Brown fat is good for both babies and adults!
If you are a parent of a newborn baby, you might be wondering what that dark red or brownish layer of fat under their skin is. Well, that’s brown fat, and it’s not only good for your baby, but also for you!
Brown fat is a special type of fat that burns calories to produce heat. It helps your baby stay warm in cold environments, and it also protects them from some harmful effects of obesity. In this blog post, we will explain what brown fat is, how it benefits your baby, and how you can increase your own levels of brown fat to boost your health and metabolism.
What is brown fat?
Brown fat is one of two types of fat that humans and other mammals have. The other type is white or yellow fat, which is the result of storing excess calories. White fat accumulates around your waist, thighs, and other parts of your body, and it can increase your risk of metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and heart disease.
Brown fat, on the other hand, is packed with iron-rich mitochondria, which are the powerhouses of the cells. These mitochondria use oxygen and glucose to generate heat, which is then released into the bloodstream. Brown fat has more capillaries and nerves than white fat, because it needs more blood supply and stimulation to function.
Brown fat is mainly found around the neck and shoulders of adults, but it is more abundant in newborns, especially premature ones. In fact, brown fat makes up about 5% of the body weight of a newborn baby . It helps them maintain their core body temperature and prevent hypothermia, which is a serious problem for premature babies .
How does brown fat benefit babies?
Brown fat is not only important for keeping babies warm, but also for protecting them from some harmful effects of obesity. A recent study by researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center found that brown fat can prevent obesity-induced inflammation and insulin resistance in mice .
Inflammation and insulin resistance are two major factors that contribute to metabolic diseases, such as diabetes and fatty liver disease. The researchers found that brown fat can suppress the production of inflammatory molecules and improve the sensitivity of insulin receptors in the liver and muscles. This means that brown fat can help regulate blood sugar levels and prevent excess glucose from being stored as white fat.
The researchers also found that brown fat can protect against obesity-induced DNA damage, which can lead to cancer. They showed that brown fat can activate a protein called ATM, which repairs DNA breaks and prevents mutations. This suggests that brown fat may have anti-cancer properties as well.
How can you increase your own brown fat?
If you are wondering how you can get more brown fat in your body, there are some natural ways to do so. One of them is to expose yourself to cold temperatures. Studies have shown that cold exposure can activate and increase the amount of brown fat in humans . You can try taking a cold shower or bath, turning down the thermostat in your home, or going outside in cold weather.
Another way to boost your brown fat is to exercise regularly. Exercise can stimulate the production of a protein called irisin, which can convert white fat into brown-like fat . Irisin also increases the activity of brown fat and enhances its calorie-burning capacity. Exercise can also improve your cardiovascular health and lower your blood pressure, which are additional benefits for your metabolism.
So, next time you see your baby’s chubby cheeks or cuddle them in your arms, remember that they have a secret weapon against obesity: brown fat. And you can have it too, if you follow these simple tips: stay cool and stay active!
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