Weighted blankets could be a simple solution for those looking to get better sleep each night. A new study shows that young adults using a weighted blanket increased their production of the sleep-promoting hormone melatonin. Moreover, researchers from Uppsala University say this bedtime strategy also lowered stress levels by helping the body to produce more oxytocin — the “love hormone.” Previous studies have found a link between using a weighted blanket and easing the symptoms of insomnia. In this experiment, researchers examined 26 young men and women while they used a weighted blanket at bedtime. These blankets carried 12 percent of the user’s body weight. To measure stress levels, the team collected saliva samples while they covered themselves with either a weighted blanket or a light sheet. Saliva allows scientists to measure melatonin, oxytocin, cortisol, and the activity of the fight and flight sympathetic nervous system.