I want to talk to you about cows and what they can teach us about weight loss, or more specifically, fat loss. While it may not be obvious, we can learn a very important lesson from cows.
Not so many years ago, cattle were herded across the central plains. North in the summer and south in the winter, following the good weather. While moving several thousand head of cattle on horseback, it was impossible to bring food for the animals, so the route taken had to include grasslands or prairies where the cattle could graze.
With the advent of cattle ranches and barbed wire, it became increasingly more difficult to run cattle across the open range. Instead of moving the cattle to the food, ranchers began to bring the food to the cattle. With a change in diet came a change in the meat and dairy products as well.
You know the old saying "you are what you eat"... well, the same is true for cattle. Cows that consume a diet of fresh grasses instead of dry cattle "feed" end up consuming a higher concentration of many nutrients as well. One in particular that I'd like to discuss with you is a fatty acid called conjugated linoleic acid, or cla.
Throughout time, people who ate beef and drank milk from cows that were "range fed" ended up consuming a healthy amount of CLA. Since then, the amount of CLA that cattle consume has decreased dramatically, and so they are passing less along to those of us further down the food-chain.
So, what does that mean for us? Well, once upon a time, people were able to make meat and dairy a part of a healthy diet, and that beef and milk actually helped them to stay lean.
The actual way in which CLA keeps animals (like us) lean is still somewhat of a mystery, but through observation, scientists are able to see that it works... and it works very well. A double blind study of obese humans in Norway showed that after 12 weeks, the group that took a little over 3 grams of CLA per day had a statistically significant decrease in body fat mass (BFM) and a statistically significant increase in lean body mass (LBM). These results were acheived without a significant lifestyle change.
Now I'm not going to suggest that anyone tries to lose weight without making significant lifestyle changes. Changes should include (but not be limited to) a decrease in calories per day and an increase in exercise per week. If people can get significant results without making a lifestyle change, what can they do when the two are working together?
I've been hearing about CLA for years now from friends who have lost pounds, fat and inches, and I've begun to take it myself as well, finally. I'm walking thirty minutes a day, five days per week, reducing my caloric intake, and taking CLA three times per day. I'm looking forward to updating you on my progress, and I hope you'll join me as well.
Before you decide, let's look at what we know about CLA and its effects. Studies show that CLA reduces body fat and weight in four ways:
* By decreasing the amount of fat that is stored after eating
* By increasing the rate of fat breakdown in fat cells
* By increasing the rate of fat metabolism
* By decreasing the number of fat cells
In addition to decreasing fat, CLA also helps to increase lean muscle mass. This helps in two ways, first of all, muscle looks better and more natural than fat, and secondly lean muscle burns calories. It's a synergistic effect that compounds as you lose more fat and increase muscle.
Give CLA a try, you've got nothing to lose but fat!
Michael Callen is the author of the Weekly Weightloss Tips Newsletter (conjugated linoleic acid, or cla) and the Chief Technology Officer for WellnessPartners.com (conjugated linoleic acid, or cla), an online retailer of dozens of health and wellness products such as conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), r+ alpha lipoic acid (R+ ALA), and green tea extract.
maid service near Lake Forest ..In general, fast weight loss is not healthy. The faster... Read More
With so many diets and fads being offered on the... Read More
Mistake 1: Not changing your calorie plan as you lose... Read More
Cellulite is a recent addition to the English language. In... Read More
ATTITUDESIT'S NOT ABOUT YOU!Exercising has so many physical benefits that... Read More
If you are looking for a way to lose fifty... Read More
If your low carb diet is going nowhere, maybe its... Read More
World Health Organization has observed that obesity has now reached... Read More
Have you ever wondered where destiny would lead you? Have... Read More
In theory, if you're starving, exercising less helps conserve energy.... Read More
I remember back in my senior year of high school... Read More
The Zone Diet as a weight loss program has been... Read More
Have you ever wished for a diet where you ate... Read More
Fat does Not Make You Fat. One of the other... Read More
If you have been dieting and haven't lost weight, stop!... Read More
From the moment of birth your first emotional experiences establish... Read More
Zero Calorie Diet Sodas: Good Or Bad For Weight Loss?Calorie-free... Read More
1. Become aware of what you are eating.Before I started... Read More
As a weight loss coach I speak will people regularly... Read More
How's the practicing going? Are you spending time each day... Read More
Now I know you're always asking yourself questions.You know the... Read More
As much as many of us who are over-weight do... Read More
If you are traveling on the path towards wellness you... Read More
When most people begin a Weight Loss program or diet... Read More
Franchised Business Models and American Diets could be at odds.... Read More
top rated cleaning service Des Plaines ..Some of you will not like what I have to... Read More
Dealing with your sweet-tooth can be one of the greatest... Read More
Weight loss, diets and "carbs" are common household topics. There... Read More
Franchised Business Models and American Diets could be at odds.... Read More
Did you ever think about the fact that losing 2... Read More
There are many factors responsible for abdominal fat like processed... Read More
You won't believe what happened to me today!I was getting... Read More
Twenty years ago, I did not expect to accomplish what... Read More
Yes and no. Moderate calorie restriction helps in controlling and... Read More
The Atkins Diet Seems To Never Go AwayFad diets come... Read More
When losing weight, most of us don't have the time... Read More
The rediscovery of the wealth of the wonder drug Hoodia... Read More
The South Beach Diet was not created by your typical... Read More
The loss of fat comes from fat cells all over... Read More
The weight loss protein debate centers around the effectiveness of... Read More
Over two thirds of Americans are over weight, and half... Read More
Visualizing and Declarations are today's topics.Visualize what you want as... Read More
America is in a health care crisis. More than 60... Read More
Obesity, once seen as akin to laziness and overeating, is... Read More
Families who dine out with their loved ones who've had... Read More
Today, Ephedra is an herb of controversy. It contains ephedrine,... Read More
"I never saw it coming, how did I get so... Read More
Are you concerned about the lack of exercise your child... Read More
Want to shed that beer belly? Why not try the... Read More
According to Veronica Atkins, the widow of Dr. Robert Atkins,... Read More
Weight Loss |