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Benefits of Cold Exposure Shivering Brown Fat Dr Susanna S berg Dr Andrew Huberm

Key Takeaways

Cold exposure activates brown fat through multiple pathways.
Shivering increases metabolism and burns calories.
After drop phenomenon causes core temperature to decrease after leaving cold water.
Shivering should not be avoided; it's a form of training for the body.
Cold exposure can improve insulin sensitivity and overall cellular health.
Ending cold exposure with cold water is beneficial for maintaining body temperature.

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Pathways for brown fat activation

Activation of Brown Fat

Cold receptors on the skin signal the hypothalamus.
Noradrenaline is released, activating brown fat.
Three pathways for brown fat activation: skin receptors, hypothalamus, and muscle shivering.

The Role of Shivering

Shivering increases metabolism and calorie burning.
The after drop phenomenon explains core temperature decrease post-cold exposure.
Shivering is a natural autonomic response and should be embraced.

Benefits of Cold Exposure

Cold exposure enhances insulin sensitivity.
It promotes healthy stress (hormesis) in cells.
Cold and heat exposure strengthen cells similarly to exercise.

Notable Quotes

"Shivering is just like training for your cells, it's healthy stress."

"The more you expose your muscle cells or your brown fat cells to these kinds of healthy stresses, the better they become."

"Ending on cold is really important for maintaining body temperature."