Hormonal
Daily cold exposure (10°C for 2 hours, 5 days/week for 4 weeks) increases both the volume of metabolically active brown adipose tissue (BAT) and its oxidative capacity in healthy lean adults.
To potentially increase your metabolic rate and brown fat activity, try exposing yourself to mild cold (around 50-55°F / 10-13°C) for about 2 hours a day, 5 days a week, for at least a month. This could be done with a cooling vest or simply by lowering your home thermostat. The goal is to stimulate your body's non-shivering thermogenesis, which may increase the amount and activity of your brown fat.
These findings demonstrate that daily cold exposure not only increases the volume of metabolically active BAT but also increases its oxidative capacity and thus its contribution to cold-induced thermogenesis.
Why this rating
Small sample size (n=6), short duration (4 weeks), and lack of tissue biopsy for direct molecular confirmation (relied on PET imaging).
Source
Increased Brown Adipose Tissue Oxidative Capacity in Cold-Acclimated Humans
Denis P. Blondin et al. · The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism · 2014
DOI 10.1210/jc.2013-3901
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