How to boost your calorie-crunching brown fat in the cold winter months
Brown fat burns energy when we are cold. Now scientists are trying to harness its powers to fight obesity and type 2 diabetes.
When the nights draw in, the leaves fall off the trees and the outside world becomes blanketed in frost, many of us will be tempted to reach for the thermostat and crank up the heating. When venturing outdoors, we’ll likely wrap up in a scarf and hat, piling on the layers in a desperate attempt to keep warm. Yet being cold and uncomfortable could be the key to improving health and losing weight.
The reason is all down to a special type of fat called brown fat. Unlike white fat, which clings stubbornly to thighs, waists and hips, brown fat burns calories, converting them into heat when we are cold. Some believe that if harnessed properly it could make us thinner. Intriguingly, all we theoretically need to do to activate it is to hop into a cold shower or eat lots of spicy foods and caffeine.
But before you jump into an icy lake or down that fourth cup of coffee, it is worth exploring whether the hype behind brown fat is justified.