Sleeping in your birthday suit — AKA naked— is rumored to have a variety of health benefits in many ways. But is there any truth to these rumors?
So, is sleeping naked good for you? Yes, sleeping naked is good for you. According to Forbes, sleeping naked has the following health benefits:
- You’ll sleep better.
- It’ll reduce stress.
- It can help you lose weight.
In dissecting the dreamy world of sleeping naked, this article will discuss the following topics:
● How being naked affects your sleep quality
● Health benefits of sleeping naked
● Other perks of sleeping naked
● Things to consider before sleeping naked
How Being Naked Affects Your Sleep Quality
When you sleep naked, you will notice that you fall asleep faster than usual. This is because sleeping naked cools down your body temperature, which makes for an easier and smoother transition from awakeness to deep sleep.
But how exactly does this happen?
Human beings have evolved to regulate our temperature internally and in response to external factors. This process is called thermoregulation and is extremely important for function. Body temperature is important in regulating your biological clock, also known as the circadian rhythm. This “clock” is responsible for alerting your body to go to sleep when it needs to.
When you opt for pajamas, the layer of clothes acts as insulators that trap heat and may interfere with the body’s natural thermoregulation process. Your body needs to cool down by a considerable amount for it to rest, and cooling down is easiest when there are no external interferences (like clothing).
So, while your thick flannel pajamas might look comfortable, it could be counterproductive in terms of getting you proper rest.
Studies by the National Sleep Foundation have shown that body temperature rises naturally until evening and drops when the night comes. When your temperature is on the rise, you’re most likely to feel alert and awake; when it’s falling, you’re likely to feel drowsy.
So, cooling down at night tells us we are supposed to go to sleep and performed naked can be healthier for our body clock and for falling asleep easily.
So, when you sleep naked, you can expect an improvement in your overall sleep quality. The ideal temperature for sleep in your bedroom is 60 and 67°F (15 to 19°C).
Rapid eye movement (REM) sleep is the dream stage of sleep that helps refresh your brain and body. It’s also the most important stage of your rest, and it can only be achieved at a comfortable temperature.
Lower skin temperatures can also reduce middle-of-the-night arousals and early morning waking. And fewer interruptions mean better sleep quality.
To cap it off, a study in 2018 interviewed 1,015 people about their sleeping habits and revealed that nearly 70% feel more comfortable sleeping naked, while 58.2% thought it provides more relaxation.
Health Benefits of Sleeping Naked
Sleeping without any clothes may feel ‘unnatural’ to some people, which keeps them from ever ditching their pajamas… but what could be more natural than sleeping naked?
After all, we are the only animals who dress up to go to bed. Getting into this “natural” state could offer a plethora of health benefits:
Reduced chance of yeast infection
Women who are prone to vaginal yeast infections may benefit from sleeping naked.
Dr. Alyssa Dweck, gynecologist, and assistant of OB/GYN at the Icahn School of Medicine explained that taking your panties off reduces the chances of getting vaginal infections since yeast and bacteria flourishes in dark, warm and damp places— so ladies, going commando might be the wise thing to do.
In addition, removing bras before going to bed is also highly recommended for better blood circulation and preventing skin irritation.
Healthier sperm
Sleeping naked is not only for the ladies. A study conducted by the National Institute of Child Health and Development in Maryland and Stanford University found that wearing pajamas or boxer shorts can be detrimental to the production of sperm. This detriment means decreased chances if you’re trying for a baby.
The same study reports that men who ditch their boxers at night had 25% less DNA fragmentation in their sperm compared to those who didn’t. This is because sleeping naked cools down the testicles, which has been correlated with higher sperm quality.
Weight loss
Another unexpected advantage of sleeping naked is that it could actually aid you in losing a few pounds.
As previously described, sleeping naked mainly help in regulating a person’s temperature to a cooler, more optimum temperature.
A study conducted by the US National Institutes of Health suggests that this added coolness triggers your body to create more brown fat, which produces 300 times more heat than any other bodily organs.
How does this ‘brown fat’ produce so much heat? By burning calories.
Not only does this mean that you’re getting rid of extra calories by virtually doing nothing, but the production of brown fat also boosts your metabolism all day long when you’re awake. This means that the benefits of sleeping naked carry well throughout the rest of the (clothed) day.
