Brown Fat: What You Should Know

You may be surprised to learn that the fat in your body is made up of different colors. Scientists have identified both white and brown fat.

White fat, or white adipose tissue (WAT), is the standard fat. The accumulation of fat helps keep you warm by literally providing insulation for your organs. Too much leads to obesity. Too much white fat around the midsection may also create a higher risk of heart disease, diabetes, and other diseases.

Brown fat, or brown adipose tissue (BAT) is packed with iron-rich mitochondria, which is how it gets its color. When brown fat burns, it creates heat without shivering. This process is called thermogenesis. During this process, the brown fat also burns calories. Brown fat is highly regarded as a possible treatment for obesity and some metabolic syndromes.

To obtain more brown fat you can:

1. Turn the temperature down - Some research has suggested that just two hours of exposure each day to temperatures around 66˚F (19˚C) may be enough to turn recruitable fat to brown.

2. Exercise - Research suggests that a protein called irisin may help transform white fat to brown. Researchers uncovered that people who are sedentary produce far less irisin compared to those who exercise often.

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