According to the recent study conducted by the researchers from the University of Michigan Life Sciences Institute, the new fat cell they discovered could explain why people start to gain weight after they stop smoking. They believe this could also lead to improving treatments for obesity.

The Study

The team of researchers who conducted the study discovered a new type of fat cell named “beige” or also known as the thermogenic fat cell. According to the study’s senior author, Jun Wu, LSI’s assistant professor, he’d also encountered beige fat cells in his previous medical research.

Wu says the beige fat cells burn energy when heat is produced in the body, also known as the thermogenesis process. To discover how these beige fat cells function in our body, Ms. Wu and her team conducted a study on how beige fat behaves when activated.

The activated beige fat cells may be responsible for the weight loss of most chain-smokers.

Ms. Wu and her team also highlighted a type of protein named CHRNA2, or also known as cholinergic receptor nicotinic alpha 2 that plays a crucial role in thermogenesis. According to the team the CHRNA2 was mostly found in the white fat of both mice and humans.

The primary function of the protein is to store energy instead of burning it. Aside from that, CHRNA2 is also responsible for regulating the nicotine reliance in our brain. Therefore, the study’s findings could explain why most people who quit smoking tend to gain weight thereafter. Aside from the absence of heat in the body that caused the beige fat cells to burn fats and energy, nicotine is also responsible for suppressing appetite.

The Clarification

Despite the function of beige fat cells to burn fats and energy when activated by heat, Ms. Wu clarifies she and her team didn’t intend to encourage people to smoke in order to lose weight. According to her, the side effects of smoking in our physical, mental, and emotional health far outweigh its benefits in weight loss.

Ms. Wu says it’ll be cool if medical researchers are to discover a selective pathway to activate beige fat’s energy-burning capacity by increasing our body heat. She adds it’s even more exciting if humans can conserve its natural functions. According to her, beige fat plays a crucial role in promoting healthy metabolism.

Instead, Ms. Wu hopes this discovery could help people in improving treatments to treat obesity or for those who are suffering from metabolic issues.

The results they obtained while studying mice also show even if you lose one aspect of this regulation, you can still achieve metabolic changes in your body. Ms. Wu also encourages everyone to deepen their understanding of CHRNA2.

She believes it could lead to improved treatments to regulate weight gain. Wu emphasizes this could be a basic research standpoint to find an effective therapy to enhance metabolism while minimizing its harmful side effects.

Effective Ways to Lose Weight

While most people are still waiting for new research studies aiming to treat obesity, the health experts gave some tips on what you can do to manage your weight.

Eat a High-Protein Breakfast.

Start your day by eating a breakfast rich in protein to burn your foods and convert it into energy as you face the day.

According to health experts, loading your body up with protein helps you feel fuller for longer and suppress your appetite. Aside from that, it burns the fats in your body and converts it into developing your muscles.

According to studies, high protein diets can help boost your metabolism to burn 80-100 more calories per day. You can choose from a variety of protein sources from meat like chicken, pork, beef, seafood like fish, salmon, shrimp, and eggs and dairy.

Cut Back Your Carb and Sugar Intake

Excessive carb and sugar intake are the culprits why most people gain weight according to studies. It lowers your hunger levels, keeping your appetite at bay. Instead of burning the carbs you eat, it’ll start burning your stored fats, which aids in weight loss.

Another benefit of cutting back your carbs and sugar is that it regulates your blood sugar levels, reducing your risk of bloating while shedding the unnecessary water weight.

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