Being cold helps you lose weight, a new study found. Exercise or being exposed to low temperatures creates more "good" brown and beige types of body fat which burns calories in the body.

    Previous research has found being cold mimics the effects of exercise, protecting against obesity and improving metabolic health.

    Now, a new study has discovered how exposure to cold dramatically alters the composition of bacteria in the gut, and this leads to fat-burning, improved glucose metabolism, and reduced body weight.

    The findings could provide new treatments for overweight or obese people, researchers said.

    Professor Mirko Trajkovski of the University of Geneva said, "We provide compelling evidence that gut microbes play a key role in our ability to adapt to the environment by directly regulating our energy balance."

    While ordinary white fat - known as "bad" fat - piles on when we eat more calories than we burn, brown fat seems to burn excess calories to generate heat.

    We know babies have lots of brown fat — they need it to keep warm — but studies have shown there are small amounts in the necks of adults, too.

    Experts believe that certain activities could switch on this fat, potentially helping to burn calories at a greater rate.

    And studies have shown certain activities, such as sleeping in a cold, can trigger the formation of more brown fat in the body.

    It is thought the composition of millions of bacteria in our intestines can effect how we metabolize different foods and, therefore, how much weight we gain.

    Researchers theorized the health benefits of being exposed to cold may be linked to gut bacteria.

    As part of the new study, they exposed mice to cold temperature of 6 degrees Celsius for up to 10 days. They discovered this caused a major shift in the composition of the mice's gut microbes and preventing them from gaining weight.

    Words to Learn 相关词汇

    类似

    lèisì

    mimic

    be an imitation of, simulate, resemble closely

    强有力的

    qiángyǒulì de

    compelling

    having a powerful and irresistible effect

    想要减肥？别穿外套

    一项新研究表明，寒冷可以使人减肥。运动或暴露在低温下可以制造出更多“有益的”褐色和灰褐色类型的脂肪，他们可以在体内燃烧卡路里。

    此前的研究发现，寒冷可以模仿运动的效果，防止肥胖并改善代谢健康。

    目前，一项新研究发现暴露在寒冷中如何改变了肠道细菌的组成，引起脂肪燃烧，提高糖元的新陈代谢，并减低体重。

    研究人员称，该发现可以为超重或肥胖人士提供新的治疗方案。

    瑞士日内瓦大学米尔科·特拉伊科夫斯基教授说：“我们可以提供强有力的证据证明肠道微生物通过调控我们的能量平衡发挥关键作用让我们更好地适应环境。”

    当我们吃进去的卡路里比燃烧的卡路里多时，普通的白脂肪--也被称为”坏的“脂肪--就会堆积起来。褐色脂肪则可以燃烧多余的卡路里来产生热量。

    我们知道婴儿有很多的褐色脂肪--他们需要褐色脂肪来保暖---但是研究显示，成人脖子上也存在少量褐色脂肪。

    专家相信某些活动可以激活这种脂肪，有助我们以更快的速度燃烧卡路里。

    而研究显示某些活动，例如睡在寒冷的环境中，可以触发体内更多褐色脂肪的形成。

    据认为，我们肠道内数百万细菌的组成可以影响我们代谢不同食物的方式，由此影响我们体重的增加。

    研究人员推断称暴露在寒冷中的益处可能与肠道细菌有关。

    作为新研究的一部分，他们把老鼠放置在6摄氏度的低温下达10天。他们发现，这引发了老鼠体内肠道细菌组成的重大变化并阻止体重增加。