WHEN it comes to life and the health benefits of all that we do, it is only natural that we want to make the most out of everything - even sleeping.
In that light, it has been claimed that sleeping in the nude has more benefits than sleeping fully-clothed.
Is there any truth to this?
VERDICT:
TRUE (Potentially)
Much research has been carried out into the benefits of sleeping in the nude, and studies suggest that doing so has several potential benefits.
The findings of these studies have suggested that sleeping in the nude can help to reduce a person's core body temperature, potentially improve weight loss and for men, boost their fertility.
In an article, the website healthline.com said that a 2012 study by the National Institutes of Health in the United States found that the temperature of the room where one sleeps is one of the crucial factors in achieving quality sleep.
"If it’s too cold or too hot, you risk impacting your rapid eye movement sleep, which is the dream stage of sleep that helps refresh your brain and body. Sleeping naked is one way to stay cool beneath the covers," it said.
Aside from this, the findings of a 2018 study published in the American Physiological Society's Journal of Applied Physiology suggests that wounds heal faster if a person sleeps naked.
In the study, participants were split into three groups — one that received “adequate” sleep, one that was sleep-deprived, and a third that was sleep-deprived but received extra nutrients.
What was found was that the group that slept well recovered faster than the other two groups.
And the extra nutrition? It didn’t make a significant difference in how fast the wounds healed.
As for sleeping in the nude, it will boost healing if it helps achieve quality sleep.
Finally, when it comes to male fertility, an article published on the website sleepfoundation.org says that research suggests wearing tight-fitting underwear increases the temperature of the scrotum.
"This can decrease sperm vitality and count. For this reason, wearing boxers versus tighter fitting underwear may impact the concentration of sperm in men. Additionally, there is evidence that scrotal cooling directly impacts sperm health and motility."
Weight loss is also possible, according to a small 2014 study by the American Diabetes Association.
"Keeping your body colder at night may help boost your calorie-burning abilities. A study in 2014 on five men when exposed to cooler temperatures around 19 degrees Celsius, saw their bodies increase brown fat activity."
References:
https://www.healthline.com/
