Just like in Russia, the Scandinavian countries are very fond of the sauna, especially in winter, when it can be alternated with swimming in ice water or snow. In addition to being good for strengthening the cardiovascular system and promoting weight loss, contrast treatments can make the body more resistant to extreme temperatures, scientists from Denmark have found. /> water can affect the ability of brown fat to burn energy and produce heat, thereby «accustoming» the body to comfortably endure both extreme heat and cold.
provides the process of heat production in the body and is involved in fat burning. This fat also helps to control blood sugar, so the activity of brown adipose tissue helps to avoid the development of diabetes. With age or excess weight, the volume of brown fat decreases.
The study involved eight young men who, for two years, practiced swimming in cold water and a sauna once a week, or only “winter swimming” for two years. Eight more participants of the same age group were included in the control group — they did not go in for winter swimming and did not go to the sauna.
The scientists expected that ice water and hot sauna lovers would have more brown fat, but according to the results of the study, they saw a different effect: the volunteers had significantly improved thermoregulation. To evaluate the effect of such procedures on cold tolerance, volunteers from both groups were asked to dip their hand in ice water for three minutes. Compared to the control group, all participants showed minimal changes in heart rate and blood pressure. They also had higher skin temperatures, which means a higher level of adaptation to heat loss in the body.
When exposed to cold, the activity of brown adipose tissue increased in both groups, however, winter swimming and sauna lovers had higher heat production and energy consumption.
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«They burned more calories while cooling down, possibly due to increased heat production,» study authors reported.
Scientists also assessed body temperature regulation in all participants throughout the day at a comfortable temperature. Contrast treatment users were found to have lower body temperatures on average, which is potentially a sign of heat adaptation due to frequent sauna use. >
The authors of the study noted that these conclusions cannot be considered final due to the small sample of participants, moreover, of the same sex and age. However, these results potentially indicate that increased brown adipose tissue activity may significantly reduce the risk of metabolic disorders.