People these days are starting to see fats under a different light. Before, they were the nutritional boogie man! Now they’re being hailed for their plentiful health benefits. Some fats, such as CLA, have the potential to even aid in weight loss and fat burning!
I was skeptical at first when it came to CLA and the claims surrounding it. I did my research and tried out several of the top products on the market. I’m convinced that there is something to the buzz surrounding this diet supplement!
Out of all the products I tested, I can say with 100% certainty that NatureWise CLA 1250 is the best CLA supplement on the market.
It’s not the only best CLA supplement worth your consideration though. Here’s my guide to all the best CLA supplements on the market.
The Best CLA Supplements
NatureWise CLA 1250
Out of all the CLA supplements I had the opportunity to try, NatureWise CLA 1250 was my absolute favorite.
In the unregulated market of diet supplements, you can’t believe everything you read. NatureWise has gone out of their way to have their product tested for purity and potency. You can count on a solid dose of 1000mg of CLA when you use their product.
The 1000mg dose is broken up into 3 pills, which is great so that you can take it throughout the day, instead of all in one go. I’ll delve a little deeper into this later, but CLA is best taken spaced out through the day, instead of all at once.
Pros
- 3 capsule dosage makes it easy to space out throughout the day
- Potency verified by third-party
- No artificial ingredients
- Non-GMO
- Made in the USA
- Small capsules
- 1000mg CLA
Cons
- Capsules stick together sometimes
- Expensive
Evlution Nutrition – CLA 1000
Evlution Nutrition has been one of my favorite supplement companies for a long time now. They have so many different great products, and they don’t charge you an arm and a leg. Some of my favorite products of theirs include their EVL ENGN Shred Pre Workout supplement and Z-Matrix ZMA supplements.
When I saw they had a CLA supplement, I had to give it a try! Their CLA 1000 supplement provides you with 1000mg of quality CLA, made in the good ol’ USA.
While it may not be the highest quality or dosed CLA supplement on the market, it is priced on the lower side. It makes for an affordable option for you to give CLA a try if you’re still on the fence.
Pros
- Made in the USA
- Affordable
Cons
- Made up of a proprietary blend
- No third-party testing
BulkSupplements CLA Softgels
I love BulkSupplement’s no-nonsense approach to the supplement industry. While other companies rely heavily on bold marketing claims and flashy packaging, BulkSupplements let their products speak for themselves.
Their packaging is minimally adorned, with just their logo, the product name, as well as nutritional and dosing information. BulkSupplements focuses on providing you with an affordable product, that works. Their CLA softgels are no exception.
As with NatureWise’s CLA supplement, BulkSupplement has split their dosing into a 2 capsule serving, which makes it easier to take throughout the day.
Pros
- Easily able to split the dose
- 1000mg of CLA
- Affordable
- No Fillers
Cons
- Packaging offers no protection against the pills being crushed
- No third-party testing
Sports Research High Potency CLA
Sports Research provides one of the highest quality CLA supplements on the market. Their High Potency CLA is made from non-GMO oils produced in a GMP certified facility in the USA. You don’t have to worry about any shady quality issues while using their product!
Pros
- Produced in a GMP certified US facility
- Made from non-GMO safflower oil
- Money back guarantee
- 1000mg of CLA
- Solid reputation
- Vegan
Cons
- Available only in a 180 count bottle
- Contains carrageenan
MusclePharm CLA Core Diet Supplement
MusclePharm has been a big name in the workout supplement industry for years, and not for nothing! Their products are generally high quality. I really liked their CLA Core Diet Supplement.
What made me include this product on this list was that besides just providing you with a hefty dose of CLA, it also contains other beneficial oils. If until today, you had never heard of CLA or it’s benefits, I’m sure you’re at least aware of extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil’s benefits! Both of these are included in this supplement!
One thing I don’t like about this product is that its ingredients are bundled into a proprietary blend. These blends make it difficult to know for sure how much of a given product you are actually taking. You could be getting 900mg of CLA, or you could be getting 500mg, the label doesn’t say and they aren’t required to tell you.
Pros
- Contains extra virgin olive oil and avocado oil
- Affordable
Cons
- Contains a proprietary blend of oils
Cellucor CLK Stimulant Free Fat Loss Toning & Sculpting Formula
Cellucor is another supplement company I’ve been a big customer of, and their C4 Pre Workout is hard to beat! Their CLK Fat Loss, Toning & Sculpting Supplement isn’t just a CLA supplement. It bundles together a bunch of different ingredients that all work to aid in your weight-loss endeavors.
When I can, I always try to find products like this, that offer more than 1 ingredient, so that I get the most bang for my buck. Getting a decent amount of L-carnitine tartrate and Razberi-K along with CLA makes for a solid weight loss supplement!
Pros
- Includes L-carnitine tartrate and Razberi-K in addition to CLA
- Smells like raspberries!
Cons
- Contains potential allergens as well as artificial ingredients
- A lower dose of CLA than a lot of the competition
- Expensive
CLA 1250 mg by Eukonic
The last CLA supplement I have for you today is CLA 1250 mg by Eukonic.
Their non-GMO CLA supplement is dosed at 1250 mg, which is more than most of the competition. They stand behind their product, and offer a money back guarantee if you aren’t satisfied, which is unheard of in the supplement industry!
My only issue with this product, which is why it is last on the list, is that it’s dosed in a single pill. This means you can’t split the dose throughout the day.
