CLA is the newest super nutrient (Opinion)

Monday, August 22, 2011 by: Dr. David Jockers
Tags: conjugated linoleic acid, nutrition, health news

(NewsTarget) Wild game and naturally grass-fed cattle have been a staple part of many cultures diets for years. The meat and dairy products from animals contain an incredible array of nutrients. The newest super-nutrient found in these animal products is Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA).

Grass-fed lamb, goat, & cattle were a powerful form of wealth and a currency used throughout the bible by the Israelites and many surrounding civilizations. The ancient Israelites, who consumed 50% of their diet from these animals, were known to be one of the healthiest cultures in the world. These animals fed solely on natural grasses and green plants.

The natural vegetation based diet creates an outstandingly healthy animal that boasts mega doses of super-nutrients within their meat and dairy. This includes a rich array of omega-3 fatty acids, healthy proteins, vitamin E, B12, thiamine, riboflavin, creatine, iron & zinc. Perhaps, the most important nutrient of all though is CLA.

Back in 1979, University of Wisconsin researchers found that beef extract had a significant anti-carcinogenic function. It wasn`t until 1987 that scientists discovered it was the CLA that provided these benefits. It was shown that CLA helps to upregulate the tumor suppressing gene PTPRG. Michael Pariza is the famed scientist who discovered CLA. He says, `few anti-carcinogens, and certainly no other known fatty acids, are as effective as CLA in inhibiting carcinogenesis.` A diet with as little as 0.5% CLA has been shown to reduce tumor growth by over 50%.

One of the powerful attributes of CLA is its ability to suppress inflammatory prostaglandins such as PGE2. Blocking this substance reduces inflammation in the joints, muscles, bones, organs and brain. This allows for stronger and healthier brain and body. Chicks and rats fed CLA rich butterfat had significantly greater bone growth than animals fed other fats.

CLA has a powerful effect on enhancing cellular insulin sensitivity and stabilizing blood sugar. In fact, researchers say it mimics the effect of synthetic diabetic drugs without any negative side effects. Testing has shown that consuming CLA for longer than 8 weeks has significant effect on circulating insulin and blood glucose. Additionally, CLA speeds up metabolism and increases the process of fat breakdown. Many researchers have hypothesized that a lack of CLA in the modern diet is a significant factor in the obesity epidemic.

Meat and dairy products from grass-fed animals can produce 300-500% more CLA than from those cattle fed the usual diet of hay and grains. Organic eggs are also rich in CLA. Despite the fact that CLA is a polyunsaturated fat, it has been shown to survive the elevated temperatures encountered during frying.

CLA is found in the most significant amounts within the bone marrow of wild or grass-fed animals. Bone marrow has been used by nearly every carnivorous culture around the world in soups, stews, and other dishes. Bone marrow is the site of blood cell formation in the body and plays a huge role in oxygen carrying capacity and natural immunity. Eating bone marrow from wild game and/or humanely raised grass-fed animals is renowned for its immune boosting capacity. The high concentrations of CLA certainly play a role in this.

Supplement manufactures have been able to create a synthetic version of CLA. This product has been widely promoted due to the effects of CLA on weight loss, muscle building, cardiovascular health and immune regulation. Unfortunately, there is no magic pill here. Anything that is synthetically derived is unnatural and therefore not innately absorbed and utilized effectively in the body. Synthetic CLA supplementation has been shown to promote insulin resistance, raising glucose levels and reducing HDL cholesterol.

[Editor`s Note: NaturalNews is strongly against the use of all forms of animal testing. We fully support implementation of humane medical experimentation that promotes the health and wellbeing of all living creatures.]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conjugated_lino...
http://www.eatwild.com/cla.html
http://products.mercola.com/cla-supplement/
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/a...

About the author

Dr. David Jockers owns and operates Exodus Health Center in Kennesaw, Ga. He is a Maximized Living doctor. His expertise is in weight loss, customized nutrition & exercise, & structural corrective chiropractic care. For more information go to www.exodushc.com To find a Maximized Living doctor near you go to www.maximizedliving.com