最簡單瘦身法 在寒冷環境中就能瘦

Turning the central heating down not only saves money but could also keep you slim, scientists claim.
科學家宣稱，把中央暖氣系統的溫度調低不僅能省錢而且能讓你保持苗條的身材。

Evidence suggests that being cold may be a healthy and sustainable way to lose weight, experts believe.
專家相信，有證據顯示待在寒冷的環境中可能是一種健康的、可持續的瘦身方法。

Conversely, warm and cosy homes and offices may be contributing to expanding waistlines, it is claimed.
相反地，據稱溫暖舒適的家庭和公司環境可能會引起肥胖。

The theory from Dutch scientists follows 10 years of research into the effects of the cold on metabolism.
這一理論由荷蘭科學家提出，他們此前用了長達10年的時間研究寒冷對於新陳代謝的影響。

It suggest that a more variable indoor temperature, one that more closely mirrors temperatures outside, may be beneficial.
研究顯示，更接近外界溫度，即更加靈活的室內溫度可能是有益的。

At least among young and middle-aged people, non-shivering heat production in response to feeling cold can account for up to 30 per cent of the body's energy budget, say the scientists.
科學家稱，至少在年輕人和中年人中，應對寒冷時（不包括打寒戰時）產生的熱量占身體每天所消耗能量的30%。

That means lower temperatures can significantly increase the number of calories burned up instead of being stored as fat.
這說明了較低的溫度能顯著增加身體燃燒的卡路里，而不是讓其堆積轉化成脂肪。

Lead researcher Dr Wouter, from Maastricht University Medical Centre, said: ‘Since most of us are exposed to indoor conditions 90 per cent of the time, it is worth exploring health aspects of ambient temperatures.
來自馬斯特裏赫特大學醫療中心的首席研究員沃特醫生說：“因爲我們大多數人90%的時間都待在室內，探索周圍環境溫度對於健康的影響大有裨益。”

One research group in Japan had shown a decrease in body fat after volunteers spent two hours a day at 17℃ for six weeks, said the Dutch scientists.
荷蘭的科學家們說，日本的一個研究小組發現，志願者連續6周每天花2個小時待在17℃的環境後，體重都有所下降。

The Maastricht team also found that people got accustomed to the cold over time. After six hours a day in the cold for a period of 10 days, levels of heat-generating brown fat in the body increased and people became more comfortable and shivered less.
馬斯特裏赫特的這支團隊也發現，人們經過一段時間後會適應寒冷。在連續10天每天花6個小時待在寒冷的環境裏後，身體裏產生熱量的褐色脂肪增多，人體會覺得比較舒適而且也不那麼經常顫抖了。