Now imagine you get your new mattress home and find out it's too small. Or worse—it's too big to get inside the front door at all.
Before you buy, check out this quick and easy guide to bed size comparison and mattress sizes. We'll cover everything you need to know about picking the right mattress to help you get your beauty sleep while making sure it fits your space, budget, and decor.
Quick Tips Before Shopping:
The bedding industry is notorious for its less-than-straightforward mattress sizes. Without knowledge of measurements, a customer might be shocked to find that the "full" mattress they were sold barely fits in their bedroom.
The best way to avoid this problem is to understand your sizing options ahead of time so that you can make an informed decision.
In order to determine the best mattress size for you, consider both its width and length. While height varies depending on where the mattress is purchased and which model you pick, most have similar bed dimensions.
The sizes below are set according to industry standards, but keep in mind that many mattresses are sold with extra padding that might increase overall height and bed dimensions.
The standard for crib size is 27" X 52". Measuring these dimensions will ensure that your baby has the space needed to sleep comfortably.
Fitted with a sturdy mattress, your baby will be able to rest easy and feel safe in his or her own bed.
The crib mattress is firmer than an average full-size mattress, so it provides support for your baby's growing body while still remaining comfy.
Toddler mattress sizes are very similar to the size of a crib mattress at 28" X 52", though they're typically somewhat softer and placed in bed frames rather than cribs. Some parents purchase detachable safety rails to give their child a little bit more protection if he or she tries to roll around in the middle of the night. This way, they won't be able to fall out of bed.
A twin mattress is for single sleepers who want an affordable, simple bed that's easy to move around. With their slim shape and lightweight construction, twin mattresses are ideal for young children, college dorm-dwellers, or other single adults who need a basic, low-profile bed.
Twin-size mattresses come in a variety of thicknesses and densities to accommodate different sleep preferences. The 39" x 75" size is ideal for adults who want to minimize their bedroom footprint while maximizing the comfort of the mattress.
A twin XL is a mattress that measures 39" x 80", and it is the standard twin bed size for college dorm rooms. Given that the twin XL offers the same width as the twin, most people come out of college preferring a larger bed than a twin XL.
However, taller kids (6Ft +) and students living ioff campus might want to get this mattress size, as a twin XL mattress gives them more room to stretch.
When it comes to mattresses, full-size is a good all-around solution for single sleepers looking to get enough space (but not too much). When used in a guest bedroom, it provides comfortable sleeping space while fitting in with other furnishings.
Full-size mattresses are a great option for teens outgrowing their childhood beds, and they provide ample room without being too big.
The queen mattress is the most popular size for adult sleepers. With dimensions of 60" X 80", it's large enough for two, but not so large that it takes up too much space in a medium-sized bedroom.
A queen mattress is perfect for couples or single sleepers who are looking for some extra space but don't want to pay for an enormous king-size mattress.
However, queen mattress sizes and larger typically take up too much space in small rooms, so remember to measure your bedroom to determine which size bed dimensions will fit comfortably.
King-size beds measure in at 76" X 80" offer a luxurious amount of space, so couples can sleep soundly without their partner getting in the way. With enough room for two people and a place for pets or kids to sleep as well, they provide a great night's sleep so you can wake up refreshed.
You could also choose the split king option. Twin XLs are placed side-by-side in a king bed frame, giving couples with different mattress preferences a chance to rest in comfort, meaning adjustable beds with split-side functionality (like the Sleep Number Bed) are best-suited for the split king bed frame.
Couples can make use of all that extra space together, or give themselves even more room to stretch out when they are sleeping alone. A typical master bedroom can accommodate a king-size bed without issue, so never hesitate to choose a comfortable mattress that's large enough for the people sleeping in it.
If your feet have always hung off the edge of a bed, a California king-size mattress will provide you with the length you need without sacrificing the width you need. A king-size mattress is typically 72” X 84”, but California king-size mattresses take four inches of width from a conventional king-size bed and add it to their overall length.
Your height and weight will dictate what kind of mattress you buy. Most standard twin mattresses are roughly 75 inches tall.
However, if you're taller than 6 feet 2 inches, then a twin-sized bed probably won't be comfortable for you — as it will be too short. A better option is to buy an XL twin-sized mattress, which is about 80 inches in height.
Say you're sharing a bed with your significant other — how can you make sure the two of you are comfortable? Start by considering your bed size.
Most couples tend to start off with a Queen-size one, but if you find that you prefer more space and legroom, you might want to size up.
This is especially true if you have pets or children sharing the space with you since they tend to take up more room than the average adult.
Measuring your space where the mattress will go is essential to make sure it'll fit nicely in your space while still leaving plenty of room.
If you're really tall, a California King mattress will provide plenty of legroom. If you're under 6'5” a Queen size mattress or smaller will give you enough space to sleep comfortably.
Mattresses are expensive pieces of furniture and only get more costly the larger they get. Sheets for large mattresses are also pricier and increase in price as mattresses increase in size. Unless money is no object, you don't want to get a bigger bed than you need.
Generally, a good mattress can last for over 10 years, so we recommend investing in one that you love and that fits your personal preferences.
Mattresses are made thinner or thicker depending on their size ranging from 6-18 inches of foam or padding. Most mattresses sold today are between 8-12 inches thick.