Your skin heals faster and looks younger
Sleeping naked is proven to be good for the health of your skin and physical beauty.
A study split lightly wounded participants into three categories. The first category was sleep-deprived, the second received sufficient sleep, while the last was given extra nutrients but sleep-deprived.
Results from the study suggest that participants who got a good night of sleep healed faster, likely due to better immune response and skin barrier restoration. Sleep-deprived people, even with the added boost of nutrients, heal at a noticeably slower rate.
The cooling effect of sleeping naked is also anti-aging. When your body temperature is below 69 degrees Fahrenheit (21°C), the sleep hormone known as melatonin works optimally.
Studies suggest that melatonin stimulates fibroblast growth— special cells responsible for collagen and elastin production, both of which are associated with youthful wrinkle-free skin. The skin is your body’s largest organ, so regularly ‘cooling’ and ‘letting it breathe’ will be beneficial to your overall health.
Other than Melatonin and Fibroblast, The Human Growth Hormone (also known as HGH) is also released during sleep. HGH is known for repairing tissue, building muscle, and burning fat throughout the night.
Interestingly, this ‘magic hormone’ has been proven to be released less effectively when there is too much fabric or weight on your body. It seems like a whole plethora of hormones generally work better when your body is nude and cool, so sleeping naked is definitely something worth trying.
It reduces the risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes
Sleeping in itself has been proven to reduce diabetes risks, which in turn reduces the potential for heart disease. Because sleeping naked gives you a better night of sleep, it contributes to the prevention of both of these issues.
Many other studies are still researching the diseases that could be prevented with a good night’s sleep, and the list of illnesses is expanding. Though the world of sleeping is still in a way a big mystery to us, it’s clear that many restorative processes happen within those unconscious hours.
It prevents hot flashes
Menopause is an inevitable part of womanhood and could bring a series of uncomfortable symptoms.
One of those symptoms is hot flashes, infamous for waking women up during the night. Sleeping naked could help reduce this symptom and make for a night of better sleep.
Other Perks of Sleeping Naked
Sleeping naked is good for the body, as the previous section has made clear.
However, letting it out at night can also benefit you in a non-physical way.
So, when sources like Forbes claim that sleeping naked could make you wealthier, what do they mean?
Well, it turns out the psychological benefits of sleeping naked can improve one’s mental health, which in turn helps them to function better in society.
Here’s how:
Sleeping naked boosts self-esteem
For most modern people, nudity is reserved for the bathroom and special nights. Most of the time, our bodies are covered with articles of clothing, which makes us believe it’s the natural state of being.
However, spending more time nude while sleeping gives us more opportunities to observe and get comfortable with our own skin. The more comfortable you are with yourself, the more confident you’ll become.
With boosted confidence, you will have a stronger sense of your own authenticity that could reflect well in day-to-day affairs; a study conducted by The University of Melbourne found that people who are confident are likely to earn higher salaries.
Of course, sleeping naked will not automatically turn you into a billionaire, but embracing every opportunity to understand and accept yourself will benefit you in many ways.
Improved relationship with your partner
While it may sound obvious, sleeping naked could bring great joy to couples. The science of this is more incredible than you think.
When you’re not wearing any clothes, the skin-to-skin contact triggers your body to produce Oxytocin, which is commonly known as ‘Love hormone.’ Oxytocin is a powerful hormone that’s also produced when mothers hold on to their babies.
The hormone is mainly related to familial bonding in other animals, but specifically love and friendship in humans. Not all species evolve to produce Oxytocin, but those who have it are capable of developing stronger bonds.
This article is owned by Sleeping Report and was first published on March 17, 2020
While correlation does not mean causation, it is no surprise that people who sleep naked report having happier relationships than those who don’t.
Reduced stress and anxiety
Stress is at best burdensome, and at its worst deadly. It’s no brainer that high-stress levels could physically affect a person since it is known to suppress the immune system. And as you’re probably aware, a compromised immune system makes you much more likely to get sick.
To make matters worse, stress increases the chances of heart disease, weight gain, and depressive episodes. Thankfully, we have a ‘stress hormone’ called Cortisol that deals with any stress triggers.
