Everyone has their own way of sleeping. Some people tuck the cover in tightly. Others prefer to stick their feet out of loose blankets. On television, you frequently see people in full pajamas, tops and bottoms, sometimes completely buttoned all the way up the neck!
What people wear, or choose not to wear, has become a pretty hot topic lately. Some women insist that you need to wear a bra at night to stop boob sag. Some men say that even underwear is too constricting and they sleep better when they let it all hang out.
You might think that it doesn’t really matter what you wear to bed, as long as you are comfortable. Science, however, has other ideas.
Why Should You Wear Your Birthday Suit to Bed?
It is very important, health wise, to allow your body to cool down while you sleep. When the room is cooler, it naturally lowers your blood pressure, which tells your body that it is time to activate what is called the parasympathetic nervous system. Think of this as your rest and reset system. Cooling down the body when you sleep allows the body to release new hormones, enzymes, and remove old ones that are no longer needed.
As the temperature of your body lowers as you sleep, the more comfortable your body is, the deeper you will sleep.
One study, done in 2014, found that those who sleep in cooler temps activate the “brown fat”. Brown fat burns more calories to generate heat, so you want more brown fat and less of the “chicken” fat, so to speak.
It is fairly obvious, then, that sleeping in the nude is a sure fire way to allow the body to cool down. However, if you are one of those who simply cannot sleep comfortably without at least some clothing, opt for the loose and comfy fit!
Going Nude Has Other Benefits for Couples
Sleeping nude with your partner, besides the obvious sexual connection, has other benefits as well. Skin to skin contact fosters the release of that feel good hormone oxytocin, which can help us to maintain healthy relationships. When you feel good spooning with your partner, you can’t help but feel more of an intimate connection to them.
Let’s Talk about Bra’s
Some women are under the impression that sleeping with a bra (whether it’s a sports bra or wireless bra) will increase their risk of breast cancer. A study done in 2014 found that this isn’t true.
Other women believe that wearing a bra at night will help to stop breasts from sagging prematurely. This also isn’t true. Gravity is a fact of life, ladies, and, over time, the sag is going to happen, unless you have plastic surgery.
Go Bare or Wear Underwear?
Gentlemen, if you plan on having children, you might want to think about going nude or wearing only boxers at night. Tightie whities have been shown to affect a man’s sperm count.
Ladies – you might have heard that your friend “down there” needs to air out and breathe. While there isn’t any real proof that your ‘gina needs to “air out” but if you feel more comfortable wearing panties at night, go right ahead. Just be certain that those Fruit of the Looms are the cotton variety. Synthetic fabrics, even silk, as nice as they might feel, do not breathe like cotton This can increase moisture levels, which can allow bacteria to take hold.
The Bottom Line
If you feel more comfortable in PJ’s – go ahead and wear them, but keep them loose and comfortable so that the body can cool down.
If you like wearing your birthday suit, that’s just fine, too.
Just don’t cook bacon as a midnight snack.
