How Can Broth Help Me Lose Weight? How Can Fat Help Me Lose Fat? And Other Questions?

(Photo: Best of the Bone broth salad dressing) 

One of the questions we're often asked is how is it that bone broth helps you lose weight and how is it that we're often referring to the 'healthy fats' in bone broth that actually help your body burn your fat, including that hard to lose belly fat?

As with many questions the answers are a composite of the food and not simply one magic ingredient.  But one of those several magic ingredients is conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).  Foods from grass-fed cattle including meat, dairy products and bone broth measure consistently much higher in nutritional value.  In fact, one fat-burning item in particular, conjugated linoleic acid, is found in abundance in grass-fed products and highest in long-cooked beef bone broth.  The type of food the cow eats is critical to the amount of conjugated linoleic acid found in beef. Grass-fed cows have much more CLA present than cows fed a typical corn-grain diet. This is due to the amount of omega-3 fatty acids found in grass that is not present in corn or grains. 

Conjugated linoleic acid has been shown in study after study to help fat burn fat.  In fact, in a double-blind, placebo-controlled human study (published in the Journal of International Medical Research,) 20 participants were either given conjugated linoleic acid or a vegetable oil daily for 12 weeks. At the end of the study period, the conjugated linoleic acid group lost 20% of their body fat while the placebo group lost no fat at all.

In another double-blind, placebo-controlled human study conducted by renowned Swedish researcher Dr. Annika Snedman, those receiving conjugated linoleic acid lost 400% more fat than the placebo group over the course of 12 weeks—and this was all done without any change in diet and without the implementation of a regular exercise program.  In short, both the group receiving the CLA and the group maintained the same non-exercise routine and similar diet.

Another study, conducted at the University of Barcelona, measured the effects of conjugated linoleic acid intake in 60 healthy men and women age 35 to 65.  They found that subjects receiving conjugated linoleic acid lost significant body fat (78% of which was from the belly region) while the placebo group actually gained weight.  

CLA has been associated with improved heart health as well as the weight loss.  Having CLA in the form of healthy foods means you are receiving the nutrients and minerals needed for total health.  In the case of Best of the Bone broth gelatin (nearly 40% collagen protein for hair, skin, joint, gut and bone health!!) you are receiving other healthy fats, including heart healthy Omega 3, thanks in large part to the high marrow content - which also happens to be a huge benefit to the texture and flavour of your soups and sauces.   We call that a win-win. 

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