Sleeping naked has always been thought of as a bit taboo, but new research has revealed some surprising effects on our health when we sleep unclothed. Despite its rather provocative connotation, which was the basis for its taboo status, sleeping undressed doesnโt always have to be about making love (although it can help your relationship).
Itโs actually a remarkable way to boost several aspects of your overall health for the mind and body! Whether you love to snuggle into bed wearing your cozy pajamas, or if you prefer to solely don your undies, youโre about to find out why removing all of your clothing before bedtime is the best thing for your health, and love life.
1. OXYTOCIN IS RELEASED
When you and your partner decide to give this โsleeping nakedโ thing a try, hereโs what you will discover: skin-to-skin contact is the best thing ever. One of the hormones that is released when we sleep undressed is oxytocin, the โlove hormone.โ This hormone is beneficial to our health in many ways- it can lower blood pressure, decrease stress levels, help combat depression, and it makes you a happier person in general. Not to mention, your love life will probably improve drastically. Removing those unnecessary undergarments before bed may just be the thing that gives you the spark youโve been looking for.
In 2014, a survey was taken of approximately 1,000 British married couples. 57% of the couples who slept bare body reported feeling very happy in their relationship, while only 48% of the couples who slept in PJโs reported the same. 15% of those who slept in onesies reported feeling only โsatisfiedโ with their partner. Yeahโฆ Maybe lose the onesie.
Related: 10 Helpful Ways To Increase Oxytocin (Love Hormone) Levels In Your Body
2. CORTISOL LEVELS ARE LOWERED
When your body goes into sleep mode, it has an automatic response to drop its temperature, and sleeping unclothed helps to regulate this temperature. This act of regulation helps to maintain normal levels of cortisol. When there is too much cortisol in the system, you experience higher levels of stress, anxiety, junk food cravings, and even weight gain.
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3. YOU WILL EXPERIENCE A MORE RESTFUL SLEEP
Speaking of body temperature, when youโre sleeping in pajamas, wrapped in a blanket, you are causing your body to overheat. This prevents the body from reaching its optimal temperature for deep sleep to occur. Tossing, turning, and restlessness can all be prevented by wearing less clothing and keeping your body cool.
Related: What Your Sleeping Position Reveals About Your Personality
4. YOU WILL LOOK YOUNGER, LONGER
There are other hormones that are released when we sleep, and their effectiveness is based on body temperature as well. Melatonin and growth hormones, which contribute to anti-aging and skin health, are successfully released when the body temperature is lowered. To aid in this, it is recommended to keep your bedroom below 70หF (21หC). So if you want to keep those wrinkles at bay, take a walk on the wild side and give sleeping unclothed a whirl.
5. TESTICULAR HEALTH IS IMPROVED
If youโre a guy and you are looking to keep those swimmers of yours as healthy as possible, sleeping in the state of nature is the answer to your problems. In fact, researchers from the National Institute of Child Health and Development and Stanford University have discovered wearing boxers during the day, and going commando at night improves overall sperm quality.
The researchers studied 500 men, each of whom explained their sleeping habits and underwear choice, for a full year. They discovered men who followed the โboxer-by-day/commando-by-nightโ routine had a 25 percent lower rate of damaged DNA in their sperm than did men who wore tighter underwear 24/7.
โWe have known for some time that men who increase the temperature of their testicles, either through the heat exposure at work or by wearing tight underwear, have poorer semen quality compared to men whose testicles are cooler,โ said Allan Pacey, a leading fertility expert and researcher at the University of Sheffield in England, told the New York Post.
6. REDUCES RISK OF YEAST INFECTIONS
Although yeast infections are considered common and easily treatable, they are also easily avoidable. By preventing the conditions the infection needs to thrive, you can completely eradicate the need for treatment. Yeast grows in warm and moist environments. By sleeping in your birthday suit and (again) keeping your body temperature cooler, you can prevent these infections from growing and spreading.
7. YOU WILL GAIN CONFIDENCE
Maybe you need the boost, maybe you donโt. Either way, sleeping without clothes is a great way to really become comfortable in your own skin. Waking up in the morning and feeling completely refreshed from a good nightโs sleep helps to create a happier you. A happier you is a more confident you, and a more confident you is a happier you.
Related: What Your Sleeping Position Reveals About Your Personality
8. IT FEELS WONDERFUL
Our bodyโs pores are great at releasing sweat when we overheat, but when we are sleeping their job can be inhibited by the clothes we wear. Youโve been there before- trying to sleep in the sweltering summer night while dressed in PJs.
The clothes stick to your skin, the blanket makes you feel like youโre in an oven, so you kick it off and turn the A/C on only to discover you are now freezing because of the sweat created from wearing too many clothes.
The next 2 hours are spent trying to find a happy medium- one leg and arm exposed from the blanket, socks off, fan on, A/C off, etc. until your body regulates it temperature low enough to give you some rest.
Related: How Your Diet Affects Your Productivity: The Scientific Links
This can be avoided by sleeping wearing nothing. It feels great, really. You donโt have to worry about sweating in the middle of the night due to clothing.
With all of these things mentioned, you should definitely try sleeping uncovered. For those of you who are curious but โjust donโt think itโs for youโ or if you have any qualms about the taboo nature or sexual undertones implicated with sleeping without clothes, I suggest you keep this in mind: itโs just a body. Not everything needs to be sexualized, and some things are just healthier to do without clothing. Although if you have a partner and want to try sleeping together in the nude, then yeah, sexualize the hell out of it.
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