A good night’s sleep is a major component of a healthy lifestyle, and yet it’s elusive for many people. I’ve talked at length about circadian rhythms, the importance of creating a sleep routine, and other sleep tips, but cleaning up your sleep environment can have a big impact too. Your mattress plays a big part in that. Here are the 3 most important questions to consider in choosing a mattress to support a healthy night’s sleep: You’re ideally spending 7-8 hours a night cozying up to your mattress, so make sure you choose one that is as natural as possible. Avoid PBDEs used in mattresses as flame retardants. A good natural mattress will utilize a non-toxic Kevlar flame retardant or a wool layer. Always ask questions about the flame retardant, as wool, even organic, must be bonded together with synthetic adhesive fibers, which are often toxic. Some companies can make you a mattress without the flame retardant if you have a note from your doctor. If your body can work on its own vital processes instead of combating toxins while you sleep you’ll wake more rested.
Is your mattress really comfortable? Comfort is not just about the first 10 minutes, it’s about the whole 8 hours. Optimized blood flow is a crucial element of a restful night sleep that is rarely considered. You want to find a mattress that creates unrestricted blood flow through proper support and pressure relief. Memory foam is one of the best options to ensure this. Poor circulation can cause pain that leaves you tossing and turning. Every time you’re roused to change your sleeping position, you reset your sleep cycle, which again can leave you feeling groggy and tired even after a full night’s sleep. You’ll want to avoid spring mattresses, as the components are generally the lowest quality on the market. Spring mattresses are also the biggest culprit of triggering pressure points, especially with the loss in support that occurs after just a few years of use. Natural and organic latex mattresses are durable and work well for a clean air environment, but they fall short when it comes to properly supporting your body and reducing those pressure points.
Memory foam is a material that gives you all the body support benefits but without the clean air benefits of natural latex. Quick tip: If the natural mattress you’re looking at is topped with wool, make sure the wool layer can be easily removed and washed. Wool is a nesting ground for dust mites which are a pain for most allergy sufferers. So, reducing sleep interruptions & pressure points, promoting a clean air environment, and ensuring proper skeletal support are the most important attributes of a quality mattress. While many brands offer solutions to at least one issue, finding a mattress that combines all of these attributes really narrows down the playing field. I’ve recently switched to Essentia’s natural memory foam mattress after learning their mattresses are considered the world’s healthiest according to Delos, the founder of the WELL Building Standard®, a conclusion that was reached after analyzing and testing dozens of mattresses with teams from Columbia University Medical Center and the Cleveland Clinic.
I have to say, the difference is clear. I’ve been enjoying a new level of rest and recovery, plus the peace of mind of knowing that I’m getting a healthy night’s sleep.last updated: Feb 17, 2017At Essentia, we know a thing of two about making natural and organic mattresses. We've been leading the way for over 10 years!Our organic mattresses are tested for VOC's and we're as transparent as they come.So we can definitely help you avoid getting bamboozled...Here are the TOP 5 things you should know before buying a natural mattress or non-toxic mattress to keep it healthy.Look for unbleached organic cotton with organic fill and organic dyes to avoid harsh chemically treated fabrics.25% of the world’s pesticides are used for cotton crops. ¼ pound of pesticides are used to make 1 t-shirt. Choosing organic materials makes a huge difference to the environment and keeps you healthy.1) Organic Top 2) Polyester Fill 3) Unbleached cotton backing Rubber tree sap that has been frothed up and baked is called natural latex foam.
There are different qualities to latex ranging from: - Synthetic Latex (man-made) - Blends (varying % of natural and synthetic content - Natural Latex - Certified organic latexNatural latex or better yet, a certified organic latex mattress is probably what you're looking for when shopping for a healthy mattress.However, all types of latex can be durable (can last 20+ years depending on the quality) as well as provide you with a consistent feeling mattress for years.anic Cotton or Wool is the most common form of batting you'll find while shopping for a natural or healthy mattress.These fibers soften the surface. Because natural latex is firm and rubbery, topping the mattress is necessary to improve its comfort.Don't forget to clean these fibers at least once a year. Most companies won't mention this. Make sure the animal fibers are removable for easy cleaning. Unless they're chemically treated, animal fibers should be cleaned to keep things sanitary. Imagine wearing the same wool sweater every night for years.
Actually, it would be a full body suit. You can read more about this on our blog post on wool.Warning - Wool as a Fire Retardant does NOT work.Wool is a natural fire retardant but wool does burn. Most organic mattress makers claim wool pass fire barrier tests. We tested thick 20 ounce and even 30 ounce wools, both failed. We didn't do any further testing beyond this weight because denser wools are no longer comfortable.Every supplier we contacted informed us, after a little a persistence, that all manufacturers add fire retardant to their "wool fire barriers". So wool is backed with fire retardant fiber but they promote wool as the fire barrier! Most mattress salespeople don't know this fact.The least expensive way to go is a spring mattress with natural padding, however, this may not be the healthiest mattress.A recent study covered in Scientific America shows a strong correlation between spring mattresses and melanoma cancer.It turns out that the springs act as an antenna that amplifies the intensity of FM and TV broadcast signals.