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Energy expenditures were monitored for 15 men (average age 26) and
10 women (average age 32) as they alternated 12-hour periods in
rooms heated to either 80 degrees or 60 degrees.
The surprising finding: Exposure to 60-degree temperatures
resulted in a 6% increase in calories burned without significant
changes in physical activity. Moreover, exposure to lower temperature also resulted in a
13% increase in fatty acid levels in the blood, indicating
that fat stores were being mobilized.
At work is thermogenesis: the conversion of calories to body
heat. A similar dynamic was demonstrated in one German study
where drinking 17 ounces of water increased metabolism by 30%, as
increased energy was needed to heat the water to the body’s
temperature.
So, how can you use temperature to turbocharge your weight-loss
efforts? Indoors, let your body acclimate to a cooler
environment. Outdoors, exercise during cool weather without
bundling up (e.g., shorts instead of sweats).
By exposing your arms and/or legs you will not only burn more
calories – you may augment your vitamin D levels by letting
your skin soak in sunlight (which triggers vitamin D
production).
One note of caution: If you’re prone to high blood
pressure, exposure to cold temperatures could increase your
vulnerability to heart attacks so exercise moderation in taking
advantage of cool calorie-burning effects.
Content provided by the Dole Nutrition
Institute
www.dole.com/nutritioninstitute
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