logo
This Is the Type of Fat You *Want* To Have To Stay Healthy as You Age

This Is the Type of Fat You *Want* To Have To Stay Healthy as You Age

Yahooa day ago
This Is the Type of Fat You *Want* To Have To Stay Healthy as You Age originally appeared on Parade.
Body fat gets a bad rap when it comes to health—we're all always on a mission to get rid of belly fat! But it turns out that not all forms of fat are bad for healthy aging. As you've likely heard from your doctor or other health pros, maintaining healthy body fat levels, and potentially even more importantly, having (and maintaining) healthy muscle mass levels via strength training as you age can help reduce your risk of premature death by up to 17 percent. And while muscle mass is a key indicator of healthy longevity, new research from Rutgers University shows that a certain type of fat could be a game changer in how active you remain as you age and help promote longevity. 🩺SIGN UP for tips to stay healthy & fit with the top moves, clean eats, health trends & more delivered right to your inbox twice a week💊
A recent study published in Aging Cell found that mice that had a specific form of brown fat tissue (which they had due to a missing gene) had better exercise capacity as they aged and increased longevity and lifespan by about 30 percent. The scientists working on the study transplanted some of the special brown fat to other mice that were not genetically modified and found that the normal mice responded within days, showing similar benefits.
Related:
The special type of fat researchers found had a positive health effect is brown fat, which is not a new discovery (although the fat they studied was a more potent type of it). The body has two main types of fat, FYI: white fat (AKA the "bad" kind known to contribute to health issues) and brown fat, or brown adipose tissue (BAT). "Unlike white adipose tissue, which stores energy, BAT burns calories to generate heat—a process driven by its rich mitochondrial content and the presence of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1)," says Ingrid Yang, MD, a board-certified internal medicine physician and longevity science expert. "This thermogenic capability not only helps in temperature regulation but has also been linked to improved metabolic outcomes. Recent research has shown that BAT activation may enhance insulin sensitivity and protect against metabolic diseases, such as obesity and diabetes, which are key factors in age-related health decline," she says.
While brown fat is not a new discovery, the study brings a new understanding of how brown fat works. "This is an exciting step forward," says Dr. Yang. "It illustrates that brown adipose tissue is more than just an energy-burning organ—it plays a pivotal role in enhancing exercise performance and metabolic resilience. This dual function could have significant implications for healthy aging." Related:
Stephen Vatner, MD, who is one of the authors of the study and Director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute at Rutgers University, noted that the study helped researchers show that brown fat could have the potential to increase exercise performance—something not many studies have found before. "There have been a lot of studies showing that exercise can affect brown fat, but fewer studies showing that brown fat can increase exercise performance, the major finding from this research article," he said. Something to note is that the study looked at a potent form of brown fat vs. normal brown fat, and the researchers discussed working to develop a pharmaceutical intervention that may mimic the potent brown fat they discovered.
Dr. Yang cautions that there is still a lot to understand before something like this can be offered, so don't expect a "magic bullet" solution to boost brown fat anytime soon. "And while the study authors offer that the prospect of developing pharmaceutical analogs to activate BAT is exciting, we need a careful evaluation of the long-term safety and potential off-target effects. Enhancing BAT function could, for instance, affect overall energy balance in ways that we don't fully understand yet," she says.
This study sheds more light on what we know about brown fat and how it could be a powerful for enhancing longevity. It's important to keep in mind that the study was performed on mice and may not directly translate to humans until we have more research to confirm the findings. "I would caution that while the results from this study are promising, it's important to note that findings in RGS14 knockout mice may not directly translate to humans. The rapid improvement in exercise capacity is intriguing, yet we must be cautious about overinterpreting these results until similar outcomes are observed in human studies," says Dr. Yang.
Until we know more, you can incorporate some evidence-based methods for activating more brown fat tissue below, while focusing on the foundational tenets that we know are important for longevity and overall health, including: exercise, nutrition and sleep. Related:
According to Dr. Yang, there are several evidence-based ways to help "activate" or convert some of the white fat in your body into the more beneficial brown fat.
"Cold exposure is well-established in activating BAT and promoting the browning of white adipose tissue (WAT)," says Dr. Yang. You can hop in an ice bath, dip into a cold plunge, try cryotherapy or take a cold shower.
"Both resistance and aerobic training have been shown to upregulate markers of browning, such as UCP1, in adipose tissue. Exercise-induced activation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) in skeletal muscle also plays a role in promoting BAT activity," says Dr Yang. Simply put: you'll want to do cardio and strength training to help activate brown fat.
Dr. Yang says that there's some research that specific foods like chili peppers and green tea contain nutrients that support brown fat. "Capsaicin and capsinoids (found in chili peppers) and catechins (found in green tea) have demonstrated efficacy in clinical trials. Other compounds such as curcumin, quercetin, berberine, lipoic acid, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and royal jelly have shown promising results in animal or in vitro studies, but clinical trials are needed to confirm their effects in humans," she explains.
"Dietary interventions like calorie restriction and intermittent fasting also favor WAT browning and metabolic efficiency," she adds. But always be sure to consult a doctor before trying calorie-restrictive diets or intermittent fasting, since these diets are not safe for everyone.
Up Next:Brown adipose tissue enhances exercise performance and healthful longevity. Healthy Aging.
Ingrid Yang, MD,a board-certified internal medicine physician and longevity science expert
This Is the Type of Fat You *Want* To Have To Stay Healthy as You Age first appeared on Parade on Jul 14, 2025
This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

