Sleeping Naked – To Do, or Not To Do?

Studies show that inadequate sleep leads to a number of conditions and illnesses. Weight gain, to mood disorders, to poor judgment and risk-taking behavior, to cardio-vascular problems, to cancer even, can be linked to inadequate sleep and/or poor quality of sleep.[1]  Hormonal imbalance is cited as a common medical condition that leads to several illnesses and other medical conditions. Sleep, or rather good quality sleep, helps balance hormones and enhances the production of desirable hormones like oxytocin, Human Growth Hormone, Leptin, etc. It stands to reason then that sleeping enough and sleeping well is absolutely essential for every person.

A study shows that 90% of Indians do not sleep enough. So the questions begging to be asked is how can we (especially those of living in urban India) ensure that we get good quality sleep in the hours that we have to sleep?

Sleeping naked, as an effective way to enhance the quality of sleep is increasingly gaining ground (very slowly), even in scientific circles. Besides being more fun than a glass of warm milk before bed-time, and a million times safer than popping sleeping pills, sleeping naked has a whole range of benefits for the person looking to improve his/her quality of sleep.

Human beings are endotherms, capable, and dependent on generating internal body heat, in response to body functions/needs, and external stimuli. So, when we are tired, our internal body temperature drops, signaling the need to decrease activity and rest. Sleeping nude is a natural way to let the body regulate its own temperature.

Currently, sleeping naked is not very popular, especially in a country like India, where we may not always have the kind of privacy needed for sleeping in the buff. But there are numerous benefits to sleeping in the nude. If possible, it is a healthy habit that, if cultivated, can bring us a lot of joy and increased well being. Broadly speaking, sleeping naked, optimizes brain performance, physical health, and even contributes to sexual, emotional, and social health.

Optimizes Brain Health and Performance

Studies have shown that lowering the body temperature decreases the number of times we wake up at night, significantly improving the quality of sleep. Good quality sleep allows the brain to detoxify and remove toxic proteins (that accumulate when awake). This detoxification optimizes the brain’s cognitive functioning, and creative thinking, and also enhances emotional reactions.

Sleeping naked, allows the body to regulate its core temperature naturally. Perspiration is the way the body cools itself down, and sleeping in the nude allows perspiration to dry naturally on the body.

Enhances Physical Well Being

When sleeping nude, perspiration, which would otherwise get trapped in night clothes, leading to skin infections, dries naturally on the body or is absorbed by the bed linen. Women prone to yeast infections will find sleeping without nightclothes particularly beneficial, in that a cool, dry skin is less prone to bacterial and skin infections. The male testes are designed to maintain sperm at a temperature just below the core body temperature. Pajamas or tight underwear that hold the testicles close to the body and thereby increase their temperature can lead to poor sperm quality. Without the restricting confines of clothes, blood circulation improves, and this is good for the heart and other muscles.

Improves Metabolism

A good night’s sleep, enhanced by a body free of external encumbrances, leads to increased production of the Human Growth Hormone (HGF), which is needed for tissue repair of hair and skin, and burns fat while we sleep. HGF production decreases as we age, so it makes sense to harness this as best we can

Sleeping naked improves metabolism. What this basically means is that sleeping in the buff is a highly cost-effective way to reduce weight gain, and increase weight loss! Lowering body temperature increases metabolism. Your body starts producing brown fat to keep itself warm. The best part is that brown fat is actually a good thing. Unlike white fat, which many of us need to avoid accumulating, brown fat is found in young animals and has just one main purpose, and that is to keep the body warm. Brown fat burns calories to keep the body warm. So maybe it’s time to indulge in some beauty sleep! Ditch the pajamas, let your body temperature drop, let the brown fat start to build, and not only do you get some great sleep, but you can also use up some of the excess calories, doing absolutely nothing!

Improves Sex Life, Emotional State, and Social Life

Sleeping naked boosts intimacy and enhances your sex life. Intimacy and skin to skin contact leads to the release of oxytocin which is known to lower blood pressure and anxiety and boost the immune system

When you sleep in PJs, chances are that when you are at home, you will tend to lounge around in them. Sleeping naked means you get up and get dressed, and that in itself gives a sense of purpose to your day. A good night’s sleep leads to better-regulated moods and overall makes you a happier, relaxed person who is able to interact and socialize better.

To sum up, sleeping naked might just be the answer to insomnia you have been battling, help reduce your stress levels and right that hormonal imbalance which is causing you so many problems.

Given that in India, many of us share our sleeping place with siblings, relatives, or friends, sleeping naked may not be the best option. In that case, loose-fitting light clothes made from pure fibers is your next best option. For those of you who can, maybe it is time to sleep commando and reap the benefits! There are absolutely no medical reasons against sleeping naked.