Fat cells play an important role in weight gain, that’s what we all know. But we’re currently learning that those cells are not just passive storage depots. Recent research shows that certain fat cells in your body react to cold temperatures by burning calories. Cell biologist Bruce Spiegelman of Harvard Medical School and his team discovered that they can manipulate specific adipose tissue, the so-called “white fat cells”, through temperature. While still a new discovery, scientists are thrilled thinking about the consequences. Our fat cells might be able to act as calorie-burning machines.
Spiegelman learned that when our “white fat cells”, which are found near the abdomen, are exposed to cold temperatures, a diabetes-preventing protein increases. Our bodies all naturally have two types of fat cells: white and brown cells. The white cells are stored in our bodies and act as insulators. Different from white fat cells, brown adipose tissue or “brown fat”, naturally help the body avoid ailments like heart disease and diabetes. These cells are primarily found in slimmer people and innately help prevent diabetes.
During Spiegelman’s trial, various types of adipose tissue were tested. While brown fat cells failed to react to the cold temperature change, cells with white adipose tissue experienced a favorable reaction. In white fat cells, the level of the diabetes-preventing protein, UCP1, doubled. This shows that by manipulating temperatures, scientists are on their way to finding a greater use for that undesired belly fat.
It is surprising and hopeful to learn that these white fat cells can serve a greater purpose for health simply by manipulating them through temperature. More and more studies show us that fat can actually benefit our health in several ways. Fat leaves us feeling fuller longer and gives us energy. Understanding the long list of fat’s benefits can help alter the widely accepted belief that it’s harmful, and thus focus on eliminating what is actually hurting us – substances like sugar and starches.
For years people held the idea that maintaining a low-fat diet was the best way to healthy living. However, when we partake in these diets, we often replace vital nutrients with substances and chemicals that rarely make us feel full, causing us to over-eat items that aren’t exactly good for us. The "Low-Fat fallacy" shows us that although we viewed fat as an evil for so long, a diet stripped of fat leaves our bodies weaker. With Spiegelman’s research on fat, we are closer to understanding fat properties and the ways they can be manipulated; adding to the ways fat plays a positive role our lives.
