Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

  Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/3DAXea20sSU   Natural sunlight triggers normal fat cell metabolism.  Experimental biologists from Cincinnati Children’s Hospital just published a study that explores how light performs this trick in mammals like rats and yes humans.   Fat cells contain light sensitive proteins called opsins.  Light reaches fat cells through our skin, activates opsins that release fatty acids from white fat cells,  and the fatty acids serve as fuel for brown fat cells to produce heat.  If this process fails to occur, disordered fat metabolism can lead to heart disease, stroke, and diabetes.   Indoor lighting won’t work, so spend time in sunlight.  UV blocking lotions won’t stop the good stuff so do use them to prevent skin cancer.    Nayak et al., 2020, Cell Reports 30, 672–686 January 21, 2020 a 2019 The Authors. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2019.12.043   #sunlight #fat #heat #heartdisease #stroke #diabetes