Thermogenesis is a process where the body generates heat to maintain a stable temperature and access energy. The body can generate heat through shivering, chemical reactions in fat cells, and exercise-induced thermogenesis. Athletes require a higher calorie intake to prevent muscle cell burning. Diet-induced thermogenesis can also be used for weight loss.
Thermogenesis is a process in which the body generates heat. Warm-blooded animals all engage in thermogenesis, and some plants are capable of generating heat as well. The goal of thermogenesis is for the body to keep its temperature stable so it can function as efficiently as possible and for the body to be able to access certain types of energy. Thermogenesis actually requires a large amount of energy, which is why cold-blooded animals require much less energy to live.
To keep temperatures stable, the body can generate heat in two ways. The first method is shivering, where the body creates friction which generates heat. The second method involves chemical reactions in fat cells that generate heat to keep the body warm. Historically, people in colder climates have tended to store fat for this reason, so their bodies get the fat they need for thermogenesis. This type of thermogenesis occurs whenever the body feels that the external temperatures are low, and therefore the body needs to produce heat to keep the internal temperature at an optimal level.
In exercise-induced thermogenesis, the body creates heat to warm up the muscles because warm muscles work better and more efficiently. This is why people start to heat up and sweat while exercising, because the body is putting out chemical reactions to warm up the muscles and keep them warm. This is also why it’s important to stretch and cool down slowly after exercise, so that your muscles aren’t abruptly brought from a hot, working state to a cold, resting state.
Regular strenuous exercise tends to burn fat from the body, because the body starts burning a lot of fat cells to warm up the muscles for exercise. Athletes require a higher calorie intake for this reason, to keep their bodies from burning muscle cells for energy. Nutrition is especially important during training, as an athlete needs to support their body as they push it to perform at its best, and nutritional deficits during training can cause long-term problems.
The body can also generate heat in response to diet triggers. Energy is needed to digest food and thermogenesis can be used to create that energy. When people eat a large meal and start sweating, it indicates that their bodies are preparing for digestion. People sometimes use diet-induced thermogenesis as a weight-loss technique, by eating foods that trigger thermogenesis so their bodies burn fat; a number of companies sell supplements for this purpose.
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