Sleeping is one of my favorite activities and not just because of its rejuvenating qualities or its ability to give me a break from reality. Laying it down at night also gives me the opportunity to feel cool sheets on my bare skin.
Yes, I’m a naked sleeper and whenever I get the chance I ditch nightgowns and pajama pants for my birthday suit. We all enter into this world bare, so there must be some benefits to sleeping while in the buff.
How Many People Actually Sleep Naked?
Before we get into the why, let’s take a look at who is doing the naked sleeping nowadays.
A recent survey revealed that 1,000 Americans about their sleeping habits to understand if people are taking advantage of the benefits of sleeping naked. Nearly 29 percent of our respondents reported that they sleep naked but not everyone strips down every night. Of those who sleep naked here’s how often they do:
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- Every day: 16.3%
- A few days a week: 7%
- Once a week: 5.1%
- Monthly: 0.2%
The remaining 71.5 percent reported that they never sleep naked. If sleeping in the nude is so good for your body, why do so few of us actually do it? There are some obvious situations that would make sleeping naked a bit of a hindrance like using the restroom, grabbing a late-night snack, or responding to an emergency — nothing that a good old fashioned robe can’t fix though.
If you’re a naked sleeper or one who is curious about making the switch, here are a few benefits of sleeping naked that are sure to help you sleep even better.
6 Benefits of Sleeping Naked
1. It Helps Prevent Diabetes
This may sound like it’s a little far-fetched, but it’s true. Sleeping naked does have an effect on your weight and the likelihood of getting type 2 diabetes. This is because, when you sleep at a lower temperature, your body will automatically produce more brown fat. Brown fat, also called adipose tissue, is a special kind of body fat that is activated when we’re cold. It helps maintain your body temperature in cold conditions, and contains more mitochondria than white fat. Basically, the mitochondria in brown fat burn calories in order to produce heat and to use body fat as fuel. High levels of brown fat, in that regard, can aid in boosting one’s metabolism by burning blood sugar, reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes and obesity.
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2. It Can Shrink Belly Fat.
It may seem like an unconventional way to shrink inches around your midsection, but sleeping naked can help with burning fat while reducing cholesterol.
According to Huffington Post, when the body cools down at night growth hormones increase while simultaneously decreasing levels of cortisol (the “stress hormone” linked with weight gain). Wearing PJs might disrupt the body’s natural cool-down process and disrupt your natural sleep pattern. So if you want to burn calories while you snooze ditch the clothes and let your sheets caress your body for the evening.
3. It Reduces High Blood Pressure.
According to several studies, lying naked next to another person and skin-to-skin contact stimulates the body to produce more oxytocin.
This hormone is capable of keeping blood pressure normal, which is optimal for heart health, as well as strengthening the immune system and combating anxiety.
4. It Prevents Yeast Infections.
Yes, women, your lady parts can breathe. The vagina is a dark, damp and warm environment that is a host for various organisms, including small traces of candida. This organism is actually the fungus commonly known as yeast and is responsible for yeast infections in its overgrowth.
When the vagina is held captive by tight clothing or garments that aren’t breathable (polyester or synthetic pajama pants, panties or shorts) yeast can run rampant and cause that “uncomfortable feeling”.
Sleeping naked helps prevent the onset or worsening of yeast infections, especially in women. It helps to keep the genital area less humid and air-dry, making it difficult for fungus that causes yeast infections (Candida albicans), to multiply and spread. Check-out other home remedies for yeast infections that you can use to help treat and prevent this condition.
My gynecologist Dr. Mary Lynn, DO at Loyola Medical Center suggested that I ditch the panties at night to allow my vagina to breathe and it was the best advice I ever put to use for my sexual health. If you’re a woman who suffers from chronic yeast infections, going bare bottom at night at the least will help with the issue.
5. It Helps You Wake Up Better.
A night of deep sleep is what every person desires, especially those who have demanding work schedules throughout the week. If improving your quality of sleep and waking up more refreshed and happy is a desire of yours, then sleeping naked is a simple solution.
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, settling into a deep slumber causes your body temperature to drop naturally thanks to your Circadian Rhythm (ever get the chills when you become sleepy?).
Wearing pajamas to bed could affect your body’s ability to fall into its natural cool down and has been linked to the cause of insomnia. Insomnia leads to a morning full of stress, agitation, and crankiness (nobody wants that).
So, strip down to your bare bottom and give your body the boost it needs to help you drift into the best sleep of your life.
6. It Boosts Your Immune System.
According to multiple immunologists, sleep is essential for immune functioning. While our body is resting, the immune system cells can also focus all efforts and energy on a strong attack against viruses and bacteria. Also, sleep enhances a formation of memory antibodies to bacteria and viruses, to help build a stronger immune system for the future.
In fact, a 2010 study showed that a lack of sleep was associated with susceptibility to the common cold. In it, 153 participants were all exposed to a rhinovirus while only some of them were offered quality and longer duration sleep. With that, those who had shorter sleep durations were less likely to be resistant to the illness. So, for the sake of your immune system, perhaps it’s best to drop trou and get decent sleep.
(Extra Benefit) It Generates More Sex
Nothing inspires sex more than two naked bodies cuddled together in between the sheets. Sex regulates hormones, treats depression, improves mood, sparks creativity and creates a bond between lovers.
A study from Wilkes University in Pennsylvania also found that those who had sex once or twice a week had stronger immune systems compared to those who had sex less infrequently.
For the couple looking for simple ways to spice things up in the bedroom, sleeping naked together is simple, costs nothing and can turn into a fun experience for both partners. Cut out the time it takes to undress and jump in the sack and prepare for a night of erotic fun after your nap.
How to Sleep Naked Better
It’s one thing to just jump in bed naked, but if you really want to take advantage of all the benefits of sleeping naked, try these tips first:
- Make it a routine. Maintain a sleep-friendly bedtime routine to switch from active to relax mode.
- Regulate the temperature. Keep the window open at night for fresh air and temperature regulation, or close the windows and set the thermostat to somewhere between 65 and 68 degrees.
- Take a shower before you go to bed. You’ll feel cleaner once you say bye-bye to daytime sweat and dirt from outside. You’ll also cue your body to begin its wind-down. You should also exfoliate two to three times a week to get rid of dead skin and lingering sweat.
- Splurge on high-quality bedding, sheets, and pillowcases. If you’re to bed in your birthday suit, why not make your bed feel softer than silk? Stick with soft, light fabrics like cotton or bamboo.
- Transition slowly by sleeping in an airy t-shirt (without undies) for a while before going fully nude. There’s no reason to go all the way when it’s just you and the bed.
So go ahead and sleep naked. It’s good for you.
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Glamazon Tyomi is a freelance writer, model and sex educator with a deeply rooted passion for spreading the message of sex positivity and encouraging the masses to embrace their sexuality. Her website, www.sexperttyomi.com, reaches internationally as a source for advice and information for the sexually active/curious. Follow her on Twitter at @glamazontyomi and the all-new “Glamazon Tyomi’s Sex Academy” radio show here.
