Althouse: "Shivering as a Form of Exercise."

February 5, 2014

"Shivering as a Form of Exercise."

"Shivering in the cold sparks a series of biochemical reactions deep within the body that alters fat cells and bolsters metabolism, much as formal exercise does, according to a fascinating series of new experiments."

14 comments:

CatherineM said...: I have had quite a work out the last few weeks...; 2/5/14, 2:18 PM
traditionalguy said...: Polar bears have something there. Fatten up and then freeze it off.; 2/5/14, 2:20 PM
Sorun said...: I prefer the old-fashioned Belt Exerciser. Same principle, maybe.; 2/5/14, 2:31 PM
Anthony said...: Why is this so new? Shivering is a way to generate heat when the body's core temperature is dropping using muscular action.; 2/5/14, 2:50 PM
Dust Bunny Queen said...: It isn't 'new" but it is going to be a rationale for the reason that you and I should all lower our interior heat to uncomfortable and even dangerous (for older people) levels.....and you will like it too....or else.

Just think saving Gaia from global warming while you shiver your nads off and lose weight at the same time. Win win!!!! right? Don't you feel virtuous now?; 2/5/14, 2:57 PM
David said...: So I had a lot of exercise last night at about 3 AM. I feel better about it now.; 2/5/14, 3:26 PM
Illuninati said...: Anthony said...
"Why is this so new?"

This may not be new to Anthony but the fact that exercised muscles produce irisin is new to me. I didn't know that exercise or shivering stimulated the conversion of normal fat into brown fat. Cool.

The just so stories about how this may have evolved are useless. However, in view of the "out of Africa" theory, it would be interesting to see if people from Africa have the same ability to produce brown fat as people who have been selected to live in a cold climate.; 2/5/14, 3:52 PM
D. B. Light said...: So not having a job is good for you because you can tuck your kids in at night, and not having shelter or warm clothes is good because you can shiver your fat away. Signs of the times.; 2/5/14, 4:50 PM
Richard Fagin said...: Not enough to convince me to spend winter at the house in Maine instead of the summer. I may be crazy but not THAT crazy!!; 2/5/14, 4:56 PM
EdwdLny said...: How convenient now that barry and the dems have eviscerated the economy. When barry, the mooch and their daughters are shivering for exercise along with every other government leech, err, employee, save those folks who work protecting us { for real }, I'll consider the "exercise" angle. Until then, this is another dodge, propaganda to appease the prols.; 2/5/14, 5:37 PM
Anonymous said...: I don't mind cold weather and already keep the thermostat lower than most people seem to find comfortable. But I also get hungrier in the winter, (especially after doing outside chores like snow shoveling), and thirstier (those hearty red wines in my cellar aren't going to to drink themselves!), so I probably take in at least as many extra calories as I shiver off. The Gaia diet ain't gonna keep me skinny.; 2/5/14, 8:42 PM
traditionalguy said...: Shivering should be no problem next winter. Obama's EPA Regs are closing 89% of the coal powered electrical generation that has kept the mid-west and northeast alive in this winters sub zero storms.

That will happen in 42 weeks. The Eighth Air Force could not do that much strategic damage to Nazi Germany in 1944 and 1945; 2/5/14, 9:25 PM
Alex said...: I might have to try this. Whatever it takes, get the job done.; 2/6/14, 12:16 AM
D. B. Light said...: Another sign of the times -- gov't now says that yearly mammograms are unnecessary. Doctors disagree.; 2/6/14, 6:45 AM