Cold Water: Your key to Joint Pain Relief and Weight Loss
Can It Be True?
Something as simple as cold water, for losing those extra pounds and reducing pain? The answer is yes, it can be true! Cold water can contribute to weight loss and reduction of pain. How is this possible you ask, well it is all about activating beige fat in your body, and reducing inflammation via weight loss. Remember those extra pounds cause more joint pain and destruction.
Several Types of Fat
You have white, brown and beige fat. White fat is the stuff that is around your midsection, it is the one you generally want to lose. Brown fat it full of mitochondria which creates energy and produces heat. In 2009 researchers discovered that people with lower BMIs tend to have more brown fat. Brown fat is prevalent in babies, it helps them keep warm in order to survive. As we age the amount of brown fat decreases.
Well, that is just great. You are telling me that brown fat can help increase my metabolism, but now you’re saying it’s found mostly in babies…How does the help me?
The Secret is Beige Fat!
Beige fat is mixed with white fat throughout the body. Beige fat acts like white fat until it has been browned. Once beige fat is browned it takes on the attributes of brown fat. This is exciting because as an adult you have very little brown fat located in our backs and around our shoulders. Beige fat is found throughout your body. If you can get beige fat to act like brown fat, you will increase the number of calories expended throughout the day thus increasing your metabolism. OMG, I need to brown some fat!
Okay okay, but how do I brown my beige fat?
There are 3 Main Ways to Brown Fat
- Cold exposure – Cold exposure causes browning of the beige fat, it also activates the small amount of brown fat present in your body.
- Exercise – Exercise causes the browning of fat. It increases uncoupling protein 1 (UPC 1) which increase calories the body uses in a day.
- Social interaction – Social interaction increases brain derived neurotrophic factor which increase the nervous system stimulation and causes the browning of fat.
My Favorite Way to Brown Fat
Take a cold bath or shower in the morning. In the beginning this may feel like torture but you will adapt. Trust me there are days where I was whimpering in the cold, other days where I ran cold water over my body and called it a day. Try it out! You will experience other benefits of the cold such as clear skin, stronger hair, increased concentration and alertness. All of this while boosting your metabolism and immune system.
Adding a cold shower and exercise increases browning of your beige fat. When this happens it increases your metabolism, reduces your inflammation and joint pain. It is a simple thing to add to your daily routine that has amazing health benefits.