Researchers at the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf reveal that being exposed to the cold can actually cause a fat tissue called brown adipose tissue to clear harmful fat molecules from the blood stream. Being cold causes these brown fats to burn off high calorie molecules, and instead turning them into heat to keep the body warm.
Triglyceride-Rich Lipoproteins
If the body is exposed to these high calorie fat molecules, scientifically known as triglyceride-rich lipoproteins which are obtained from food, then this can cause the arteries to harden and lead to cardiovascular disease. These fats also build up white fat deposits around the body, which in volume can lead to obesity.
The Researchers also claim that exposure to the cold will increase the activity of brown fat tissue, which could help to reduce the impact of high fat diets in humans while also helping those who are obese to burn off excess body fat.
Adult humans typically have stores of brown fat in their upper chest and neck areas. The recent findings also suggest that deposits of white fat can even be converted to brown fats if exposed to cold conditions for sustained periods. This in turn would reduce the risk of heart disease as these brown fats can be converted to body heat instead.
Anyone seeking further information regarding cardiology should read the following articles by Professor Avajit Lahiri, Clinical Cardiologist
- Diagnosing and Treating Heart Disease
- Monitoring the Risk of Heart Disease in Patients with Diabetes
Anyone seeking further information regarding nutrition and the impact of lifestyle and diet on their health should read the following article by Jane Clarke, Dietician and Nutritionist
