The “good” body fat we need more of

February 19, 2023
by RJ Hamster

This week: The type of body fat we could actually use more of; what sugar does to your brain; what you need to know about freezing your eggs; the case against gas stoves; how liquid biopsies have made it easier to treat cancer.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MARTY CHOBOT, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

Not all fat is created equal. This ‘good fat’ could keep us youthful.

The fat most people picture is known as white fat, since it looks white or white-yellow when you see it under the skin. But you’re also born with brown fat, which is metabolically efficient in that it burns lots of calories—but we lose most of it as we age. Scientists think if we had more of this brown fat, it could reduce the risk of inflammatory diseases, control obesity, and ultimately lengthen our lives.

TURNING WHITE FAT TO BROWN FAT

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY GETTY IMAGES

How sugar and fat affect your brain

Much of our food is increasingly manufactured to be irresistible to us. Experts say this trend has long-term health consequences.

IT’S ADDICTIVE

More on weight, health, and nutrition:

•

What to know about Ozempic, the diabetes drug being used for weight loss

•

Low-calories sweeteners might not be as good for us as we thought

•

When should you eat? It’s just as important as what you eat.

PHOTOGRAPH BY MATILDA HAY

Egg freezing has gotten more popular. Here’s what’s really involved.

Egg freezing has existed since the 1980s but was considered a controversial, experimental procedure until 2012. Now, as more people delay having children, it’s becoming more popular. When is the best age to do it and what else is involved? The experts weigh in.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

PHOTOGRAPH BY GIOVANNI GAGLIARDI / ALAMY

Does a woman’s fertility really plummet at age 35?

“Fertility lies on a continuum,” experts say. While age delivers the harshest blow to a woman’s odds of conceiving, many other factors are also at play.

WHAT AFFECTS YOUR FERTILITY?

THE SCIENTIFIC CASE AGAINST GAS STOVES

PHOTOGRAPH BY MIGUEL ANGEL FLORES, GETTY IMAGES

A body of research stretching back to the 1970s has pointed out respiratory hazards linked to indoor pollution from gas stoves—and health experts have known for decades that indoor air pollution hurts children’s lungs. Now, there are good alternatives to gas stoves. But do you really need to get rid of yours?

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO WITH YOUR GAS STOVE?

A ‘PANDEMIC IN SLOW MOTION’: How air pollution kills millions every year +

THE FUTURE OF CANCER SCREENING?

PHOTOGRAPH BY STEPHAN ELLERINGMANN, LAIF/REDUX

Unlike a traditional tissue biopsy used to detect cancer, a liquid biopsy can easily and repeatedly be collected, with test results returned in about a week. Research to develop better liquid biopsies is progressing quickly—and scientists are hopeful this tool will soon be able to identify cancer at all stages.

HOW THEY WORK

Cancer news and breakthroughs:

•

Cancer vaccines are showing promise. Here’s how they work.

•

A new therapy may be able to kill tumors 10 times deeper than current treatments can.

•

Breast cancer spreads more aggressively during sleep.

•

Was cancer really less likely in a pre-industrial world?

HEALTH NEWS YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED

PHOTOGRAPH BY TIM WEGNER, LAIF/REDUX

Leeches are still used in medicine—yes, really. Long dismissed as a throwback to the Middle Ages, doctors have been turning to the parasites to help transplant and plastic surgery patients.

HOW LEECH THERAPY WORKS

Why do we age? Scientists haven’t actually figured it out yet.

What happens to your body during menopause

COVID can trigger tinnitus. Could the vaccines do the same?

What is wind chill, and how does it affect your body?

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TONIGHT: the 2023 NBA All-Star Game

RJ Hamster

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The “good” body fat we need more of

The “good” body fat we need more of

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