Energy balance
Chronic cold acclimation increases the volume and oxidative capacity of metabolically active brown adipose tissue in humans, leading to increased energy expenditure and improved insulin sensitivity.
Engage in chronic mild cold exposure (around 19°C or 66°F) for extended periods daily. Over time, this increases the volume and oxidative capacity of your brown fat, boosting your resting energy expenditure and improving how your body handles insulin after meals. This is a sustainable, non-pharmacological way to leverage your body's natural thermogenic machinery.
Very recently, chronic cold acclimation in human subjects was reported to increase the volume of metabolically active BAT, increasing its oxidative capacity, therefore its contribution to cold-induced thermogenesis... Cold-acclimation was also shown to increase diet-induced thermogenesis and postprandial insulin sensitivity.
Why this rating
Based on human studies showing increased BAT volume and metabolic benefits.
Source
Brown adipose tissue activity as a target for the treatment of obesity/insulin resistance
Anne-Laure Poher et al. · Frontiers in Physiology · 2015
DOI 10.3389/fphys.2015.00004
More from this paper
- Activation of brown adipose tissue (BAT) via cold exposure, beta-3 agonists, or specific hormonal mediators (FGF21, IL-6, BMPs) improves glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity in humans and rodents.Good
- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) secreted by brown adipose tissue is required for the insulin-sensitizing effects of BAT transplantation, acting as a key 'batokine'.Good
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