Thinner mattresses are better suited for lighter sleepers, who don't weigh more than 130 pounds, and thicker mattresses should be reserved for heavier sleepers. The majority of adult sleepers are in the middleweight range, tipping the scale at about 150 pounds.
The higher the profile, the higher the cost. This is because thicker mattresses tend to have more foam layers and other support material systems. A lower-profile bed, on the other hand, will have less support but come at a better price.
Pillow size may also come into play depending on the mattress size. The smallest and most common sized pillows, standard, tend to be sufficient for twin and full-size mattresses.
However, people who toss and turn frequently during the night may opt for a larger pillow such as super standard, queen, or king.
You're also welcome to consider a euro pillow or contour pillow depending on your preference.
A twin mattress is a single mattress that measures 39 inches wide by 75 inches long. Many people use the terms single and twin interchangeably when referring to these mattresses, and it’s actually a common practice to refer to a twin mattress as a single mattress.
A full-size mattress, or double bed, is the same thing, and they're both terms you might see on listings from different manufacturers. Both are used to describe mattresses that measure 54 inches wide and 75 inches long.
Your choice of bed size depends on your sleeping habits and personal preferences. If you're a single adult, a full bed should be fine. For couples, queen beds are sufficient and cost-effective.
If you tend to sleep alone, a twin or twin XL would work, but they're narrower than queen or king beds.
If you're going the standard route with a queen-sized bed for your guest (or master) suite, it's important to make sure that you have the space for it. A larger bed means more room for storage underneath.
You and your partner might be able to share a full-size mattress. It's just 27 inches wide, so it should fit two people who aren't too wide themselves. However, you'll want to make sure you both like the same level of firmness. You'll also want to make sure you know each other's preferred sleeping positions (you'll need to roll over a lot).
A full-size mattress is most suitable for couples who are small, children, or those who sleep close to one another. If you happen to be a couple that prefers to spend a little extra time in the bed with your partner, then a full-size mattress may not be the best option for you.
Although the most common mattress sizes are twin, full, queen, and king, special requests can be made as well. Larger custom mattresses may be referred to as Alaska king or Wyoming king beds.
Young families and couples who share a bed with a large dog or desire an extra layer of comfort for their sleeping area may prefer to purchase a custom Alaska or Wyoming King bed. Customarily, these beds aren't available in retail stores — they must be specially designed online or through local mattress brands that specialize in Alaska and Wyoming bedding.
Essentia is proud to offer fully custom sized mattresses, as we are the manufacturer, we are able to accomodate most sizes and shapes of mattreses.
The best way to know whether a mattress size will be comfortable for you is to test it out in person.
While there are plenty of articles about the science of how bodies are supported by mattresses, ultimately your own personal experience will determine whether a mattress is right for you.
Everyone's body size is different, meaning everyone's ideal mattress size varies.
]]>Allergies are a general term referring to an oversensitive immune response from the body. They come from a whole host of other sources like pollen, dander, and other microscopic irritants.
For many people, these allergens will cause an allergic reaction such as hay fever or eczema. These reactions can be mild in some cases but more severe in others.
That's why we've put together this guide to help you learn how to identify and address the many possible causes of your allergies. This will help you get a better night's sleep for an improved quality of life.
Allergy sufferers know that the spring and summer months are the worst times of the year for symptoms like coughing, sneezing, and congestion.
Furthermore, living near a wooded area or having pets around means that you’re even more vulnerable to the most common bedroom allergens that can then disrupt your sleep.
Pollen, mold spores, dust mites, and animal dander are among the most abundant irritants that find their way into your bedroom. If you find yourself experiencing these issues year-round, it’s a sure sign that you have bedroom allergens in your home.
Here are some of the most common allergens you’re likely to encounter, particularly if you don’t have the right kind of protective bedding.
Dust mites are microscopic dust particles that feed on dead skin cells. These allergens are so small they can penetrate right through the protective barriers of your mattress and bedding, making it easy to inhale them as you sleep.
Pollen is an essential part of the life cycle for trees, weeds, and grasses. The problem is, pollen can also trigger a wide range of allergic reactions, from mild to severe.
Molds need moisture to grow, so they are commonly found indoors, during the summer months when it's humid outside. Molds lead to respiratory problems such as asthma or nasal congestion. Significant mold growth can lead to even more severe health concerns like numbness, nerve pain, or tremors.
Outdoor fungal spores usually enter into the home on people's clothes or shoes. Aspergillus is a common cause of sinus infections and allergic reactions, including asthma symptoms in some individuals.
Animal dander is a common allergen found in dust and on animal fur. It can trigger hay fever or asthma symptoms in those who are allergic to these substances.
Most people with animal dander allergies will experience sneezing, itchy nose and eyes, a runny or stuffy nose. More intense reactions may include skin redness on hands and feet, constant coughing or wheezing, and itching.
Allergens hang in the air we breathe so they can pass into your body through the nose, mouth, and eyes. The dirtier the air in your home, the more you'll suffer from microscopic irritants like pet dander and dust mites.
Luckily, you can quickly reduce or eliminate allergens in your home to improve air quality. Simple steps like controlling your humidity or installing HEPA filters help you purify the air in your bedroom and throughout your home.
Other allergen control methods are more challenging, like installing hard floors. This won’t be an option for all homeowners, but the more steps you can take, the fewer allergens you’ll have floating around your home.
Here are some quick and easy steps to purifying your home.
