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.
express cleaning service Arlington Heights ..The Liver The function of your kidneys is to filter... Read More
Barriers to healthy diets are placed into four broad categories:... Read More
If your low carb diet is going nowhere, maybe its... Read More
Axiom Number One - Nourish your body.Probably the most important... Read More
Fat is fuel. That is basically what it is. A... Read More
"Polyols" or sugar alcohols are a number of different carbohydrates... Read More
Breaking Down Cravings One at a TimeI know you've heard... Read More
Some Say I'm Strange. I Prefer to Think of Myself... Read More
If you are among the millions of people searching for... Read More
Most men and women put on weight differently. But on... Read More
We all eat. But how mindful are we of every... Read More
1. The lower the calories eaten per day, the harder... Read More
To lose weight and get in shape you must have... Read More
In the early nineties I had the opportunity to work... Read More
A common question among weight loss professionals...If fad diets don't... Read More
Metabolism is the process by which your body changes food... Read More
When Instant Results Take TimeYesterday I decided to "get back... Read More
Two basic approaches to losing weight; one approach is correct... Read More
Life is great, isn't it? Stop and just look around... Read More
Have you heard about it lately? Everywhere you look, women... Read More
In twenty years of consistant exercising, maintaining a low percentage... Read More
April 14, 2005 federal judge Tena Campbell of the federal... Read More
World Health Organization has observed that obesity has now reached... Read More
Have You Given Up on Weight Loss? by Greg Landry,... Read More
When it comes to our weight and the appearance of... Read More
tidy up service Arlington Heights ..Twenty years ago, I did not expect to accomplish what... Read More
Obesity is a disease that is not caused by a... Read More
Many critics in have attacked low carb diets for only... Read More
The loss of fat comes from fat cells all over... Read More
Body wraps can help tone and tighten the skin, improve... Read More
A distorted body image is one of the symptoms that... Read More
Some of you will not like what I have to... Read More
The Zone Diet as a weight loss program has been... Read More
When most people begin a Weight Loss program or diet... Read More
If anyone knows anything about fitness, it's that a low... Read More
Congratulations on waking up each morning and greeting the day... Read More
When you truly consider the weight-loss process, the battle waged... Read More
Life is great, isn't it? Stop and just look around... Read More
Dieting Dilemma No 1: When Life Gets in the WayThat... Read More
Americans have their French fries, the British have their chips,... Read More
Many physical problems are related to obese condition, like difficulties... Read More
Information About Weight Training Routines For BeginnersSo you need to... Read More
Your brain has this really interesting system that is kind... Read More
The most recent shocking news related to Atkins diet UK... Read More
LivingAfterWLS reader feedback indicates snacking is the single biggest problem... Read More
Rejuvenation and the Protein Revolution in Your Kitchen?2003 Marilyn DiamondIf... Read More
You could try one of the many sexual enhancement drugs... Read More
Many Americans include health improvement in their New Year's Resolutions.... Read More
With this key, I GUARANTEE YOU WILL LOSE ALL THE... Read More
First off, let me start by saying this list is... Read More
Weight Loss |