When we're cold, we shiver. The involuntary vibrations help us generate body heat so that we don't freeze. And all that motion also has a secondary benefit for modern humans — it burns calories, and potentially fat. Can we really shiver our way to better health?
It almost sounds like a pitch from an informercial, but it's true: one study from 2014 found that just 15 minutes of shivering might provide similar fat-burning benefits as a full hour of moderate exercise. Our instinctive response to the cold helps stimulate a key hormone called irisin that helps the body produce a specific type of fat conducive to weight loss.
