Ok, you’re thinking this is too simple. But it’s true.

Exposure to cold temperatures can change the way your body burns fat, permanently. Here’s the science behind it.

Cold Speeds Up Your Metabolism

The body’s metabolism controls how it fuels the chemical processes in our bodies that keep us alive. Usually, it is fueled by the foods we eat. However, it is possible for us to raise our metabolisms, meaning that it begins to burn our fat reserves for fuel instead.

When you are in a cold environment, you start to shiver. That’s because your body is trying to stay warm. It is burning energy to try to get keep your temperature even.

When you work out in a very cold environment, your body is already working harder to try to raise your temperature up. That means that it has to use EXTRA energy to fuel your workout. You’ll burn more calories in less time and in the process raise your metabolism.

Cold Triggers Fat Burning

The key to weight loss and a great body is burning through all of the fat reserves that are keeping you from looking and feeling your best.

Cold temperatures actually affect the chemical composition of your body, making it more likely for you to be able to burn through fat.

In the cold, your body releases a chemical called adiponectin. This is the hormone that breaks down fat. The more adiponectin that flows through your body, the faster your fat will melt away. Losing the fat will reveal the beautiful muscles hiding out under all that flab.

Cold Slows Down Cellular Death

Studies show that cold can slow down the decay of your cells. The longer the life of your cells, the longer your life will be!

By stimulating and invigorating your cells, you can look forward to improved longevity and health.

People in colder climates typically have longer lifespans, and the cold itself is one of the reasons why. Traditionally, many of these cultures have rituals that involve withstanding periods of extreme cold, and it might be the very reason they live so long. From polar bear swims to endurance tests, there’s nothing like the cold to get the body on its best behavior.

Cold Changes the Fuel Your Body Burns

Glucose comes from the sugars in our diets. Our bodies use it as fuel, powering all of the chemical processes that it needs to perform to keep us alive. A chemical called AMPK, or activated protein kinase, the enzyme that uses this glucose as fuel.

If you run out of glucose to feed your AMPK, your body will respond by burning fat to use as an alternative fuel source.

Cold temperatures cause your muscles to absorb more glucose as a defense against the cold. That means there is less glucose in your blood to fuel your body, so your body will turn to burning fat deposits as a fuel source instead.

Cold Activates Brown Fat

Cold temperatures can activate your brown fat, leading to increased weight loss and a faster metabolism.

First of all, what on Earth is “brown fat??”

Here’s the breakdown. Normal fat on our bodies is called white fat. It is the kind of fat that your body stores up in case of emergency. Say you ran out of food—your white fat would be there to fuel your body’s mechanisms. It’s the kind of fat that sticks around on our problem areas: stomach, thighs, and butt.

It’s the last type of fat your body burns, because it’s saving it in case it really needs it.

Brown fat is different. It is located in the neck and upper chest area and is difficult to detect. This fat is called “brown” fat because it’s full of mitochondria. Mitochondria are what produces the energy we require for heat production.

Brown fat has the unique ability to burn white fat. It uses the white fat to produce heat energy for your body. That means that you can get rid of that problem fat that sticks around as flab, even after your best efforts at diet and exercise.

But Don't Freeze Yourself!

I'm not suggesting to go out in the winter without a jacket or to spend significant amounts of time in freezing cold weather!

But...maybe...you should think about keeping your thermostat set to 65 or 66 during the colder parts of the year instead of 70 and above.