To be effective, Cortisol must be kept at a regular level. A good night’s sleep achieved by ways such as sleeping naked has been proven to maintain, reset, and stabilize Cortisol levels.
Remember Oxytocin? This ‘Love hormone’ is not only great for interpersonal bonding but is also highly effective in reducing stress and anxiety. It can also boost our immune system, which is very vulnerable to stress.
This article is owned by Sleeping Report and was first published on March 17, 2020
The combination of Oxytocin and nudity usually (and unsurprisingly) to intimate moments and sexual intercourse, which is obviously different from sleeping but a great stressbuster, nonetheless. A study showed that people who had no sex at all are prone to higher stress levels than those who do.
Things to Consider Before Sleeping Naked
Sleeping naked benefits people psychologically and physically, so the short answer is: Yes, sleeping naked is good for you. If you’ve been a pajama-wearer all your life, it’s definitely worth it to give nudity a try.
However, it’s also important to remember that the difference between sleeping “normally” and sleeping naked is the extra cooling effect nakedness provides.
This means that if you are naked but are also underneath a thick fluffy layer of a blanket, you might as well wear clothes. If you are interested in spending your first night of sleeping naked, you should also keep these things in mind:
Sleeping naked = A greater need for privacy
If you’re lucky and have a place of your own, and don’t live with anybody else (except maybe a partner), then sleeping naked would be an easy procedure for you.
However, if you are living with another person, sleeping naked also means a higher need for privacy. Unless you’re comfortable with your living mates seeing you naked, you’ll need to take extra steps to avoid this awkward interaction.
Research by the Underwriter Laboratories Firefighter Safety Institute shows that only 29% of Americans sleep with their bedroom door closed, while over 50% keep their bedroom door open.
If you’re going to be sleeping naked, you have to pay more attention and time to ensuring privacy before bedtime. Otherwise, you are prone to mutually awkward situations.
You should keep a night robe nearby
While many people avoid sleeping naked simply because it feels ‘unnatural,’ some are concerned with how middle-of-the-night activities are to be conducted.
For example, what happens if you’re thirsty at night? What if you need to go to the bathroom? What if someone knocks on your door?
The idea of having to put on all your clothes before removing it again minutes later may seem ridiculous but having a night robe nearby can eliminate nearly all of those dilemmas.
Night robes are specifically designed for sleeping, so they are made with soft materials and are easy to put on or take off. Plus, traveling with a one-night robe is simpler than packing multiple sets of pajamas or other sleeping attire.
Make sure the temperature is right
Since you’re going to sleep naked and be void of external insulators (clothes, blankets, etc.), make sure that your room is at the perfect temperature (60- 67°F / 15 -19°C).
For the next eight hours, your body is doing all the temperature regulation it needs and if a room is too cold or too warm, you’re making your body work harder than it should to regulate temperature.
This may jeopardize other important processes like hormone release and autoimmune repair. If you want to get the full benefits of sleeping naked, you have to do it right.
Make sure you’re comfortable with it
There’s a certain rawness and a ‘you-can’t-hide’ feeling from nudity, which may make some people feel uncomfortable with sleeping naked.
For starters, you don’t have to go all the birthday-suit on your first night. Instead, you can start slow by removing a certain article of clothing and keeping some on.
For example, if you feel OK with sleeping topless but are unsure about losing your pants, you should probably keep on your pants.
As previously mentioned, a great benefit from sleeping naked is learning how to be comfortable in your own skin which in turn boosts confidence.
If going completely naked makes you feel vulnerable and uncomfortable instead, you should take it slow and learn to be comfortable in stages. After all, this is your body, and this is your journey; there’s no need to make it harder.
SleepingReport.com copyright article was updated on ..
Conclusion
To wear pajamas or not to wear pajamas? Whatever your choice is, here are some key points you should take away from the article:
- Sleeping naked cools your body down and help with thermoregulation. The cooling effect has been proven to improve sleep quality and the release of specific hormones.
- There are many benefits to sleeping naked physically and psychologically. People who sleep naked are healthier, have better skin, more confidence, and have fewer chances of getting infections.
- Before you sleep naked, it’s important to establish what you’re comfortable with and ensure that you have your needed privacy. Have a night robe nearby, and don’t forget to lock the bedroom door.