Pros
- Made from pure safflower oil
- Money back guarantee
- Made in the USA
- 1000mg of CLA
- Non-GMO
Cons
- More expensive than a lot of the competition
- Dosed in a single pill
Natural Food Sources of CLA
Supplements aren’t your thing? That’s alright. There are plenty of natural sources of CLA. You’ll likely have issues getting near the amount of CLA offered by a supplement though.
Lean cuts of meat don’t have nearly as much CLA as fattier products, such as beef short ribs. If you’re looking to lose weight, you may find it hard to get enough CLA from diet sources alone without way overeating.
Dietary Sources of CLA:
Food |
Milligrams of CLA per gram of fat |
| Grass-fed beef | 30 |
| Grass-fed whole milk | 20-30 |
| Grass-fed lamb | 20-30 |
| Lamb | 5.8 |
| Pasteurized whole milk | 5.4 |
| Butter | 4.7 |
| Cottage cheese | 4.5 |
| Ground beef | 4.3 |
| Pasteurized 2% milk | 4.1 |
| Sharp cheddar cheese | 3.6 |
| Chicken | 0.9 |
| Safflower oil | 0.7 |
| Pork | 0.6 |
| Egg yolk | 0.6 |
CLA Sources for Vegans And Vegetarians
You may have noticed while reading through the list of natural sources of CLA that there wasn’t a whole lot of options available for vegetarians. And nearly none listed for those who follow a vegan diet!
In general, vegans and vegetarians will have a higher intake of Omega 3 fatty acids than those who eat meat. Unfortunately, it’s still easy for them to fall short on their CLA intake.
Vegetarians who eat cheese and eggs shouldn’t find it too difficult to get adequate amounts of CLA from their diets. Vegans though, only really have Safflower oil as an option.
If you’re a vegan looking to up your natural intake of CLA, consider either opting for a CLA supplement or seek out a pure cold-pressed Safflower oil to include in your diet.
CLA Supplement FAQs
What is CLA?
Conjugated Linoleic Acid, or CLA, is a fatty acid found in many fatty types of meat.
It is a trans fat, though it is one of the so-called “good fats.”
CLA is reported to aid in weight-loss and helps your body convert food calories to energy more efficiently.
CLA inhibits Lipoprotein lipase, or LPL, which is an enzyme that breaks down the fat you consume, in order for it to be stored for later use in your body. In theory, by inhibiting LPL, CLA may halt fat storage in your body!
What are the Benefits of CLA?
If you’ve made it this far, you’re probably already aware that CLA may aid in weight loss.
There is a lot of conflicting evidence surrounding these claims though. It’s still really up in the air, whether CLA is effective or not.
CLA does offer other health benefits though. So even if it doesn’t end up helping you drop weight, you’re likely to benefit in other ways.
Some of the other health benefits of CLA include:
- Lower risk of developing prostate and colon cancers
- Lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease
- Lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes
- Lower risk of developing breast cancer
- Alleviates osteoporosis symptoms
- Alleviates allergies symptoms
- Improved triglycerides levels
- Improved insulin resistance
- Improved cholesterol
- Increased immune system function
- Increased metabolism
- Increased endurance
- Increased strength
How Much CLA Should You Take Daily?
To get the most benefit from CLA, you should aim to take in roughly 3.4 grams a day. This may not seem like a lot, but when you consider just how much food you’d need to eat to get it naturally from your diet, it begins to become apparent why supplementation is such a good idea.
For example:
You’d need to eat over 2 pounds of beef in a day to get anywhere near this amount of CLA. As great as that sounds to me, I don’t have the money to be doing that every day! Maybe you do, but I wouldn’t recommend it.
When to Take CLA
A lot of the less than reputable supplement companies out there would have you think that taking one large dose of CLA a day is good enough. That’s just not the case.
Ideally, you should aim to spread your CLA intake throughout the day. The best timing is to take it three times a day, a half hour before meals.
CLA Side Effects
As CLA is fat that our bodies are accustomed to, side effects are rare. If you’re not used to consuming lots of fatty foods though, some gastrointestinal side effects are possible.
Potential GI side effects include:
- Upset stomach
- Bloating
- Nausea
To avoid these side effects, it is suggested you ease your way into taking a CLA supplement. Don’t just jump in and take the full dose right off the bat. Start off with half the suggested dose first, for a few days, and gauge your body’s reaction. If all goes well, then consider taking the full dose.
In exceptionally large doses, CLA does have some seriously bad side effects. You’d really have to be trying hard to reach these doses though… High doses of CLA have been reported to cause fat to accumulate in the liver, and may even cause inflammation!
Final Thoughts on The Best CLA Supplement
In combination with the keto diet, CLA supplementation has provided me with some great weight loss results. I’ve managed to drop a considerable amount of weight, and am actually ahead of schedule as far as where I planned to be!
I’m happy to say that I am a believer in CLA supplementation, and for my money, NatureWise CLA 1250 is an easy choice.
If you’re looking to lose those last few pounds, and have been hitting a wall lately, considering adding a CLA supplement to your stack. You may be surprised by the results!
I am a guitar player and avid lifter with a passion for health and fitness. When I’m not working out or playing the guitar, I’m probably either writing or reading about fitness and nutrition. I love this stuff and just can’t get enough of it!
I worked in IT throughout the majority of my twenties and have an Associate Degree in Computer Science but decided it wasn’t for me.
I decided to take my chances on a career as a writer and couldn’t be happier!