Did you think pajamas were required at bedtime? Think again! It turns out that sleeping naked is great for your health and overall well-being.
Here’s how:
You may sleep better
Getting a solid night’s sleep sounds like a dream for those of us who are busy, stressed or light sleepers. Temperature affects how well you sleep, and the body’s core temperature needs to drop before bed in order to prepare you for a good night’s sleep.
The best temperature for deep sleep is between 60 and 70 degrees F. When it’s hotter than this, the body’s core temperature can’t drop as much as it should, and your body therefore isn’t as primed for sleep. Sleeping naked prevents the body from overheating, and therefore allows us to get a better night’s sleep.
You may age slower
There’s a reason the term ‘beauty sleep’ exists. When we sleep, anti-aging hormones, including melatonin and various growth hormones, are released. However, if our environment is too warm, our bodies overheat, which disrupts the release of these hormones.
Again, sleeping in the nude makes it less likely that we will overheat, so that the hormones that keep us young can be released and do their job.
It’ll make you happier… and friskier
Skin to skin contact releases the powerful feel-good hormone oxytocin—sometime called the ‘love’ hormone, which is associated with increased orgasm capacities and sexual responsiveness. This combination could lead to more frequent and more enjoyable lovemaking with your partner.
Furthermore, a recent study done by Cotton USA concluded that sleeping in the nude is beneficial for relationship health in that it encourages physical and emotional intimacy between couples.
It can reduce stress and body weight
Both stress levels and body weight are related to the hormone cortisol, which is actually responsible for a number of other health problems as well, including high blood pressure and cholesterol, disturbed sleep, increased appetite and a weak immune system. During the first few hours of the night, the cortisol levels in your body should decrease to their minimum level. Then, a few hours before you wake up, the body should start producing cortisol again to prepare you for the next day so that you’ll feel energized when you wake up.
However, if you don’t get quality sleep, your cortisol levels don’t have a chance to go down, and you wake up with even higher cortisol levels, which can stimulate your appetite for unhealthy foods, and increase your stress levels throughout the day. This is bad both for your waistline and your frame of mind.
As mentioned before, sleeping naked keeps you a healthy and comfortable temperature, and encourages quality sleep.
Tonight, try something new! Forgo the pajamas for your birthday suit, and sleep your way to better physical, emotional and relationship health.
-The Alternative Daily
Sources:
http://themindunleashed.org/2014/07/5-surprising-ways-sleeping-naked-can-benefit.html
http://www.medicaldaily.com/underneath-your-clothes-5-amazing-reasons-sleeping-naked-good-your-health-292278
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-athletes-way/201301/cortisol-why-the-stress-hormone-is-public-enemy-no-1
