Fact: Americans are overweight. Is dietary fat the reason? Previous generations often consumed higher percentages of dietary fat than many overweight people do today yet did not suffer from obesity. Despite eating low fat foods, the fat epidemic continues unabated. Why? One reason may be the decrease of conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in the diet that is the result of the trend towards “low-fat” and red meat-free diets.
Fat that is not used for energy production is converted into new stored fat cells. CLA is essential for the transport of dietary fat into cells where it is used to build muscle and produce energy. The primary dietary sources of CLA are beef and milk. Americans are eating less red meat and drinking less whole milk in order to reduce their dietary intake of saturated fat. People often drink non-fat milk, but it is the fat content of the milk that contains CLA. Since skin milk contains virtually no CLA, those seeking to lose weight who switch to skim milk and a reduced-red meat diet are depriving themselves of a potential source of this fat-reducing nutrient. CLA by can supplement this deficiency and aid in weight loss.