If you’re having issues with your sleep, it’s easy to find advice online, but there’s so much out there that at times it can feel overwhelming. While we are all for sleep tips (it’s a large part of what our blog is devoted to, after all), we understand that it can be difficult to wade through all of the available information to find guidelines that will make a difference and are easy to stick to.
What if we told you though that there’s one thing you can try that’s almost guaranteed to make your sleep quality better — maybe even overnight? And that this tip is likely to improve not only your sleep, but your overall health, as well? It’s sleeping naked! Read on to learn the specific ways that sleeping in the buff can do wonders for your sleep and overall health.
1. Better Sleep
The first benefit is, of course, better sleep! Sleeping naked keeps your body from overheating during the night. Warm, fuzzy pajama fabrics may be comfy, but they can cause you to wake up in a sweat. In contrast, keeping your body cooler is conducive to better quality zzz’s.
2. Increased Intimacy
Skin-to-skin contact increases the hormone oxytocin, which can bond couples, drawing them closer emotionally and physically. In fact, Cotton USA surveyed couples in 2014 and found that those who slept together in the nude were 9% more likely to be happy in their relationship than pajama-wearers. Lying next to your partner while naked can also increase sexual desire, leading to greater intimacy.
3. Higher Sperm Count for Men
Overheated testicles can cause sperm to be lower-quality, making fertilization more difficult. In contrast, keeping the body cooler by sleeping in the nude can improve sperm count.
4. Lower Risk of Yeast Infections for Women
Sleeping naked reduces warmth and extra moisture between the legs, two key risk factors for yeast infections. Keeping things dry by sleeping in the nude can go a long way to prevent the infection and its unpleasant symptoms.
5. Weight Loss?
As mentioned above, sleeping naked makes your body cooler. As a result, in order to keep your temperature in an ideal place, the body speeds its metabolism and produces more “brown fat” — a special type of body fat that is activated when you get cold. Brown fat is often called the “good fat” because it uses calories to keep your body warm in cold conditions — making it a potentially helpful fat for those trying to lose weight. While more research needs to be done (and we’re definitely not saying that sleeping in the nude will solve all of your weight loss troubles), the potential benefits of brown fat for curbing obesity are certainly interesting… and it won’t hurt!
Sleep Disorders
While sleeping in the nude can accomplish a lot, there is one thing it definitely can’t do — and that’s help people with sleep disorders. Sleeping naked is great for getting better quality sleep and enjoying a few additional health benefits, but people who experience disorders like sleep apnea or insomnia are unlikely to see little improvement without treatment. Learn more about sleep apnea here. If you think you or a loved one have the condition, contact us today or request an appointment to learn more and get started with treatment.