Different types of body fat
Did you know that your body has ‘good’ (brown) and ‘bad’ (white) fat?
Brown fat breaks down blood sugar (glucose) and fat molecules to create heat and help maintain body temperature. Cold temperatures activate brown fat, which leads to various metabolic changes in the body. Increased metabolism means increased fat burning.
Most of the fat present in our bodies is white fat. White fat accumulates when we consume excess calories and leads to obesity and various health problems. Brown fat can help get rid of white fat because brown fat helps you burn calories when your body is exposed to cold.
How Does Immersing Yourself in Cold Water Cut “Bad” Fat?
When we immerse ourselves in cold water, our body reacts by constricting the blood vessels, which reduces blood flow and heat loss from the skin’s surface. This triggers the activation of brown fat, which starts to burn calories to produce heat and raise the body’s core temperature. This process of increasing metabolism (burning of calories) when exposed to cold is called cold-induced thermogenesis.
Brown (good) fat cells contain a large number of mitochondria, which are tiny structures within the cells that produce energy. When activated, these mitochondria burn stored fat and glucose to generate heat, which helps to raise the body’s core temperature. By doing so, brown fat can help to increase metabolism and burn calories, which can help to reduce white (bad) fat.
In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers found that exposing participants to cold temperatures for two hours a day over six weeks led to a significant increase in brown body fat activity and a reduction in body fat. The researchers concluded that cold exposure could be a potential therapy for obesity and metabolic disorders.
What Else Can a Cold Plunge Do to Reduce Fat?
Cold water plunges have been shown to increase levels of hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline, which are involved in the body’s response to stress. These hormones can stimulate the release of stored energy, including fat, and increase the body’s metabolic rate, leading to greater calorie burn and potential weight loss.
Cold water exposure might also lower your risk for certain conditions such as diabetes. It seems to increase the amount of a hormone called “adiponectin” that is made by adipose tissue (body fat). Adiponectin plays an important part in preventing insulin resistance, a state where the muscles, fat, and liver become less responsive to insulin. A balanced insulin supply leads to maintaining a balanced weight.
Cold water therapy can also have a positive effect on the body’s overall health and well-being, which can contribute to a reduction in fat, or weight loss. It can improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and boost the immune system, all of which help you to feel healthier and want to be active.
Making Cold Water Therapy Part of Your Routine
Exposure to ice baths or cold plunges has been scientifically proven to increase your body’s metabolic rate. As you burn more calories, you burn more fat. The more fat you burn, the more weight you lose.
While cold water therapy can be an effective way to promote weight loss, it’s important to remember that it should be used along with a healthy diet and regular exercise routine. Cold water therapy should be viewed as a compliment to a healthy lifestyle, not as a standalone solution for weight loss. Incorporating cold water therapy into your health and wellness routine will help you achieve sustainable weight loss and improve your overall health.
In addition to promoting weight loss, cold water therapy may also aid in muscle recovery, may help relieve pain, may boost your mood, and may improve your immune system.
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Interested in learning more about cold water therapy? Contact 10X Health to learn all you need to know about the potential benefits of taking a cold dip.