Vacuuming every week is essential for removing dust mite allergens and other particles, such as hair or animal dander, from your carpets.
Your bedding gets dirty when dust mites and animal dander accumulate. You can help keep dust mite allergens at bay by washing your sheets, blankets, pillowcases, and comforter regularly.
If you're allergic to dust and pollen, consider replacing your feather bedding with a hypoallergenic alternative. Even if you are not allergic to feathers themselves, feather fibers act as traps for dust mites and dander in your bedding.
If you're still using conventional carpeting in your bedroom, consider tearing it up and replacing it with a hypoallergenic floor covering like hardwood or laminate. Carpeting is an ideal hiding spot for dust mites and their tiny allergens.
Use hardwood instead of carpet in your bedroom. Wash throw rugs just as you do the bedding.
Mop your floors with a mixture of hot water and vinegar. The solution can kill dust mites, dust, and other allergens on your floors.
Mold thrives in wetter conditions, so low humidity helps deter fungi from your sleeping areas. Keep your humidifier set for 50% or lower.
Run an air conditioner or dehumidifier to lower the temperature and humidity in your bedroom. If you don’t have one, open windows for cross-ventilation when it's stuffy.
If your laundry is piling up, allergens can enter your dust-free bedroom from dust accumulating on clothes and linens. Keep your laundry clean by washing your sheets and clothes weekly.
Swap the filters on your furnace, air conditioning unit, or cooling system with a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter to reduce exhaust from escaping into the air. This will also help remove dust mites and other allergens from the air in your home.
If you live in an apartment and don’t have permission to change your furnace filters, a standalone air purifier with a HEPA filter can effectively reduce dust mite populations to help you sleep better, breathe easier, and live healthier.
Dry dusting simply propels allergens back into the air. Always use a damp cloth to dust furniture, shelves, and other surfaces. Certain furniture polishes may also have dust-repellent properties, so choose these cleaning aids instead.
Organic bedding is a growing trend in the US, with people looking for healthier and more eco-friendly products. This includes organic mattress covers, which are designed to protect against dust mites and other allergens.
These hypoallergenic covers are made of natural materials that work by repelling allergens away from the fabric. This allows you to keep your mattress protected while still enjoying an organic cotton sheet set or a duvet insert.
Begin by encasing your mattress with organic dust mite covers. This helps to reduce allergen levels in the air.
The Essentia Body Guard Mattress Cover is an indispensable addition to any bed. They're made from natural cotton and polyurethane. These materials repel dust mites and have a smaller carbon footprint than synthetics, making them the perfect cover for allergen relief.
This waterproof mattress protector from Essentia offers surface coverage and peace-of-mind protection from spills, spots, and stains.
With a waterproof backing, this fitted sheet is machine washable for easy care and quick cleanup.
Our dust mite covers are made from certified organic materials that were sourced with sustainability in mind. All Essentia products meet or exceed all US and EU standards for safety, protection, and quality.
The Essentia Body Guard Mattress Cover is made from 100% GOTS, GOLS, and Beyond Organic certified EuroLatex. The mattress cover has been designed with independent safety testing and undergoes regular inspections to ensure that it exceeds stringent standards for quality and performance in design.
These features, along with the fit-to-size elastic closure system, provide a snug fit while also making this mattress cover easier to put on than most other ones on the market.
Natural fill pillows typically use hypoallergenic materials, which do not accumulate dust and mites. Using a pillow made from natural material can reduce allergies and provide a better night sleep.
Essentia's loose-fill Comfort Pillow is the perfect dust mite deterrent because the cover is removable and washable.
This patented memory foam pillow is designed to ensure that you have a great night's sleep. The high-density foams used in our proprietary Memory Foam blend are based on the same technology found in our mattresses. Every loose-fill Comfort Pill can support your neck without bottoming out as you shift positions through the night.
Your mattress is one of the dust mite's favorite places to live. Dust mites thrive in dirt and debris that gets trapped in your mattress. They also thrive in a warm, humid environment with plenty of loose threads to cling onto.
Other allergens also like to settle in your mattress. These include pet dander, mold spores, pollen grains, and dust mite excrement. These allergens can clog your airway, interrupt your sleep, and interfere with your breathing.
Essentia's hypoallergenic mattresses are dust mite and allergen resistant. The mattresses are made with a breathable, hypoallergenic fiberfill to which dust mites cannot attach. The inner layer of the mattress features natural, organic memory foam, which is too dense for dust mites to hide.
The Stratami mattress is an example of a hypoallergenic mattress. It also happens to be our top-seller because it's 100% natural and offers the perfect blend of comfort and protection.
The Stratami is a latex mattress with an innovative dome-shaped surface design and natural contouring to cradle your body for the best sleep of your life.
At the same time, its molded memory foam layers offer support where you need it most. The innovative construction provides excellent airflow for a cool and restful sleep environment while keeping allergens away.
Mattress toppers do more than just add comfort — the right mattress topper will help dust mites stay away from your bed. You must choose a hypoallergenic dust mite cover or mattress protector so it won't cause any irritation for the person who sleeps on it every night.
A dust-mite-resistant mattress will prevent allergens from infiltrating your bed when you don't have the luxury of replacing your mattress itself. But if your mattress topper isn’t hypoallergenic as well, then you’re still sleeping on a surface that will be a prime attractor for allergens from dust mites and dander.
