August 05, 2015
If you've been tossing and turning through the night lately, it could be a sign that you need to ditch that gigantic shirt you got from a 5K in 1998 and relieve yourself of all garments while you're at it.
Sleep deprivation can wreak havoc on your productivity at work and your personal life outside of it, from unhealthy cravings and damaged skin to memory loss, reduced sex drive and chemical imbalances detrimental to heart health, Medical Daily reports.
One way to improve disrupted sleep patterns is to wear your birthday suit to bed as often as temperatures allow. According to a list put together by Lifehack, the following five benefits, among others, are attributed to sleeping naked. They might just help you get more vitality of your shut-eye.
1. Better regulation of cortisol
As the body's primary stress hormone, cortisol works to reduce inflammation, but the upshot is a suppressed immune system that can lead to sickness, weight gain, high blood pressure, and fertility issues—especially when coupled with a demanding lifestyle. Sleeping lighter keeps your body temperature lower and reduces high cortisol levels associated with overheating.
2. Balance of melatonin and growth hormone
Taking melatonin as a sleep aid can be helpful, but if you could boost your levels naturally, you might not need to rely on it. Keeping your sleep environment below 70 degrees Fahrenheit helps regulate both melatonin and growth hormone, preventing your body from aging prematurely. Again, without clothing, you'll be less likely to overheat.
3. It's good for your sex organs
Men and women both stand to gain from going nude at night. Cooler, freer sleeping conditions keep testes at a cooler temperature, improving sperm and overall reproductive health. For women, a cooler night's sleep reduces the risk of yeast infections, as yeast thrives in warm, moist conditions.
4. It motivates you to get up and moving
Pajamas tend to keep you on the couch and in comfort mode, but if you wake up every morning without clothes on, you may find yourself more inclined to jump start the day by dressing for the activities in your schedule.
5. It can improve your relationship
Sleeping naked with a significant other increases skin-to-skin contact, in turn releasing higher levels of the neurotransmitter oxytocin. This powerful "love molecule" has numerous salutary effects, from reducing social fears and anxieties to helping heal wounds through its anti-inflammatory properties. As for your relationship, it increases both arousal and performance.
If you don't sleep naked already, you may want to give it a try and see if you feel any better in the mornings. If you find that shedding clothes helps you shed bad habits and other areas of your life are improving, it may be something you want to do on a regular basis.
Check out the additional benefits at Lifehack.
