NatureWise CLA 1250 is a liquid-centered capsule that contains conjugated linoleic acid (CLA). It is a big seller and available virtually everywhere.
CLA is a fatty acid, that is naturally-occurring in beef and dairy products.
It is becoming an increasingly popular supplement ingredient because of its potential ability to reduce body fat and encourage the growth of healthy muscle tissue.
The CLA used in NatureWise CLA 1250 is provided by safflower oil that has been standardized to provide a minimum potency of 80%.
It’s a quality product, and the manufacturer offers a money back guarantee, but CLA is as controversial as it is popular. It’s abilities have been studied numerous times.
Many researchers say that it works and others conclude that it does not.
So, putting it in a nutshell, what we are looking at here is a quality product that offers questionable benefits.
POSITIVES
Good reputable company.
Been on the market for many years
Good ingredient profile.
NEGATIVES
Formula looking a bit old now.
No different currency options.
SUMMARY
NatureWise CLA 1250 is a quality product but the benefits it may offer are highly disputable.
The marketing material is very honest and only says the formulation might decrease body fat.
Mights and maybes are fine, but most dieters searching for a good weight loss product want something that “will” deliver results and will probably be better off looking elsewhere.
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Content Table
NatureWise CLA 1250 Benefits
- Might decrease body fat
- Might increase lean muscle mass
Manufacturer Credibility
NatureWise is a North American company that that specializes in producing supplements intended to promote good health and inspire well being.
The NatureWise range includes weight loss supplements, probiotics, and compounds intended to encourage longevity.
It’s a credible company that has earned a lot of respect from customers, and all the ingredients used in NatureWise products have been taken from sustainable organics sources.
So there is no need for customers to worry about GMO or the impact their activities as a NatureWise consumer are likely to have on the planet.
Usage Guidelines
Usage Guidelines – The dose is one capsule, three times per day (taken with meals).
List of Ingredients
Each “softgel” capsule provides:
- Safflower Oil [80% CLA] (1.25g)
Blend Potential
The fact that the capsules only contain one ingredient makes them very easy to evaluate. All we need to do is look at the abilities of CLA and see if they are a good match for the claims being made for the capsules.
The only two claims made are that the formulation might decrease body fat and increase muscle mass. The use of the word “might” is very appropriate when it comes to CLA because might is as good as it gets.
So NatureWise are to be congratulated for adopting such an honest marketing method and avoiding the usual hype and wild claims that are generally made for weight loss products.
What Researchers Say About the Abilities of CLA
The abilities of CLA have been researched a lot, so it is strange that there does not appear to be a definitive answer to the question “does CLA work?”
The researchers involved in one study stated: “Given that CLA reduces body fat and also improves lean mass, there is great potential for the use of CLA to improve muscle metabolism.”
However, after a 12-month placebo-type study, scientists in Denmark concluded: “CLA supplementation for one year does not prevent weight or fat mass regain in a healthy obese population.”
If you think the idea of consuming fat to try and shift unwanted body fat sounds ridiculous you’ve obviously never heard of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).
The ingredient is becoming an increasingly popular supplement inclusion and, apart from being the fat that banishes fat, studies show it can also increase strength and improve muscle mass.
Such claims are made for numerous other ingredients though, and often falsely. However, in the case of CLA the claims made can be backed with scientific proof so, ridiculous idea or not, in this case it would seem that a fat really can fight another fat—and win!
What is CLA?
CLA is a fatty acid that is naturally occurring in meat and dairy products sourced from ruminants, including cows and sheep. It is closely related to the omega-6 fatty acids that are so important for an efficient metabolism and for ensuring a healthy immune system.
The body is incapable of manufacturing its own supply of CLA, so it must be obtained from food. Unfortunately many people who are serious about adopting a healthy lifestyle, and eating healthy, often avoid many of the foods that provide CLA; so it has been speculated CLA deficiency could be a contributing factor in obesity—now a global problem.
How does CLA Work?
CLA appears to work by increasing the basal metabolic rate and smoothing the efficient conversion of food into energy. It can also improve the muscle to fat ratio.
