You would be hard-pressed to find someone that hasn’t tried or at least heard of a fad diet. The fact of the matter is, there are so many fitness programs, machines, diets, supplements, and lifestyles that falsely claim major weight loss results. And with such a plethora of claims, it’s hard to tell what diets actually work.

One thing is certain, eating a diet rich in healthy fats is the best way to go. These good fats can help boost immunity, lower cholesterol, and reduce the risk of heart disease. But because CLA oil is all the rage right now, we wanted to break down the oil below.

What are CLA oils?

Conjugated linoleic acids, aka CLA’s, are found in milk and meat of ruminating animals like sheep, deer, cows, or goats. It can also be found in small traces in vegetable oils.

Some popular vegetable oils containing CLA oil is safflower—produced by the seeds of a safflower plant (similar to a dandelion). CLA oil and supplements have been buzzing around the internet as metabolism boosters and fat burners that help shed the extra quarantine pounds.

Does CLA oil help with weight loss?

Ultimately, no. CLAs are a polyunsaturated fat that are beneficial to your diet as it helps keep you sated (read: full). People will consume these fats to aid in their weight loss journey as it makes you feel fuller longer, which could eliminate snacking in between meals and late-night snacking.

However, you can get the same fats from CLA oil or supplements naturally from foods you eat. If you are however interested, we suggest consulting with a dietitian or nutritionist to see what the best course of action actually is for you. Differing on a molecular level, there are four forms of fat: saturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and trans fat.

Should I use CLA oil?

Long story short: no. And sure, you will find the random person who found it effective for weight loss, it is not said to work for all.

And really there isn’t enough research to suggest that the oil aids in weight loss to begin with. In 2007, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study that CLA supplements and oil could burn energy while sleeping, and another study found it helps reduce body fat, but there isn’t enough science and clinicals (both studies involved less than 50 subjects) to back this and furthermore, prove it.

Not to mention, the main caveat to consuming CLA oil is the potential for increased inflammation, which can easily cause weight gain and other health problems. The more CLA sources you consume, the more saturated fat your diet will have that could lead to chronic diseases or liver infections. If you do decide to consume CLA for fat-burning potential, experts recommend staying under 3.4-6.8g per day.

Case in point, weight loss supplements in general are usually not healthy or effective, so you’re better off staying away from this oil in the first place. If you are in fact curious, the real way to lose weight is to eat a diet high in vegetables, fruits, whole grains and plant proteins.

And don’t forget to exercise and get a good night’s sleep. When in doubt, speak to a dietitian or nutritionist to see if there is something you can change or add into your routine to see better weight loss results.

If you do want to try a diet, learn about the Galveston diet and the 5:2 diet.

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