5 Fast Facts: Plant Extracts Relieve Hand Osteoarthritis
5 Fast Facts: Plant Extracts Relieve Hand Osteoarthritis

Medscape

time36 minutes ago

  • Medscape

5 Fast Facts: Plant Extracts Relieve Hand Osteoarthritis

If you have patients with hand osteoarthritis (OA) who want extra relief and don't mind trying a plant-based supplement, this combo looks promising. Researchers in Belgium found that a daily combination of plant extracts significantly reduced hand OA pain over time. 1. Patients had real pain relief. People with hand OA who took Curcuma longa (turmeric) and Boswellia serrata had noticeably better pain reduction over 3 months than those on placebo, about 8-9 points better on the pain scale. 2. Quality of life received a boost, too. Patients didn't just feel less pain; they also reported feeling better overall and rated their quality of life higher than the placebo group. 3. Safe and easy to stick with. Patients took the supplement consistently (over 90% adhered to it), and side effects were comparable to those of the placebo. 4. Well-done study — but with a few limits. This solid randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial focused on patient-reported outcomes rather than structural improvements or radiographic findings. 5. Another option for the toolbox. These extracts aren't a replacement for standard care, but they may be a safe adjunct for patients wanting complementary therapies for hand OA pain, especially those who prefer more 'natural' options. Bottom line: Current evidence indicates that plant extracts provide symptomatic relief for hand OA; however, they do not address the underlying joint pathology. Counsel patients on these limitations.

Here's why 3 rural Wisconsin hospitals are deemed 'at-risk' of closing
Here's why 3 rural Wisconsin hospitals are deemed 'at-risk' of closing

Yahoo

time41 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

Here's why 3 rural Wisconsin hospitals are deemed 'at-risk' of closing

Three rural hospitals in Wisconsin are defined as "at-risk" of closing, according to a reputable center for health services research. The list of the rural hospitals from each state was released after U.S. senators requested the information from the center and then attached it in a letter to President Donald Trump, among others. Here are the hospitals named in Wisconsin and why they are in the limelight. A rural hospital is labeled as at risk when it meets one or both of two criteria, according to the documents: the hospital is in the top 10% Medicaid payer mix of rural hospitals across the country, and that the hospital has experienced three consecutive years of negative total margin. Here are the three hospitals deemed at-risk in Wisconsin: Holy Family Memorial MCHS Oakridge Aspirus Stanley Hospital More: Meet Dr. Dolly Paw-ton: Facility dog helps patients at Marshfield Children's Hospital The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research is part of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The center, according to their site, seeks to improve the health of individuals, families, and populations by understanding the problems, issues, and alternatives in the design and delivery of health care services. More: Manitowoc's Aurora Medical Center earns 4th straight 'Rural and Community Health' honor U.S. Sens Edward J. Markey, Ron Wyden, Jeffrey A. Merkley, and Charles E. Schumer wrote to President Trump, Majority Leader John Thune, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson in response to the reconciliation package that ultimately Trump signed on the Fourth of July. They sent the letter on June 12. The senators argued that the health care cuts could impact vulnerable, rural hospitals. "Enacting these drastic health care cuts that will kick millions of people off their health insurance coverage, rural hospitals will not get paid for the services they are required by law to provide to patients," authors wrote, adding that the hospitals will face "deeper financial strain that could lead to negative health outcomes for the communities they serve." More: Derrick Van Orden claims credit for Wisconsin's extra Medicaid dollars after voting to cut the program The bill, now signed into law, is projected to cut $1 trillion mostly from Medicaid and Affordable Care Act insurance plans and eliminate insurance coverage for 11.8 million people over the next decade, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, as reported by USA Today. About one in five Wisconsinites are covered by Medicaid. Tom Ackerman covers breaking news and trending news along with general news for the Springfield State Journal-Register. He can be reached at tackerman@ This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Cuts to Medicaid could lead to 3 Wisconsin hospitals closing

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store