The patented natural memory foam DormIQ mattress topper offers both protection and comfort. First off, its 1-inch or 2-inch thickness is ideal for any sleeping surface and provides superior pressure relief. However, it’s also hypoallergenic and dust mite-resistant.
Many things in your bedroom could be hiding an allergen that is causing respiratory symptoms — your carpets, your sheets, or even the air itself. It's important to know what these common allergens are and how they affect people with allergies or asthma so you can take steps to protect yourself at night.
We recommend investing in hypoallergenic bedding from Essentia because it will help keep the bedroom allergen-free. Not only do we offer dust mite covers for your mattress, but we also have hypoallergenic pillows and mattresses that will cut down on dust mite exposure and other allergens.
For a better night's sleep, check out Essentia's Body Guard mattress covers and other hypoallergenic bedding today!
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Of the 172,321 people who participated in the National Health Interview Survey, men who scored all five quality sleep measured as a five had a 4.7-year greater life expectancy, and women who scored all five sleep habits a five had a 2.4 year greater life expectancy compared to respondents who had none or only one of the five sleep habits ranked highly.
This is a clear indicator that good sleep hygiene and setting sleep habits early on do have a direct effect on your longevity, but is it as simple as going to sleep?
Let’s delve into what you can do to help improve your sleep quality with a wellness mattress that can help you experience quality sleep and what we refer to here at Essentia as Passive Wellness.
Here at Essentia, we believe that everyone should be practicing Passive Wellness, but what do we mean when we say passive wellness?
Passive Wellness is an effortless approach to your wellness. It’s about designing your environment to naturally improve your physical, mental, and emotional state - without putting significant effort into your actions. It’s why we design mattresses with health and wellness at the forefront. This includes not just eliminating harmful chemicals but also enhancing sleep quality through design that eliminates sleep interrupting stimulants, promotes proper spinal alignment, pressure relief, and improved circulation. These are Essentia's key elements for deep and restorative sleep.
When it comes to sleep, the most important decisions you will make will be what you are sleeping on. Practicing passive wellness means your decision will help you achieve your wellness goal without needing to calculate what you need to do to accomplish your wellness goals.
This is why here at Essentia we design wellness mattresses that accomplish more than just extremely comfortable sleep, but that also work to tick off multiple boxes on the checklist of what you should be introducing to your bedroom to ensure you experience exceptional sleep quality. When you choose an Essentia wellness mattress, the hardest decision you will have to make after is simply what time you need to go to bed.
Essentia’s patented sleep technology has truly redefined the industry standards, outclassing all others in quality and performance. What do we mean by this? Take the concept that you should be sleeping in a room that is below 70 degrees, while a cool room feels great, if the mattress you are sleeping on traps heat then those external factors will not stop you from tossing and turning.
What we have identified is that a constant thermal regulation at the surface of the mattress is what will truly keep you in your REM and Deep Sleep cycles, which is why Essentia’s patented Beyond Latex organic foam has been designed not only for breathability but also to actively cool the sleep surface as you sleep eliminating heat traps. This is one less thing you need to worry about when going to bed and the definition of passive wellness.
When choosing a wellness mattress, you need to look at the benefits that mattress will introduce to your bedroom. Ideally, you want a wellness mattress that will tackle multiple of your sleep pain points to ensure you are increasing your sleep quality and in turn your longevity.
Your first step will be to ensure you are choosing a mattress that is certified organic and free of harmful toxins that keep your central nervous system active thus interrupting your sleep.
At the heart of Essentia’s Beyond Latex™ organic foam is organic latex, a natural and renewable resource derived from the sap of rubber trees, making it an eco-conscious choice. Through sustainable cultivation and processing practices, we minimize our environmental impact compared to synthetic materials. Choosing our bedding means making an informed decision to prioritize the planet's well-being.
Our Beyond Latex™ organic foam mattress stands out by minimizing off-gassing and reducing the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air. In contrast to synthetic mattresses, which often emit harmful VOCs that can affect indoor air quality, our mattress ensures a safer and healthier sleep environment.
For individuals with allergies or respiratory sensitivities, organic latex mattresses are a great option since they naturally repel common allergens like dust mites and mold. However, it's important to note that some latex mattresses may incorporate non-hypoallergenic materials like wool, fiber batting, or springs that can all act as nesting ground for dust mites. Therefore, it's crucial to examine the mattress's components thoroughly before making a final decision.
Our Beyond Latex™ organic foam is a remarkable choice for those seeking to enhance their sleep experience by creating a healthier and cleaner environment. It promotes easy breathing and undisturbed, comfortable sleep.
Sleeping cool is more than just dropping the thermostat. There are studies that show a direct correlation between heat and sleep quality. So ensuring you are sleeping on a surface that will keep you cool is essential.
Essentia’s patented Beyond Latex™ organic foam does more than simply cool, it actively pulls heat away from the body & through the mattress naturally, allowing you to sleep cool all night. In fact, the surface temp of an Essentia mattress, now enhanced with activated quartz, can sleep up to 9 degrees* cooler than your internal body temperature promoting micro-hibernation and natural thermal transfer. *Degree of cooling may differ based on the model.
The last thing you want to do when sleeping is to be constantly woken up by tingling or numbness in your arms or struggling to change positions.
