014
Jonathan Tobin: Why Did Kerry Lie About Israeli Blame?
Samuel G. Freedman: A resolution 70 years later for a father's unsettling legacy of ashes from Dachau
Jessica Ivins: A resolution 70 years later for a father's unsettling legacy of ashes from Dachau
Matthew Mientka: How Beans, Peas, And Chickpeas Cleanse Bad Cholesterol and Lowers Risk of Heart Disease
April 8, 2014
Dana Dovey: Coffee Drinkers Rejoice! Your Cup Of Joe Can Prevent Death From Liver Disease
Chris Weller: Electric 'Thinking Cap' Puts Your Brain Power Into High Gear
April 4, 2014
Amy Peterson: A life of love: How to build lasting relationships with your children
John Ericson: Older Women: Save Your Heart, Prevent Stroke Don't Drink Diet
John Ericson: Why 50 million Americans will still have spring allergies after taking meds
Sarah Boesveld: Teacher keeps promise to mail thousands of former students letters written by their past selves
April 2, 2014
Dan Barry: Should South Carolina Jews be forced to maintain this chimney built by Germans serving the Nazis?
Frank Clayton: Get happy: 20 scientifically proven happiness activities
Susan Scutti: It's Genetic! Obesity and the 'Carb Breakdown' Gene
|
| |
Jewish World Review
CLA supplements may not be worth it
By
Environmental Nutrition Newsletter
There are more questions than answers over impact. Learn the issues
JewishWorldReview.com |
Q. Do conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) supplements offer benefits?
A. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), found naturally in meat and milk, is a polyunsaturated fatty acid that's growing in popularity as a dietary supplement. Some supplement manufacturers make exuberant claims that CLA can help you lose weight, build muscle, and even fight diseases such as cancer and diabetes. However, the scientific evidence on this fatty acid is not so clear cut.
Here are some current areas of CLA research:
1. Body fat. Some studies have found that CLA supplementation can reduce body fat in overweight people, while other studies have found no improvement in body composition. A 2012 study published in Nutrition found that among 80 overweight and obese Chinese subjects, two daily doses of CLA (1.7 grams each) for 12 weeks reduced body fat by 2 percent, though cholesterol levels worsened slightly.
| FREE SUBSCRIPTION TO INFLUENTIAL NEWSLETTER |
| Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". In addition to INSPIRING stories, HUNDREDS of columnists and cartoonists regularly appear. Sign up for the daily update. It's free. Just click here. | |
2. Heart disease. Some research supports that CLA can reduce the development of atherosclerosis--the formation of plaque in the arteries that leads to heart disease--by lowering levels of blood lipids, but a 2010 clinical trial did not find any anti-atherosclerotic effects from CLA treatment in overweight or obese participants.
3. Cancer. In test tube and animal studies, CLA seems to inhibit cancer cells, and high dietary CLA intake has been linked with lower risk of colorectal and breast cancer in women, but these results are preliminary.
4. Diabetes. CLA may improve fasting blood glucose, because of such factors as improvement in the body's response to insulin, body composition, and levels of the hormone leptin, which can influence appetite. But some studies have found that some forms of CLA supplements may worsen blood glucose control.
5. CLA and bone health. High dietary intake of CLA has been linked with improved bone mass, due to decreased fat levels in the body, but the research has been inconsistent in this area, possibly due to various levels of calcium intake.
THE BOTTOM LINE
There are more questions than answers over the impact of CLA on health. In fact, a 2011 review examining the evidence on CLA published in Nutrition Research Reviews concluded that almost all of the promising research has been in animal and test tube models; of human studies the only evidence that is broadly consistent is CLA's modest effect on body fat.
Several safety concerns have arisen, including possible pro-diabetic effects, increased size of liver and spleen, gastrointestinal upset, and altered nutritional value of breast milk in lactating women. For now, our best advice is to consume CLA as a part of your diet in meat and dairy products, but think twice about taking supplements. If you still feel a need to take them, first consult your health care provider to discuss whether they offer benefits for you.
(Reprinted with permission from Environmental Nutrition, a monthly publication of Belvoir Media Group, LLC. 800-829-5384. www.EnvironmentalNutrition.com.)
Interested in a private Judaic studies instructor — for free? Let us know by clicking here.
Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.
To comment, please click here.
© 2012, Belvoir Media Group, LLC. DISTRIBUTED BY Tribune Media Services
|
