Although thereโ€™s a scientific reason why we always sleep under blankets, it may be time to rethink that old habit. Opt for a chilly nightโ€™s sleep instead; itย could be all in the name of weight loss.

Research shows that sleeping in a room between 60 and 67 degrees can boost your metabolism almost instantly. In fact, aย study published in the journal Diabetes found that people who slept in roomsย that had temperatures of 66 degrees burned overย sevenย percent more calories than those who dozedย in warmer rooms. Dozing in coolย temperatures could protect you from metabolic diseases like diabetes, the study added.

Why? Researchers believe that in a cool space, our bodies have to work harder to raise ourย core temperature to the normalย 98.6 degrees. More work meansย more calories torched.ย And that sevenย percent can add up fast, burning an extra 100 calories over 24 hours of sleep.ย (Learn even more ways you can literally lose weight in your sleep.)

Shedding pounds isnโ€™t the only perk, though. According to Dr. Christopher Winter, director at Charlottesville Neurology & Sleepย Medicine,ย snoozing in room temperatures above 67 degrees will actually disrupt yourย bodyโ€™s sleep cycle. On the flip side, a good nightโ€™s sleepย leads to a host of other health benefits, such asย protecting your brain from Alzheimerโ€™s disease and boosting your productivity.

Sleeping in a cold room could even combat aging.ย Researchย shows that we release more melatonin, anย anti-aging hormone, when sleeping at cooler temperatures rather than warmer ones.