The cold plunge trend is popular now. And it has many health benefits, one being weight loss. Here’s why. Brown fat.

Nobody likes to talk about their fat. Well, at least your white fat. Now brown fat, well, we can talk about that and even brag about it. It’s the “good fat.”

What is brown fat? Brown fat (yes, it is indeed brown) is not some blob of material that only stores extra energy for you. It is an active fat. It plays a big role in your thermogenics. It generates body heat when you get cold. It really fires up just before you start to shiver.

It doesn’t stop there. Brown fat also helps regulate your blood sugar, and improve your heart health. Recently, research is showing that it has a positive effect on your brain health and also helps reduce inflammation.

There are many ways to activate and even increase your brown fat.

The good news is that we can activate and even increase our brown fat. The best way is to get cold enough to start your internal oven. You may have heard and seen all the hype about ice plunges or baths. One of the best ways to get your brown fat burning calories (fuel) is to get cold. But you don’t have to freeze in a bathtub full of water and ice cubes to activate and increase your brown fat. Here are a few different ways to do this.

Turn down your thermostat. It doesn’t have to be cold 24/7, but short bouts of colder temperatures will help you burn significantly more calories each day. In fact, the longer you keep up this habit, the more calories you will burn each day. You can also place an ice pack on the back of your neck and upper shoulders or end your daily shower with cold water.

There is no surprise exercise is another way to activate your brown fat. Exercise is one of the most beneficial things you can do for all areas of your health.

Eat a well-balanced diet, rich in iron and low in bad fats and processed food. Eat what you need—no more and no less. Either of these disrupts our brown fat activation.

Sleep consistently and get enough sleep. Melatonin has a big impact on how active and how much brown fat we have.

Learn to manage your stress. Hormones, such as cortisol, greatly impact how well your brown fat is working to burn more calories for you.

So there you have it! Brown fat is the fat we all want to brag about. It doesn’t take a lot to activate and increase it. But it does take consistency.

For more information about how to integrate exercise, nutrition, and lifestyle habits to help you feel better, look better, and enjoy an active life, consider coaching. Let me help you put it all together.

Karen