Essentia’s patented Beyond Latex™ organic foam found on Essenti mattresses eliminates pressure points & evenly distributes body weight allowing for oxygen & blood to flow more freely, this helps to eliminate numbness and soreness. Exposure to high levels of oxygen at night encourages the brain to remain in deep, restorative sleep cycles.
Featured exclusively on the Dormeuse REM9, Essentia’s patented technology takes this concept to the next level with our accelerated recovery Beyond Latex™ organic foam which reacts quickly to every movement and readapts to your body eliminating sleep interruptions. This is important as your body will make natural movements at night, but the goal is for you to never be woken up by them. This in turn extends your time in Deep Sleep and REM sleep cycles for your body to truly heal and recover from the day.
This sleep technology, exclusively found at Essentia, is truly a game changer for your bedroom. Our goal is to ensure you don’t have to give up what you love to experience quality sleep. In this day and age, our devices come to bed with us. However, the erratic EMF waves from these devices affect your sleep quality.
Through dark film microscopy Essentia has identified how blood cells react to EMF radiation in that your blood begins to cluster and clot disrupting the natural flow of blood through the body. Essentia’s EMF barrier foam is proven to return your blood cells to their natural free-flowing state, which allows the bloodstream to optimize the oxygen flowing through the body thus improving your body’s nighttime recovery cycle and improving your sleep quality.
Opting to choose a wellness mattress like Essentia is an investment in your health and overall longevity. If you’re ready to start practicing passive wellness, the next hardest decision you have to make is which Essentia mattress model will fit your lifestyle the best!
After that, sleeping deeper and living longer is as easy as going to bed.
Sleep quality is crucial for overall health. It can enhance mental clarity, emotional well-being, and physical health by supporting critical bodily functions and healing processes. Essentia addresses the problem of unhealthy sleep environments caused by traditional mattresses, which often contain harmful chemicals. By developing natural memory foam mattresses, Essentia offers a healthier, chemical-free sleep surface that promotes better sleep quality without sacrificing comfort.
]]>Why?
Because the "best" is highly subjective — and it all depends on your back.
What feels like soft cloud-like heaven for one sleeper, can be a pouffy, unsupportive nightmare for another.
And some naturally prefer a firmer mattress, while their partners swear sleeping now feels like they're on a concrete slab.
Back pain sufferers have a tough time choosing the right mattress because they're not always sure what's causing their pain. All they know is that, after the sleep trial period ends, the mattress that once felt like bliss in-store now feels like a wet sock.
If this sounds familiar to you, you may be part of the 50-80% of people with chronic pain due to poor sleep.
Science says there are proven methods of choosing the right mattress type for people with back pain. In this article, you'll learn exactly how to narrow down your search and find the best mattress for maximum comfort and support.
It's not just hype or marketing gimmicks. Mattress type makes a world of difference for sleepers with back pain.
According to a recent survey, 95% of orthopedic surgeons say your mattress plays a role in lower back pain management. That means 31 million Americans who suffer from acute or chronic back pain have a chance to heal these issues.
Studies show that the wrong mattress can cause and exacerbate the mid and low back pain you may feel throughout the night. 27 patients reported chronic lower back pain, along with shoulder discomfort, and poor sleep quality before the study began.
After 12 weeks of sleeping on a medium-firm mattress, participants said they experienced a progressive and significant improvement. Their lower back pain and overall body stiffness reduced while their sleep quality increased.
The "sleep medium" that researchers used included layers of memory foam and latex, based on each individual's sleeping position.
The study's results reveal two critical points about the relationship between your mattress, back and shoulder pain, and a good night's sleep:
Let's take each factor one at a time.
Many people hear about firm mattresses and instantly feel like they're going to be sleeping on an uncomfortable board. This is simply not true.
While firmness level is a personal, subjective evaluating factor, your mattress needs to be supportive enough to relieve pressure off your body and, over time, eliminate chronic back pain.
Mattresses today come with various firmness options, so even a slightly firmer surface can offer enough support for your body shape, positions, and weight.
You also don't need to change sleeping positions if you find the right mattress for you. However, one position seems to provoke aches and pains, especially for the lower back, and that’s sleeping on your stomach.
When it comes to sleeping position, back sleepers and side sleepers are mostly fine. However, stomach sleepers who don't have support (because their mattress isn't firm enough) are likely to experience muscle strain, leading to lower back pain.
On the flip side, if a mattress can cause back pain, it can also help relieve pain. It's all thanks to the relationship between pain management and sleep.
Sleep is a state that is meant to be restful for a reason. Our body restores itself during the night and recovers its energy, healing fatigued tissue, and cleaning out debris and waste.
So if you sleep with pain, a bad mattress will not allow the body to relax deeply and enter this much-needed restorative state. On the other hand, a poor night's sleep will intensify the pain you feel the next day.
You can see why choosing the right mattress is so important in maintaining your overall health.
Back problems often begin due to other activities like poor sitting posture or muscle strain. Still, it gets worse when you sleep on a mattress without the support you need.
So when it comes time to pick your mattress, you’ll need to know a few things about your body and what it needs — which we’ve boiled down to three key elements:
If there were one rule to make sure you eliminate pain in the long term, it would be this:
Keep your spine aligned.
Your spine's alignment when you're sleeping depends on two things:
That's where a mattress provides support designed to maintain your spine's natural curves while taking the pressure off other joints and your muscles. A great option for this is a memory foam mattress.
