Lately there have been times where we have been talking about the various benefits we can offer the CLA or conjugated linoleic acid in our body. This has been making the kinds of fatty acids distributed in the form of nutritional supplements to be added to foods to lose weight.

Conjugated linoleic acid occurs naturally in very small quantities in humans and other mammals, as well as vegetable oil. But in ruminants that produce much, then it is in the fat of these animals, and especially in their milk, where we can find them more abundant.

Note that the name refers to the fatty acid conjugated isomers depending on the variety of their structures, such as cis, -9, 11, the most abundant in nature and trans-10, cis-12, which are most commonly found in nutritional supplements.

So far, CLA caused a number of benefits for our bodies, such as decreased appetite and an increase in the regulation of energy metabolism. This will translate into an increase in diseases such as type II diabetes, overweight and obesity, arteriosclerosis and heart disease, as well as anti-cancer action.

But it has been shown that dietary supplements enriched with CLA isomers trans causing significant damage in the kidneys of mice studied. Research conducted by a team from the Center for Cardiovascular Research Superior Council for Scientific Research (CSIC) and the Institute of Catalan Studies Cardiovasculares. Results have been published in Frontiers in Bioscience.

This study shows that this type of trans fatty acids can cause various negative effects such as inflammation, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, increased oxidative stress, atherosclerosis, and excessive accumulation of fat in the liver.

Knowing this, the best advice is to not overuse this product in a prolonged and uncontrolled as the method to lose weight, because, though not yet shown a negative effect on humans (because of lack of study because they all have a period of more than one year) , is highly unlikely that the consumption benefit. Another recommendation is to know the type of isomer is the product that we consume, be careful not to consume any type of trans isomers of CLA.

chrome swing does not stimulate the metabolism and has no thermogenic action. By cons, he is able to oppose the increase in blood glucose that occurs when a meal rich in carbohydrates with high glycemic index are consumed, thus helping to prevent tipping metabolic mode of fat storage . This does not mean that to lose weight, just take chromium while continuing to eat regular meals rich in carbohydrates with high glycemic index. A study of patients treated for diabetes type II indicates that the daily intake of 1 000 mcg of chromium associated with antidiabetic medication further improves insulin sensitivity and glycemic control that the drug alone. Chromium has also reduced the weight gain usually associated with this type of treatment and decreased fat accumulation abdominales5.

Chromium fights the urge to snack

Mood swings, carbohydrate cravings … sometimes the signs of depression not identified that may be associated with weight gain. Supplementation with chromium picolinate reduces these compulsive patterns, fatigue and depression by eliminating hypoglycemia. Insulin may indeed be the link between the desire to snack and depression. By increasing the response of insulin, chromium can combat depression and cravings grignoter6.
Chromium prevents muscle wasting

Some data suggest that chromium promotes fat loss and retention of lean muscle mass. Austrian researchers have evaluated the effects of chromium yeast and chromium picolinate on muscle mass during and after weight loss induced by caloric restriction for 8 weeks in obese patients without diabetes. The lean mass of the subjects taking chromium picolinate increased and decreased body fat.
In a crossover study, controlled against placebo, researchers at the Medical University of Georgetown have shown in women during 8 weeks taking 600 mcg daily of chromium bound to niacin, a significant loss of body fat while the mass lean (muscle) was spared.

Forskolin stimulates lipolysis

Forskolin is derived from the plant Coleus forskohlii traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine to treat many health problems like asthma, hypertension, eczema, psoriasis or heart failure.

Action on the lipolytic cascade

Forskolin acts primarily by activating the enzyme adenylate cyclase, increasing cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in cells. It belongs to a class of substances, that of secondary messengers, involved in cellular regulation. Increasing cellular cAMP leads to many physiological and biochemical effects. Among other things, increased levels of cAMP has the effect of activating the protein kinase dependent on cAMP, which in turn activates hormone sensitive lipase which breaks down fat and releases into the bloodstream as acid fat free. This process is commonly called cAMP cascade or waterfall lipolytique7.

Obese people produce less cAMP

Balanced Research College of Medicine, State University of Pennsylvania found that many obese people had lower production than normal cAMP. Furthermore, studies in vitro and in animals have shown that forskolin stimulates lipolysis (the breakdown) of fat cells. Based on these data, researchers have hypothesized that forskolin might be an effective agent for weight loss, particularly among subjects with impaired cAMP production. A small study seems to confirm this hypothesis: Six overweight women took 25 milligrams of forskolin (capsules of 250 mg of an extract forskohlii standardized to 10%) twice daily for eight weeks. At the end of the study, subjects had an average loss of 5 kg and percentage body fat had decreased by nearly 8%. During testing, levels of blood pressure also tended to diminuer8.

Forskolin stimulates the thyroid

Forskolin has demonstrated its ability to increase production of thyroid hormones and stimulate their release. Through this, forskolin enhances metabolism: this could be one mechanism by which it promotes weight loss.

Hydroxycitric acid from Garcinia cambogia extract acts on fat and satiety

The pericarp of the fruit of the Garcinia cambogia or Malabar tamarind, contains hydroxycitric acid (HCA), an organic acid similar to citric acid which acts on the absorption and synthesis of fats. Studies in vitro and in animals indicate that it inhibits the action of the enzyme ATP citrate lyase, essential for lipogenesis.

In fact, HCA inhibits the conversion of carbohydrates into fat by binding to ATP citrate lyase. It reduces this way the production of triglycerides and low density lipoprotein while promoting the formation of additional glycogen. Finally, HCA reduces the production and storage of fat in the body.