Those
who prefer to keep bedroom temperatures chilly while catching some shut
eye may be on to something. According to an article written by Dr.
Christopher Winter, Medical Director at Charlottesville Neurology &
Sleep Medicine, and published by the Huffington Post, our bedroom temperatures can make a big difference when it comes to getting a good night of sleep.
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Although
most of us might not give a second thought to the temperature of our
bedroom at night (unless you're trying to save money), Winter says our
rooms should be 60 to 67 degrees Fahrenheit for the best sleep. If the
temperature goes above 75 degrees or below 54 degrees, it can cause
people to toss and turn all night.
Why
does the number on the thermostat matter? Our body temperatures
naturally peak and decline during a 24-hour period, with the highest
numbers occurring in the late afternoon and the lowest ones around 5
a.m. Sleep usually begins when our body temperature drops, so a colder
room can encourage us to fall asleep faster.
If the promise of more sleep isn't enough, there are plenty of other reasons to keep the air on cool:
You'll have a more restful sleep.
Research done at the University of South Australia found that certain forms of insomnia occur
with poor body temperature regulation. If you're having trouble falling
asleep at night, a colder room could help your body cool down enough to
reach a level of deeper, restorative sleep.
It'll keep you looking young.
Sleeping in a room warmer than 70 degrees
will stop your body from releasing melatonin, one of the body's best
anti-aging hormones. Once we're asleep in total darkness and our body
temperature drops, it releases melatonin and triggers a slight cool-down
in the body.
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It can help you lose weight.
According to the Huffington Post, naturopathic doctor Natasha Turner
says that as your body temperature drops and growth hormone is
released, the stress hormone cortisol will also decrease with healthy
sleep patterns. When you aren't able to sleep enough, you'll wake up
with high levels of cortisol—meaning you're more likely to reach for a
box of cookies and have increased anxiety.
You lower your risk for metabolic disease.
One study found that sleeping in a room set to 66 degrees
can help prevent certain metabolic diseases, like diabetes.
Participants not only burned more calories when they were awake, but
also nearly doubled their amount of brown fat, or good fat, which allows
the body store fewer calories. Over time, this can lower the risk of
metabolic diseases.
So, put on your favorite PJs, turn the A/C down to 65 degrees, and get ready to catch some zzz's.
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