Back pain sufferers are prone to experience misalignment because the position they sleep in puts pressure on certain parts of the spine. The only way to support the spine back into a natural, and even ideal, position is to rely on a mattress that conforms to the unique curves of their body.
For example, back sleepers need to keep their ears, shoulders, and hips in line. Side sleepers need to make sure their upper leg isn't pulling down on their spine. And stomach sleepers often suffer from lumbar pain (and even sciatica) because there's a very sharp arch in their lower back that isn't supported.
The right mattress can adjust itself according to your body’s needs and keep your spinal alignment intact. It can ensure that your body isn’t trying to overcompensate for awkward positions.
Mattress pain isn’t just in the back. You can trace the pain in your neck, shoulder, hips, pelvis, and even your elbow joints to placing enormous strain on key pressure points. When your spine is out of alignment, it places added pressure on areas like your hips and shoulders.
In chiropractic practice, pressure points are specific points related to the build-up of tension, which can "trigger" overall muscle pain in another related area of the body.
However, without a firm mattress for adequate pressure relief, you risk adding even more force to the body's fascia, which can lead to myofascial pain. Not only does your back hurt continuously, but you feel stiff and sore when you wake up.
To aid your body's naturally restorative level sleep, you need medium-firm mattresses. This provides pressure relief through their materials and extra support to these areas through their construction.
It seems obvious — what else would you use a new mattress for except sleeping, right?
However, plenty of people rely on their mattress to work, relax, watch movies, read, and more.
Let's say you're a light sleeper and you like to go to bed early. But your partner is a night owl who likes working late at night in bed. There are two things you have to think about here:
Some materials, like an innerspring mattress, will instantly convey a partner's movement or nighttime tossing and turning. Pocketed coils, due to their pocketed system and hourglass-shaped spring, tend to be better for reducing movement transfer.
However, one of the best options to completely eliminate this issue is a memory foam mattress or a hybrid mattress.
The benefits of choosing mattresses designed for better sleep means you can address multiple issues through its features. For example, you can alleviate the following common sleep concerns with the perfect mattress purchase:
Now, back pain triggers a whole range of related issues. To address common headaches and insomnia due to poor sleep, it's never been more important to choose the right options when buying a mattress.
According to chiropractors and physiotherapists, memory foam mattresses are best for people with pain and body soreness. It addresses light sleepers' needs, people with spinal alignment issues, and those who need temperature regulation.
An excellent second, depending on your preference for material, would be a hybrid mattress. A hybrid mattress provides medium-firm support and entirely minimizes movement transfer. It easily molds around the contours of the body and has a very slow bounce back.
If you're looking for comfort and support, these mattresses for back pain have got you covered — or, rather, supported, thanks to multiple, specialized layers of foam. These are our top picks, from hybrid models to eco-friendly options for latex mattresses if you plan to sleep better.
The Dormeuse REM9 Mattress features Essentia's patented Beyond Latex organic foam accelerated recovery formula that reacts quickly to your body's natural movements. This eliminates the potential for sleep interruptions so that you can get into slow-wave sleep cycles required for muscle recovery.
What Makes the Dormeuse REM9 Stand Out?
The Classic REM5 Mattress is our next pick for a natural memory foam mattress that provides amazing contour and posture support.
The Classic REM5 offers sleepers a comfort later, which is a 2-inch top layer featuring Essentia’s patented natural memory foam. Featuring patented Beyond Latex organic foam made from natural Hevea latex, the Classic REM5 allows for the flow of our so the surface of the mattress sleeps up to five degrees cooler than your internal body temperature and offers improved elasticity for optimal sleeping posture.
The organic latex support core is designed for spinal alignment and wicking away moisture through an 8-hour sleep.
What Makes the Classic REM5 Stand Out?
The Stratami Mattress provides medium-plush support featuring an innovative dome-shaped contouring comfort layer that is the star of this organic latex mattress. The thoughtful design allows your body to remain cool throughout the night, while taking the pressure off your joints.
What Makes the Stratami Stand Out?
At Essentia, we believe that a good night’s sleep can be completely transformative.
We’ve hand-crafted multiple collections that fit the needs of sleepers on a completely granular and customizable level. Pick the function you want, with the support you need, and rely on our GOTS and GOLS certified materials to care for your health and the environment.
Essentia mattresses are unlike anything you may have experienced before. Learn more about our collections at Essentia today.
]]>Traditional mattresses, like spring beds, are made of metal and gaseous chemicals like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which usually come from materials like the bed’s flame retardant properties. Unfortunately, chemicals like VOCs can be dangerous to your family’s health.
“It is important to understand that air quality in our sleeping micro-environment is important with regard to our exposure to various pollutants such as VOCs,” says researcher Yael Dubowski. “Hence, we should make an effort to improve it.”
Because of the dangers, more and more people are starting to move away from the traditional spring mattress and are opting for mattress alternatives, like latex mattresses and memory foam beds. These beds are generally of higher quality and have safer materials—but what exactly is the difference, and how do you know which one is right for you?
At first glance, latex and memory foam beds look somewhat similar: Both are soft to the touch and are made up of an airy-like material that emulates the look and feel of sleeping on a cloud.
The material you’re looking at is foam. A latex mattress and memory foam bed have a particular type of foam that offer additional support as you sleep. Before you get into which bed is right for you, first take a look at memory foam and latex mattresses so you can break down the exact differences.
