Fat has a controversial reputation in the health world. While most of us do everything we can to accumulate white fat – the pesky substance that chews our lumps, and expands our layers – it is not all fats seem to be created equal. In the last few years, research into ‘brown fat’, the adipose brown substance (BAT) that is activated when we get a cold, could play a role in keeping serious diseases, such as type-2 diabetes, at bay.
In a new study published in the journal Nature, researchers from Rockefeller University found that people with recognizable brown fat were 14 percent less likely to have extremely high cholesterol and half had a lower risk of developing type 2 diabetes. The researchers, who looked at PET scans of 52,000 patients and compared those with and without recognizable brown fat, found that people with brown fat were also at lower risk of high blood pressure, failure. congestive heart and coronary artery disease.
“This is a major study and as such provides good evidence, across the public, that active brown fat is beneficial in reducing your risk of developing kidney disease. type 2 sugar, ”says Dr Michael Symonds, vice-chancellor of the University of Nottingham School of Medicine.
The main function of brown fat – which is stored mainly in our necks, but is also found in the spine and spine – is to provide warmth; it produces 300 times more heat than anywhere else in the body. Professor Symonds explains that the clot is first activated in a new baby as part of the body’s metabolic changes to deal with the cold appearance from birth. As we age, the level of brown fat in our body gradually decreases. According to Dr. Symonds, the average adult may have around 100 grams of brown fat.
It may be contradictory that fat tightening can help us lose weight rather than gain it. Professor Symonds explains that brown fat has a specific protein – the non-binding protein 1 (UCP1) – that makes it different from white fat. “This protein is present on the inner mitochondria; when stimulated, it can produce large amounts of heat quickly through a special biochemical process, ”he says. It does this by extracting white fat from storage and burning it – the more brown fat you have, the higher you are able to stay lean. “For decades, the sacred research of brown fat research has been about realizing whether it could play a role in the treatment of obesity,” he said.
Although nothing has been conclusively proven in humans, tests on mice have shown that more brown fat in their bodies increases their energy burning rate, reducing the amount of fat on their bodies. and protect them from diet-induced obesity.
So is there a way adults can activate the brown fat? A simple cup of coffee could be the answer. In 2019, Professor Symonds and a team of researchers released a progressive study, which suggested that drinking a cup of coffee can stimulate brown fat. The team began with a series of gas cell studies to see if caffeine would stimulate brown fat. Once they had found the right dose, they moved on to people to see if the results were similar and monitor the brown fat with a thermal camera.
Another way is through exposure to the cold. To produce heat, brown fat burns glucose (sugars) and lipids (fat) which is why the appearance of cold improves body balance and blood sugar levels. “Activities such as cold water swimming, low-temperature exercise or even just getting your hands on something cold will encourage this activity – which can help improve your glucose control and maintain too much pressure off it, ”he says. In 2008, researchers at Maastricht Universit learned that Wim Hof - the great Dutch athlete famous for his ability to withstand freezing temperatures – had picked up so much brown fat that he could to produce five times as much heat energy as the average 20-year; most likely since exposure to cold.
Soaking in cold water also helps strengthen your immune system, boosts endorphins and improves circulation; so it might be worth taking a dip anyway.
But could brown fat hold the key one day in dealing with the obesity? It is a promising idea, says Dr Symonds, although he believes it could be used more effectively to treat the stress-related ailments.
“Brown fat breaks down the fatty acids into lipids, but it also uses up a lot of glucose. In terms of health promotion, it may be better to fight or prevent diabetes. ” he says.
The only way to find out if you have brown fat is through a PET scan, which needs to absorb radioactive material into the body. Although this is a relatively low risk and can be helpful in detecting certain diseases such as cancer, it is not recommended for healthy people. Moreover, as Dr. Symonds explains, activating too much brown fat in our bodies would feel very unpleasant; we would shower heavily, burn too much energy and always need to open the window. So in order for scientists to better understand the workings of brown fat, it may be best to stick to the simplest things.
Anyone for coffee and cold water swimming?