Choosing your next mattress? The most important ingredient is the foam it contains. Today, most mattress stores feature a bewildering array of foam varieties—and terms. Here’s how to decide between two popular contenders: latex and memory foam. Latex comes in two basic categories—natural or not. Synthetic or blended latex Synthetic latex is made of petroleum-based oils and chemical additives. Some blends include a small amount of rubber. Chemicals typically added include formaldehyde and flame retardants, which have been proven dangerous to health. They increase risks of cancer, obesity, infertility, and developmental brain disorders such as autism and ADHD. Some synthetic foams (with names such as “bio”, “hybrid”, “eco” or “soy” foam) also contain a small percentage of plant oils. Chemicals from these foams migrate into household air and dust, either as off-gassing vapor or in microscopic particles released every time the foam is pressed with use.
The micro-particles are absorbed into ordinary house dust--dust flecks act like tiny chemical-absorbing sponges. Infants and children receive the greatest exposure and carry the highest chemical load in their bodies. Natural latex is made from rubber tree sap that is whipped into liquid foam in a centrifuge, poured into molds or continuously onto a belt tray and steam baked. The highest-quality natural latex foam contains at least 95% pure rubber. Some natural latex producers have qualified for organic certification. Tiny amounts of antioxidants and additives are added to produce natural latex foam; chemical flame retardants are not. Brands advertising “100% pure” or “100% natural” latex are using inaccurate language, because “100%” is an absolute term. If “100% pure” rubber sap were baked with no additional ingredients, it would turn into unusable goo that could not be processed into foam. A simple analogy would be putting “100% milk” into the oven expecting a fluffy custard to come out.
The best way to confirm whether natural latex is being advertised honestly is to view objective, independent certifications. True natural latex, without synthetic latex or fillers blended in, is simply natural foam rubber. It can be processed in two different ways, resulting in two different forms of natural latex: Dunlop and Talalay. Learn more about the difference between Dunlop and Talalay and the benefits of natural latex. Natural latex near you Enter zip code to find your nearest Savvy Rest dealer Memory foam is a type of polyurethane foam with added chemicals. Memory foam changes its shape due to a chemical reaction triggered by trapped body heat. Proprietary formulas for memory foam vary, but the action is generally the same. Heat trapped beneath the sleeper causes the foam to conform to body shape. There is no “natural memory foam”—this misleading claim has led to disciplinary action by the FTC. The addition of some latex, scents and hydrolyzed corn protein (MSG) to a formula does not justify the false label.
MSG is made by prolonged boiling of proteins in strong acid (usually hydrochloric acid) or by fermentation. How Memory Foam Feels The primary attraction is initial pressure relief. It’s a novel sensation to feel memory foam contouring closely to the body. Because the reaction requires trapped heat, however, every time a sleeper changes position, the memory foam must be re-heated to fully contour again. Repeated time lags for re-contouring can cause restless sleep. Excess heat can hamper sleep as it builds up between the sleeper’s body and the memory foam. New formulas with added cooling chemicals have been developed (similar to chemicals in gel-infused foams). Most memory foam tends to stop responding fully after a few years, and support may become uneven. Though the surface still “springs back” visually, interior foam cells may collapse and lose their capacity to support. A well-known characteristic of memory foam is its acrid smell, sometimes disguised with odor-masking chemicals.
This is chemical off-gassing, and is a threat to long-term health. Headaches and respiratory problems are often reported. Odorless off-gassing continues during the life of the product, even after the smell is gone. Memory foam is a form of polyurethane foam invented by NASA at the dawn of the space age. Various chemicals are added during the production process to give the foam softness, shape retention and color. The following chart summarizes key differences between latex and memory foam. The 5 Best Natural Latex Mattresses That Will Boost Your Sleep Quality If you sleep eight hours every night, which is commonly referred to as the optimal sleep duration, that means you are asleep for a third of your life. Since you're spending so much time sleeping it makes sense that you'd want to have the most natural, comfortable, and long-lasting mattress you can find. A natural latex mattress is one of the best options for comfortable, safe bedding thanks to the quality of the materials used and the technology employed to deliver the most luxurious sleep imaginable.
It can be difficult to decide which mattress might be the best for you, so we've reviewed some of the most popular natural latex mattresses to give you as much information about your options as possible. 1. DreamFoam Mattress Ultimate Dreams Latex Mattress: $612.87, Amazon 2. Brentwood Home S-Bed, 11-Inch Organic Latex and Gel Memory Foam Mattress: $550, Amazon Be the first to know - Join our Facebook page. 3. Ultimate Dreams Queen Natural Latex Mattress: $799, Amazon 4. Roma All Latex Mattress: $795, Amazon 5. Tuft & Needle Mattress: $600, Amazon Brentwood S-BedTuft and Needle MattressUltimate Dreams Sign up for our newsletter Please insert a valid email address By signing up to The Jpost mailing list, I herebyChoosing latex for your mattress Confused about Dunlop and Talalay? The two types of latex are named after the different manufacturing processes used to make them. We use both types in our GOTS-certified organic mattresses and toppers.
Savvy Rest is the only mattress company in the world offering Talalay latex in mattresses that are GOTS-certified. For detail on how Dunlop and Talalay latex differ and factors that can help you choose, this post on the Savvy Rest blog will be useful. The traditional Dunlop process has been used in latex manufacture since 1929. The thick rubber sap, or serum, is whipped into a froth in a centrifuge, poured into a mold, covered, and steam baked. Natural sediments in the mixture settle to the bottom of the mold. This makes every Dunlop layer slightly firmer on its bottom side. The Talalay process adds two steps. After the latex is poured, the mold is sealed and the process is continued in a vacuum chamber. The mold is then flash-frozen before it's baked. Talalay latex has a more consistent cell structure from top to bottom and edge to edge. It is also more expensive than Dunlop. All Talalay pieces wider than 40" (Full or larger) are seamed with a safe, natural latex glue. Seam locations will vary.