We get it. Sleeping in the buff is not always convenient. You might have a new-born who you have to get up for every hour.
Or small children or fur babies who love to wiggle their way into your bed.
You may get chilly in the small hours or you may be in a houseshare where stumbling to the bathroom in the middle of the night could see you lose your modesty.
There are tons of reasons you may be holding back from stripping down and embracing the benefits of sleeping naked. But if you can sleep naked, we encourage you to do so as the health benefits are amazing.
When you throw off the clothes and let yourself sink into a deep sleep without the constriction of material and fit, your self-esteem can soar, your skin temperature can find some comfort, and your circadian rhythm can get back on track.
Yet, sleeping nude is more than just a skin deep issue.
It can also help lower your risk of heart disease, reduce stress levels, and help your body's metabolism too.
Even if you don't do it every night, just opting to explore the benefits of sleeping naked a few times a week can work wonders when it comes to quality sleep.
Let's take a look at all the best reasons for sleeping nude and help you get some decent shuteye.
Here are the top 5 reasons (and some health information) as to why you should ditch your pajamas at bedtime and join all those naked sleepers out there who know the secret to sweet uninterrupted sleep...
1. Your skin can breathe
Stripping down and sleeping naked allows for better air circulation making it easier for your skin to breathe. Most of the day, your armpits, feet and nether regions are covered, so freeing your skin at night gives them a chance to breathe.
Certain types of underwear and materials can cause the genitals to overheat as moisture and warmth create an environment for a vaginal infection to thrive. This can lead to all kinds of things from vaginal yeast infections to even having an impact on male fertility. The testicles are also happier when cool, which can encourage a higher sperm count.
For those who tend to be chronic sufferers of the dreaded yeast infection, by letting your bits breathe can truly make all the difference when it comes to combatting a vaginal yeast infection or raising the stakes of fertility issues.
This free air circulation can reduce your chance of infection and keep your body healthy and balanced.
Sleeping nude can also help you to prevent skin disease and other infections. People who get too hot when sleeping can be more prone to rashes, inflammation, and other breakouts. Sleeping naked truly can help you get a better night's sleep and better skin...
... They don't call it beauty sleep for nothing.
2. You will have a sounder sleep
Is there anything better than a good sleep? A study conducted at the University of South Australia about sleeping naked found that if you want a deeper sleep, then shove aside your pajamas.
Why?
Before the body sleeps, it needs to lower its core temperature. Clothing was found to prolong this process, taking longer for you to get off to sleep. If you sleep naked, the body can regulate its temperature quicker and this could help you to fall asleep faster.
This is also good news for all those who struggle with a good night's sleep because of night sweats brought on by certain health conditions or even just having a higher body temp due to menopause or hormone cycles.
Sleeping cooler is all about sleeping better and to do this you need a better bedroom temperature and a lower body temperature.
In fact, better sleep is super important to our overall health and wellbeing as during this time our cells regenerate, leading to better health and overall life satisfaction.
3. It boosts overall mental health
If you are a ball of stress every day, sleeping naked can help you to unwind and relax. According to researchers at the Swedish University of Animal Sciences, sleeping in the nude can trigger anti-stress effects and is linked to the love hormone, oxytocin. Oxytocin levels can rise while you sleep, especially if you are sleeping naked with your partner as the skin-to-skin contact releases this hormone into the bloodstream.
Not only can bedding down in your birthday suit encourage oxytocin release but it can also improve your love life and stimulate a sense of self-esteem and eroticism. As the skin on skin contact forges a bond between people, it can even help to keep long term relationships on track.
Even without the nod to sex, sleeping naked helps you to connect to a more positive body image.
The more comfortable and confident we feel in life, the less stressed we are. Having a negative relationship with body image can be truly damaging to our enjoyment of life.
In fact, those who participate in naturist activities have been found to have higher levels of life satisfaction. This could be down to the idea of normalizing the body, letting go of shame and becoming more comfortable with your own body in general.
Even more interesting is how better sleep can lessen depressive symptoms.
Studies have shown that there is a link between poor sleep and depression especially for those who don't get to the rapid eye movement sleep. So in the interest of health and happiness, throw off those bedclothes and bed down without any barriers.
You can easily start this journey to higher esteem, improved mood, and lower stress levels by stripping down at night. After all, if it can improve your sleep quality and heighten your sense of self-harmony, then it's got to be worth a go.
4. It helps regulate cortisol levels
Cortisol is a steroid hormone and also a stress hormone that is produced by the adrenal glands. If you have too much of it, it can wreak havoc on the body.
Cortisol is more commonly known in response to our central nervous system and plays a major role in our fight or flight choices. But it also does so much more, including helping to balance blood pressure and blood sugar, regulating our energy levels, and helping to control the sleep and wake cycle.
So if your cortisol is off, it can have a huge knock-on effect when it comes to everything from brain capacity to stress levels.
Not convinced?
Think of it this way: if you are overheated when you sleep, your cortisol will stay high, even after you have woken up. This can lead to anxiety, weight gain and a range of other health issues.
Sleeping naked may help to reduce your cortisol levels as it helps keep your temperature at the right levels.
When we have our cortisol level under control and are resting in an ideal temperature, we are less likely to wake up in the night too which leads to longer sleep duration and a better chance of our sleep hitting a good quality standard.
5. You can lose weight while you sleep
Losing weight while you sleep rather than on a sweaty treadmill or stressing about burning calories? Perfect.
The National Institutes of Health found sleeping naked can help your body burn more calories through increased metabolism. An increased metabolism occurs when you lose temperature faster.
But back to metabolism and sleep. Animal studies have shown that cooler temperatures can help increase brown fat. Brown fat is a special type of body fat that is activated when you hit lower temperatures. Brown fat also helps to break down blood sugar and fat molecules in an effort to heat the body.
When this happens, it can help with weight loss.
Not only can this help you maintain and lose weight, but it also helps reduce your chances of developing diabetes. Studies have shown there is an association between lower sleep duration and developing diabetes. There have also been studies that show a link between inadequate sleep and weight gain.
The benefits of sleeping naked have a whole lot more to do with than just body temperature regulation. It not only leads to quality sleep, but sleeping naked is also good for your body and your mind.
Fall asleep faster, improve your sleep quality, max out on the health benefits, and have the best night ever. And FINALLY get enough sleep. Just make sure you do kick Fido out from under the covers before you embark on your nude slumber!
You might also like:
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- Making Your Bedroom Magic
- How to Make Your Bed Even Better
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