Dr. Becky Maes - Is It Bad For You? Approved by Dr. Becky Maes

Is Sleeping Naked Bad For You?


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A


Short answer

No, sleeping naked is not bad for you. As strange as it sounds, snoozing in the nude actually provides many benefits, including an improved quality of sleep and reduced stress levels. It may also help boost your metabolism.

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A


Long answer

People have a lot of different preferences when it comes to how they sleep. Some like total peace and quiet, while others prefer the comforting drone of a fan or television. Some wear pajamas... and others wear absolutely nothing at all. In fact, one in three adults sleeps completely naked, reports the U.S. National Sleep Foundation.

So what are the perks of stripping down? Or could sleeping naked be bad for you?

There’s not a lot of evidence to suggest that sleeping naked is harmful in any way. However, by contrast, there many new studies reporting clear benefits. Most notably, sleeping naked seems to improve your quality of rest. A research study by the University of Amsterdam revealed that reducing your body temperature helps promote a deeper sleep, reducing the number of times you awake during the night. Rather than blasting the air conditioner, sleeping naked is an easy, cost-effective way to lower your skin temperature without racking up utility bills.

And if you want another good reason to get naked with your partner, sleeping in the buff can also help reduce both of your stress levels. Studies have shown that skin-to-skin contact triggers the release of oxytocin, a hormone which alleviates stress and anxiety. Oxytocin also helps protect your heart, reduce your blood pressure and boost your immune system.

In addition to improving your sleep quality and health, sleeping naked may also help you lose weight. The US National Institutes of Health recently studied the correlation between the human body’s metabolism and sleep temperatures. Researchers found that keeping things cool during sleep forces the body to generate warmth by creating brown fat. This type of fat creates heat by burning up calories, which boosts metabolism.

As you can see, there are many health benefits to sleeping naked. However, many of these are specific to lowering your body temperature, so it’s important not to overdo it. Cooler does not always equal better: sleeping in extreme cold will have adverse effects on your health. So what’s the right temperature? Most researchers agree that between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit is ideal. Find your perfect temperature by listening to your body to ensure you can rest comfortably in those conditions.

Listening to your body is always good advice, as sleeping naked might not be for everyone. If it makes you feel uncomfortable, you won’t be able to get a good night’s rest which can increase stress. The only way to know for sure is to strip down and try it out—but don’t force it.


Benefits

  • improves quality of sleep
  • reduces stress and anxiety
  • promotes heart health
  • promotes weight loss
  • helps lower blood pressure
  • speeds up metabolism



Thank you for your feedback!

View Sources | Written by Rachel Adams
Published on: 11-27-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016

Thank you for your feedback!

View Sources
Written by Rachel Adams
Published on: 11-27-2016
Last updated: 12-10-2016




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