Latex is derived from the milk or sap of rubber trees called Hevea brasiliensis, which are trees that are typically found in rainforests throughout South America. Its milky latex is the main source of many common materials made out of rubber, like gloves, catheters, balloons, hoses, and mattresses.
Although rubber trees have been around for hundreds of years, it wasn’t until the 1920s when a scientist turned its milk into foam. Nearly 100 years ago, British chemist Edward Murphy invented the first latex mattress. At the time, he was working for the industrial company Dunlop, which primarily manufactured rubber goods and was also one of the first to develop car tires. While working with Dunlop, Murphy developed and patented the first rubber foam.
Memory foam was developed by NASA in the 1970s when officials asked a group of engineers to create a unique, customized seat for their astronauts. This seat had to be a brand-new invention and relieve pressure from the massive gravitational forces that astronauts experienced during takeoff and landing. However, researchers were stumped: Since astronauts’ bodies changed over time, a custom seat would need to be made for every trip, which was impossible.
Eventually, aeronautical engineer Charles Yost developed a human-made material called “viscoelastic,” a type of polyurethane foam that is known better today as memory foam. This type of foam could comfortably and slowly contort and support each astronaut’s body and then reform its original shape with ease, making takeoffs and landings easier on their bodies. The comfort of memory foam was such a grand discovery that it was quickly developed and sold all over the country.
Latex is made from a rubber tree’s sap or milk that goes through either the Dunlop or Talalay process to create the foam-like materials. It is an entirely natural plant product, so it’s often praised for its organic properties. Although it varies on where you purchase from, many brands like Essentia offer hypoallergenic latex mattresses.
Latex foam comes in three types: Natural latex, synthetic latex, and blended latex varieties. Natural latex is 100% hypoallergenic when made from entirely natural resources like rubber trees. Synthetic latex, however, is made in-lab to mimic the look and feel of its natural counterpart. Blended varieties have a mixture of both natural and synthetic properties.
Furthermore, latex foam can be made from one of two processes: Talalay or Dunlop. Talalay latex results in a softer-feeling foam. Most Talalay latex on today’s market is heavily blended and most likely 100% synthetic. Dunlop latex creates a more firm-feeling foam and can be created naturally or synthetically.
Memory foam is a human-made material, which means that it doesn’t have a “natural” version. Instead, it is constructed with polyurethane and other materials that help create the specific viscoelastic properties.
Memory foam has been criticized in the past for its dangerous toxins, like formaldehyde, benzene, naphthalene, and isocyanates, which can irritate the nose, eyes, and throat. However, many mattress brands, like Essentia, are moving in an organic direction so that people can still enjoy the comfort of memory foam without experiencing sleep irritants.
Latex has more elasticity and a tighter hug than memory foam, which means that its response time is faster, so it has more bounce and a lighter feel. Despite its extra bounce, latex can also offer excellent pressure relief for those suffering from unwanted aches and pains in their back, neck, and joints, making it perfect for side sleepers or stomach sleepers.
Memory foam is known for its pressure relief and motion isolation. It molds to body shapes, which can help relieve pressure points that build up over time. Because of its slow response time, memory foam also doesn’t snap back as quickly as latex, and is excellent for sleepers of any position.
Both memory foam and latex mattresses have their own sets of pros and cons, which is why it’s a good idea to always do your research before buying.
Here are some of the major benefits that a natural latex mattress and memory foam mattress have to offer.
Nearly all other mattress types utilize adhesives and petroleum-based foams that continue to release toxic chemicals into the air as they age. Latex mattresses naturally repel mold, mites, and mildew. Plus, they don’t exude any odors, smells, or toxins, making them some of the safest sleeping materials in the world. However, because of this, they’re sometimes hard to come by.
Because of their ability to push back, latex mattresses are similar to memory foam beds because they can morph to the shape of your body. This feature offers natural spine alignment and pressure relief from back and joint pains, making it perfect for any type of sleeper.
A latex mattress outlasts other mattresses by years. A natural latex mattress can last up to 15 years, whereas synthetic or blended latex mattresses can last up to 10. These beds are durable and don’t get worn down as quickly, so it’s safe to say that they’re a commitment worth investing in.
Since memory foam was initially developed to support the weight against joints, it makes sense that these beds are leading products for pain relief. Memory foam morphs and contours to the shape of your body, which means that they offer neutral spinal alignment, which improves neck and back pain. Memory foam helps evenly distribute weight to correct your sleeping posture, which can even ease your breathing as you sleep.
Thanks to its flexible cell structure, memory foam doesn’t push against your body but instead works with your body’s shape so it can evenly distribute weight. A good rule of thumb for when you’re shopping for a memory foam bed is to check the density rating. The density rating tells you how much weight and support it can offer you while you sleep.
Make sure that the bed has a rating of at least 3.5 to 4 lbs./ft³ density. A bed with a higher density is of higher quality, which means that it can offer more support for your and your sleeping partner’s body.
Whether you love to toss and turn throughout your sleep or have a restless partner, memory foam mattresses are great for light and restless sleepers alike because of their motion-transfer resistance. With no squeaks or creaks, the memory foam material minimizes movement altogether so that your sleep remains uninterrupted all night long.
Nearly a third of your life is spent sleeping—so it’s probably safe to say that you want that precious time spent on a comfortable mattress.
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The problem is that every time you go mattress shopping, what you find is just more of the same—uneven, uncomfortable, and unjustifiably expensive.
