The ability to Burn Calories while you sleep sounds like a special power straight out of a superhero movie. But the truth is this is something all of us can do. The human body is amazing and even we are completely at rest, it is doing its work just like when we are awake. So if you’re among those who are asking if we burn calories while sleeping, the answer is yes.

The number of calories you burn during sleep will depend on your weight. For example, a person who weighs 150 pounds will burn at least 95 calories per hour, while another person who weighs 115 pounds will burn 42 calories during the same amount of time. Calories burned during sleep are used by the body to maintain vital functions such as the monitoring and maintenance of body temperature, cell repair, and blood circulation.

Digestion occurs while you’re asleep, too. In fact, the food you eat at dinner is digested exactly the same way as food eaten during the day. Digestion utilizes calories and it continues all night. However, if you eat a large meal just before bedtime or even a few hours before going to sleep, you might find it difficult to sleep because of excess energy and heartburn, especially if you consumed fatty and spicy foods.

Believe it or not, you burn more calories when you are in deep sleep. According to experts, the amount of calories your body burns at night depends on REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. When you are in REM sleep, your brain is very active. In fact, it is sometimes more active than when you are awake. Because your brain needs the energy to function, your body will need to burn the required fuel.

Fortunately, there are ways to encourage your body to burn more calories while you sleep. Here’s a couple of them.

1. Follow a good sleep schedule

To ensure that you’ll get maximum REM sleep every night, keep a regular sleep schedule so your body will get used to shutting down the moment you lay down for the night. Also, make sure that you turn off the computer and avoid using your phone, tablet, and other electronic gadgets an hour or two before bedtime.

2. Build your muscles

Although it may take some time to build enough muscles to make a significant difference in your body’s ability to burn calories overnight, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it can still help. In fact, it can boost your metabolism by as much as 15% over time.