If you and your partner frequently “battle” over the thermostat temperature- make sure you stick with us- science says that if you like it colder at night and sleep in a cold room, you’re doing your health an amazing favor.
Dr. Christopher Winter, medical director at Charlottesville Neurology & Sleep Medicine explains that there are a couple of great reasons why you should keep the thermostat between 60 and 67 degrees F when you’re sleeping at night.
His research shows that if the temperature is below or above this range, it will cause more tossing and turning and consequently, poorer sleeping quality.
Why Sleeping in a Colder Room Is Good for Us?
Our bodies have a natural, 24-hour cycle during which our temperatures are the highest in the late afternoon and fall to the lowest around 5 am.
We’re able to fall asleep when our temperature starts to fall so making sure you sleep in a colder room can be of aid to speed up the falling asleep process.
Another research done by the University of South Australia notes that sleeping in a cold room helps have a more restful sleep whereas poor body temperature regulation was linked with some insomnia types.
Moreover, sleeping in a warmer room, i.e. a room with more than 70 degrees, can prevent you from looking younger because of the ceasing of the body’s secretion of melatonin.
For naturopathic doctor, Natasha Turner, healthy sleeping patterns and a temperature reduction help release a growth hormone and minimize the secretion of the stress hormone. Consequently, this combo is great for helping you shed some extra pounds.
In another 4-month study, sleeping in a 66-degree room helped the participants to burn more calories when they were awake and the amount of brown fat in their bodies increased. But, this fat is what gives the body the chance to burn calories- it doesn’t contribute to fat storing.
How to Keep Your Home Cool Enough?
Programmable thermostats are an excellent and economical way to keep your home cooler. They give you the opportunity to set the best and most comfortable temperature throughout the day.
If you don’t have a thermostat, you can also keep yourself cool in other ways, including sleeping naked, using a fan, sleeping on a cooling pillow, sticking the feet from beneath the covers, etc.
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