http://www.care2.com/greenliving/does-brown-fat-help-with-weight-loss.html
Does “Brown Fat” Help with Weight Loss?
Q: I was wondering if the new discoveries on “brown fat” have any implications for weight loss?
A: Here is what we know. From animal studies we know that animals with more brown fat burn calories (energy) faster. Lean people tend to have more naturally occurring brown fat than overweight or obese people, and exposure to cold temperatures seems to stimulate the production of more brown fat.
What remains to be seen is whether scientists can use this information to develop a medication that can stimulate brown fat production. You can sure bet they are going to try.
Dr. Brent Ridge is the health expert for Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia. You can call and ask him a question live every Tuesday at 2 p.m. Eastern on Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 112 (1.866.675.6675). You can also follow along as he learns to grow his own food and raise goats on his farm in upstate New York by visiting www.beekman1802.com.
Got a health question for Dr. Brent? E-mail him at drbrent@care2.com.
related stories
-
(2 comments)
-
(5 comments)
-
(14 comments)
Robyn
Melissa
Deepak
Eric
Dave
Dr. Brent
Isha
Susan
Delia
Michelle
Wendy
Megan
Hilary
Ann
Judi
Ronnie
Kelly
Lily
Terri
Betsy
Cait
Andrew
Jana
Annie B.
Veronica
10 comments
add your comment »thanks...
Kabin
Konteyner
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
This has nothing to do with meat consumption. No one is suggesting that you eat animals with brown fat in order to lose weight. This is referring to the brown fat that occurs naturally in mammals.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
The meat producing industry is responsible for 18% of the pollution created in our country! That's shocking. Shouldn't we carefully consider what these animals go through in their short lives? Can you even call it a life? I don't need for anything to die for me to live. Beans and rice are the perfect protein. Many fruits and vegetables and legumes are perfect for our bodies to digest and use....making us healthier too.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
There's nonorganics that make their way through but still have the title of organic--"Skinny Bitch". Besides, it's still extremely unhealthy for us--read "Becoming Vegan", "The China Study"--& bad for the earth--read "Ecological Cooking", or just Google it. There are many sources of evidence of people who've gotten rid of many common & horrid diseases by just changing to a vegan diet. Plus treatments of animals affect our health too, & most of it's bad--see "Peaceable Kingdom", "Earthlings", & read "Slaughter" (these all got to me for other reasons than for myself, but for the abuses the poor animals endure) . & most burgers have manure ground in them--read THE BOOK NOT THE MOVIE "Fast Food Nation".
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Stephen W, your thinking is definitely in the right direction, but raising livestock for human consumption is very taxing to the environment and our natural resources under even the best of circumstances. It takes many times more water, land, and fossil fuels to produce a pound of beef than it does to produce a pound of legumes or grains like quinoa. How about at least reducing meat consumption?
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Sarah: "Brown adipose tissue (BAT) or brown fat is one of the two types of adipose tissue (the other being white adipose tissue) that is present in many newborn or hibernating mammals.[1] Its primary function is to generate body heat. - from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_adipose_tissue
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Rather than avoiding eating meat products, why not eat organic meat products (when possible)? Then you eat meat (and get the benefits and taste) and avoid the chemicals. Harder to do when you go out to a restaurant but a few restaurants have started sourcing (or always sourced) organic meats.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
The best thing we can do for our health is to eat less or NO animal products. Caroline was correct... the antibiotics, hormones and other "get-them-to-market" chemicals all contribute to our future (ill) health. Read "The Body Restoration Plan" by Dr. Paula Baillie-Hamilton, to find out how these toxins can end up in stored body fat because the liver can't process it as quickly as it is ingested; or "Our Toxic World" by Dr. Doris J. Rapp, to read about the many ways chemicals damage our bodies, brain and behavior. I personally have changed my diet to reduce or eliminate these toxins and blood tests, along with weight loss have proven to me that this is essential for future health and quality of life.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
I still am unsure as to what exactly brown fat is.
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
There ideas by the hundred about good fats sugars cholesterol and their bad opposites. Has anyone done any research about the slow pernicious build up of hormones fed to meat animals that we ingest with every burger, steak and chop. There was a sudden increase of agrochemicals use and some years later we see the frightening increase of human obesity. It is not all down to the poor (lazy) lifestyle.
I am convinced that the millions of chickens, pork and beef we consume all contain minute residue of the hormones that they have been fed or injected with. Over a period of years this builds up in our bodies and coupled with a more sedentary lifestyle, is the trigger for obesity. That is one angle no-one has commented on as far as I know.
Caroline Tocknell, France
send green star | flag as inappropriate
why is this inappropriate?
Facebook account: