A Little Chill May Help You Sleep, But Keep It Reasonable

Have you heard the new health advice about sleeping in a chilly room? Over the last few years, some scientists have begun touting the benefits of embracing the cold once in a while, and letting temperatures dip at night is one of the simpler techniques to do it. 

Former NASA scientist Ray Cronise is generally credited with helping kick off the "it's good to be cold" fad.

"If I had a pill here that I said, 'Listen, I can increase your metabolism by 100 percent,' ... everybody would be standing in line saying, 'I want it,'" Cronise said in a 2010 TEDMED talk. 

It's based on the idea that spending some time on the verge of shivering causes your body to work harder to keep warm and that extra effort is a good thing. 

The benefits can include helping you burn more calories, improving circulation and even processing glucose — which could help combat Type 2 diabetes. And it can also help you fall asleep faster and get a better night's sleep, which has its own host of health benefits. 

Of course, as with all health advice, there are ways to take it to extremes. (Video via ABC)

But the field is pretty new, so maybe it's premature to torture yourself with an ice bath when you could just try to get used to slightly cooler temperatures.

Cronise and others suggest a gentle approach, like keeping the temperature in your bedroom somewhere in the low-to-mid-60s every night. 

There's a catch, though. That technique only works if you don't bundle up under a bunch of blankets. You're supposed to be cold, after all. 

This video includes images from Dana / CC BY ND 2.0, John Loo / CC BY 2.0, Liz Lawley / CC BY SA 2.0 and Alpha / CC BY SA 2.0.