Brown fat is a superpower fat for open water and cold water swimmers.
Also known as brown adipose tissue, it is very different from the better known and also more widespread white fat.
What is brown fat?
Unlike white fat, which stores energy, brown fat burns calories to generate heat - thermogenesis.
Facts :
✅ Body heat factory: Brown fat is like a little internal heater, activated by the cold, to keep our body warm without having to shiver (thanks to the mitochondria - the energy powerhouse of cells).
✅ Abundant in Babies: Babies have plenty of brown fat to help them maintain body heat, but adults were thought to have very little...until recently!
✅ Swimmers vs. Cold: Cold water swimmers can improve their brown fat activity, as their body adapts to produce more heat in response to repeated exposure to cold.
✅ Not just for the cold: In addition to keeping us warm, brown fat burns calories, which could be good news for our metabolism.
✅ An ally against hypothermia: With effective brown fat, cold water swimmers can reduce the risk of hypothermia, allowing for longer and safer swimming sessions.
🔍 Ongoing Research: Scientists are studying how to optimize this good fat for general health and sports performance.
