The secret vitamin that can help you lose weight in winter

We all know the winter season makes it difficult to lose weight. From gajar ka halwa to aloo paranthas loaded with butter, we all enjoy these winter delicacies a little too much. And the restricted movement due to the cold outside makes the matter even worse. But according to a study, there is one vitamin that can stimulate the fat burning process during the winter season.

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According to a recent study published last month in the scientific journal, Molecular Metabolism, Vitamin A stimulates the fat burning process known by endocrinologists as “browning”.

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Browning refers to the conversion of white fat tissues (fat accumulated in our bellies, thighs and bottoms when we eat more calories than we burn) into brown fat tissues.

Brown fat tissues make up less than 10 per cent of the fat in our bodies and burn energy and produce heat in the body.

The study subjected mice as well as human volunteers to moderately cold temperatures and then evaluated their blood serum levels of Vitamin A.

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The study observed that exposure to the cold appeared to stimulate redistribution of vitamin A from the liver (where it is stored) towards fatty tissue, where it led to observation browning and resulting in a higher rate of fat burning.

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Several other studies have proven that deficiency of vitamin A is linked to weight gain. Adding vitamin A supplements in daily diet has shown wonders in promoting weight loss.

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Some common food rich in vitamin A include potatoes, carrots, tuna, pumpkin, spinach, sweet potato, cantaloupe, lettuce, red bell pepper and broccoli.

The study is further trying to find how to get vitamin A to go where it needs to go when it needs to go there. Identifying a way to properly coordinate vitamin A transport fat cells could lead to new therapeutic interventions in the battle against obesity.

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