Your bedroom habits may be affecting more than just your sleep. A growing body of research suggests that how warm – or cold – your sleeping environment is can have surprising effects on your metabolism and stress levels.
Here’s what science reveals about the power of temperature.
Cool Rooms Activate Brown Fat
Sleeping in a cooler environment helps stimulate brown fat, a special type of body fat that burns energy to keep you warm. Unlike white fat, which stores energy, brown fat actually helps you get rid of it.
Your Body Burns More Energy At Lower Temperatures
When your body needs to stay warm, it starts working harder. That means more calories burned – even while you’re fast asleep.
It Targets Unhealthy Fat
Brown fat doesn’t just burn calories; it uses white fat and sugar from your bloodstream as fuel. That means it can help reduce the less desirable types of fat in your body.
Temperature Habits Can Be Changed
If you’re used to sleeping in a warm room, it may feel uncomfortable to lower the temperature at first. But with time, your body will adjust – and thank you for it.
Men And Women Feel Temperature Differently
It’s not just in your head – men and women have different thermal comfort zones. While women often feel colder, men’s bodies are typically warmer due to higher muscle mass.
More Muscle, More Warmth
Muscles retain heat better than fat. That’s why people with more muscle mass tend to feel warmer, while fat doesn’t insulate the body as effectively. Regardless of body type, experts recommend keeping your bedroom at around 19°C to support optimal fat burning and recovery.
Cold Exposure Trains Your Stress Response
Short bursts of cold help the body become more resilient to stress. This kind of mild, physical challenge can help build mental and physical tolerance.
Even Mild Cold Makes A Difference
You don’t need ice baths to activate the benefits. Just stepping onto cold floors or feeling a breeze on your face can trigger a positive response in the body.
Lowering Bedroom Temperature Improves Recovery
When your sleeping environment is cooler, your body goes into a deeper state of rest, helping with everything from immune function to hormonal balance.
Small Adjustments, Big Benefits
You don’t need a drastic lifestyle change. Just a few degrees cooler at night could support better metabolism, improve your stress resilience, and make your mornings feel more refreshed.
Article based on information from Woman