A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, published in the December 2000 issue of the Journal of Nutrition found that CLA reduces fat and preserves muscle tissue. According to the research, an average reduction of six pounds of body fat was found in the group that took CLA, compared to a placebo group. Linoleic acid is an essential fatty acid. Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is a mixture of isomers of linoleic acid found naturally in dairy foods and meat. Oleic acid is related compound found in olive oil and many plants that have linoleic acid. Oleic acid also lowers BP but not as much as linoleic acid. Oleic acid makes up 55-80% of olive oil, perhaps one reason olive oil may have strong health benefits. Human body can produce most of the fatty acids it needs, but linoleic acid (LA) and alpha-linolenic acid (LNA), it cannot. Fortunately, these acids are widely distributed in plant oils. In addition, fish oils contain the longer-chain omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Mammals lack the ability to introduce double bonds in fatty acids beyond carbon 9 and 10. Hence linoleic acid and linoleinic acid are essential fatty acids for humans. In the body, essential fatty acids are primarily used to produce hormone-like substances that regulate a wide range of functions, including blood pressure, blood clotting, blood lipid levels, the immune response, and the inflammation response to injury infection.
Now my own personal tests on upping this food group didn’t seem to detect much effect at reducing weight or blood pressure. My doctor also has me taking EPA, and DHA supplements. Again, I haven’t noticed anything dramatic, and these supplements and I’ve found these supplements fairly expensive. On a positive note, since I started to up my CLA, and these other essential fats, I have noticed a dramatic drop in colds, flu’s and other infections. According to one reference here, fish oil had most dramatic effect, but it takes a fair number of tablets each day to produce a significantly reduction in BP.
http://jn.nutrition.org/content/130/12/2943.full
http://www.3dchem.com/molecules.asp?ID=384
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Fish+oil+lowers+even+normal+blood+pressure.-a07951221
http://www.naturalremediescures.com/2008/12/cla-supplements-do-not-lower-blood-fat-levels/
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