Muscle is always preferable to fat down to a certain ratio, and as well as looking better, muscle tissue is known to burn calories faster than fatty tissue (with the possible exception of Brown Adipose Tissue).
So if the amount of muscle is increased the body should burn more calories per day and is more likely to begin burning body fat to obtain the extra energy it needs.
Of course, this is a situation that will not arise if unhealthy eating patterns are still inundating the body with extra calories, but if a commitment is made to a healthy lifestyle the combination of a low calorie diet and CLA should produce some very positive results.
Scientific Studies
In one random-double-blind placebo-controlled study, conducted in Norway, on 20 people (normal body weight).
The researchers provided the volunteers with supplements of CLA (0.6g) three times per day and ensured they performed standardized exercise routines in a gym, for 90 minutes, three times each week.
By the end of the study period there had been no change in body weight, but there was a significant decrease in body fat. This suggests the decrease in fat was accompanied by an increase in lean muscle tissue.
In another double-blind placebo-controlled study, also conducted in Norway, the researchers spent a full year examining the long-term effects of CLA on overweight men and women. All of the volunteers were aged 25 – 30-years-old.
They were split into three groups. One group was given CLA-free fatty acid (FFA), another received CLA-triacylglycerol, and the third group got a placebo.
No ill effects were recorded for any groups. At the end of the study the groups that received the two forms of CLA had lost significantly more body fat than the placebo group and the researchers concluded: “Long-term supplementation with CLA-FFA or CLA-triacylglycerol reduces BFM in healthy overweight adults.”
Numerous other studies have produced equally promising results, and a study conducted in Wisconsin, USA, provided an interesting insight into the possible after-effects of CLA supplementation.
Again, the study was supportive of CLA’s abilities as a weight loss provider, but in this case the volunteers continued to be monitored after the study was completed. Both groups (CLA + placebo) regained some of their former bulk, but the placebo group’s extra poundage was in a ratio of 75% fat and 25% lean muscle. The CLA group showed a 50-50 mix of muscle and fat.
Concluding Thoughts
Although the idea that eating a specific form of fat can help displace body fat and encourage the growth of lean muscle initially appears to be a strange concept, there is an ever-growing amount of scientific evidence that support the claims made for CLA. It is also known to provide a number of other desirable benefits including:
- Lower cholesterol levels
- Lower insulin resistance
- Reduced likelihood of food allergies
- Enhanced immune system
In a world where excess weight continues to pose and increased risk to the health of so many people, CLA could prove to be just what the doctor ordered, but in this case no prescription is required because CLA-providing supplements can be purchased from most pharmacies as well as many online stores.
Further Reading
Read more about Fat Loss Ingredients you find in supplements:
NatureWise CLA 1250 Customer Testimonials
I’ve been taking CLA 1250 three weeks and have already lost 14 pounds. It makes me feel a little bloated, but I’d rather feel it than look it so it’s a worthwhile trade-off as far as I am concerned.
Don’t buy NatureWise CLA 1250 it doesn’t work. I never lost any weight and I don’t think my muscles look or feel any different either.
Four weeks in and I’ve already lost 18lbs. I’m not sure how these pills work but they do and I have not had any side effects so far.
They’re good for giving you gas and helping to smell bad at all the wrong times, but these pills really suck when it comes to your weight. I’ve been on them for 8 weeks and only lost 8lb.
NatureWise CLA 1250 Usage Considerations and Side Effects
NatureWise CLA 1250 is unlikely to be a good option for women who are pregnant or nursing a child. If you have existing health problems or as using medication you should always play it safe and get a doctor’s advice before using any brand of supplement.
NatureWise CLA 1250 Product Pricing and Distribution
NatureWise CLA 1250 has an RRP of $49.99 per 180-capsule bottle. It’s possible to purchase it from the company website and shipping options are available for most countries.
The Final Evaluation
NatureWise CLA 1250 is a quality product but the benefits it may offer are highly disputable.
The marketing material is very honest and only says the formulation might decrease body fat.
Mights and maybes are fine, but most dieters searching for a good weight loss product want something that “will” deliver results and will probably be better off looking elsewhere
