If you are like me and enjoy sleeping in a nice, cool room- then you will be happy to see that science supports your decision. Not only is sleeping in a cold room more comfortable, it is healthier too!
There are many benefits to sleeping in a cool room, including a higher quality of sleep, and it can even help your body to prevent disease.
Research carried out by the University of South Australia showed that sleeping in a cool room could be the key to resolving insomnia. Because our body drops its core temperature and works to keep it maintained at a lower level to ensure proper sleep, if we are dealing with sleep problems, it could be a temperature issue.
And not only does the cooler temperature help you to fall asleep quickly and stay asleep- but it can provide anti-aging benefits as well. Sleeping at a temperature between 6-68 degrees pushes our body to produce more melatonin. Melatonin not only helps us sleep soundly- it is also a hormone that helps prevent aging.
If that wasn’t enough to make you want to set the air conditioner to a cooler temp tonight- it can also help prevent metabolic disease. A study published in the National Library of Medicine shows that by keeping the temperature at around 66 degrees, you increase the amount of brown fat in the body. Having a higher percentage of brown fat lowers your risk of metabolic diseases such as diabetes.
The benefits don’t end there- melatonin also helps protect our brain from Alzheimer’s and the aging of the brain.
So what temperature is the best to reap all of the benefits?
Christopher Winter, a medical director at Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep medicine suggests keeping the temperature between 60-67 degrees for the best sleep. Anything above 75 or below 54 could do more harm than good, and by keeping it between 60-67 you should be able to benefit from better sleep, anti-aging benefits, and disease prevention benefits.
Of course, keeping your AC on all year isn’t the best for your pocketbook, but there are ways to cool down your bedroom without breaking the bank. You can purchase a fan, or a programmable thermostat, both of which can be quite helpful. And you can also purchase a cooling mattress as well for added benefits.
While cool temperatures may not be everyone’s preference, the benefits are hard to deny. With that being said- you can find a happy medium and keep it at around 67 degrees and not freeze, while still maintaining all of the benefits!