Memory foam mattress technology has come a long way, and it's starting to become inexpensive enough that most consumers can afford it.
So, it's time to upgrade your mattress and join the 21st-century sleep revolution. In this article, you’ll learn everything you need to know about polyurethane foam mattresses, also known as memory foam.
Even if you know nothing about mattresses, you probably have heard of the memory foam mattress. In the 1970s, NASA developed a type of polyurethane material called memory foam. Their ultimate efforts were to create a material that could reduce the astronauts’ pressure during take-off and space flight.
However, it wasn't until decades later that companies began to see sales skyrocket for one consumer product: the mattress.
Memory foam is a polyurethane material mixed with a variety of chemicals and other materials that allow it to contour to your body. The foam reacts to changes in temperature, so when you lie on it, the pressure from your body weight causes it to conform to the shape of your body.
Memory foam is also known as viscoelastic foam. This means that it offers a combination of viscosity and elasticity. Viscous fluids are those that have a certain level of thickness and density. On the other hand, elasticity is the science of stretching and compressing certain materials.
When you combine these two properties, you get a mattress that contours to the shape of your body and conforms to your curvature. With a plush feel that makes you feel like you're sleeping on a cloud, it returns to its normal state once you no longer put weight on it.
Like most types of bedding material, memory foams come in many styles, shapes, and sizes. These are the most common types of memory foam mattresses you're likely to find at a showroom:
The most common type of memory foam that you’re probably familiar with is the kind that you find in your bed. Traditional memory foam molds to the contours of your body, enveloping you in a sort of hug as you sleep.
When most people think of memory foam, they typically envision what they might find in a brand like Tempur Pedic. However, this type of material is notorious for making side sleepers feel too hot while they sleep.
As you put pressure on “traditional” memory foam, the material traps your body heat. This makes it a poor choice for summer.
Gel memory foam technology mimics the feel of a spring mattress. Instead of springs, this type of mattress uses gel beads in the interior. This gives the mattress a bounce and responsiveness that you don't find in other types of foam.
An additional feature is natural temperature control, since the gel provides a cooling effect for the sleeper. It helps to regulate your temperature as you sleep.
In other words, if you tend to sleep hot, a gel memory foam mattress could be something to consider. Phase-changing materials in a memory foam mattress absorb excess heat from the body to keep your body temperature cool and comfortable.
Along with gel, copper, and lavender scents, cooling memory foam mattresses often include other temperature-reducing materials, including corrugated foams and cotton. The advantage of these additional materials is their ability to redistribute heat by maximizing airflow through each component of the mattress.
The open-cell structure foam mattress is an innovation in the sleep industry because it provides more airflow and insulation. With its airy design, you'll stay comfortable all night long — no matter if you live in a hot climate or have a problem with night sweats.
As a trade-off, open-cell memory foam also lacks density. It is a lower quality material that is less durable than traditional mattresses. Customers often complain that these types of mattresses don't last as long as high-ILD (indentation load deflection) mattresses.
Memory foam mattresses all follow the same basic construction. Still, there are many ways to change up the design to achieve different goals. Manufacturers will use memory foam to fill in the whole mattress or just part of it. They may also custom-engineer the mattress's foam layers to improve airflow, softness, and other essential properties.
There is a comfort layer (which includes multiple layers of foam), a support layer, and a core layer. Typically, memory foam is used as a top layer in a mattress to give it a soft, cradling feeling.
The comfort layer is the soft layer that you sleep on, and the support layer is the layer that prevents you from sinking into the mattress. Featuring one or more foams, this section both cushions and conforms to the shape of your body. The most breathable foams lie in this layer, so they don't trap heat.
Next, there's the transition layer. As the name suggests, transition layers separate the comfort layers from the core. They are generally firmer than the comfort layers and, as a result, help wick heat away.
The core of the mattress provides support, shape, and structure. They're usually high-density foams, so they feel stiffer when you press on them. In some hybrid mattresses, the core is the same material as an innerspring—providing a supportive and firm base for the rest of the mattress.
You can measure the health benefits of memory foam mattresses on a case-by-case basis by their ability to relieve pressure points and support joints. However, because sleep quality is subjective and varies based on sleeping style, it can be challenging to measure the effects these types of mattresses have on sleep.
Generally speaking, these are the most significant benefits of sleeping on a memory foam mattress no matter what kind of sleeper you are:
Memory foam beds react differently at various temperatures. When it's colder, the bed is firmer and takes longer to mold to your contours. However, when it's warmer, the bed recoils and becomes softer, conforming to your body shape more easily.
Attempting to press your hand into a memory foam mattress will leave an imprint. This is because of the temperature difference among the various regions on the bed. Softer areas may be reacting to your body’s warmth, while other areas remain cool and firm.
Memory foam mattresses also prevent you from moving around easily during sleep and can result in the familiar, characteristic feeling of being hugged by your bed.
Memory foam mattresses provide support and relief for the entire body. Since the material conforms to the natural curves of your body, high quality memory foam is especially helpful in protecting you from back pain and potentially providing pressure relief.
The foam hug maintains a neutral spine position. In contrast, spring mattresses may create issues like pain and pressure due to uneven support.
For those who have problems with pain from their current mattress, there are many benefits to a memory foam mattress. These mattresses provide support and relief by relieving pressure on the shoulders, hips and back.
People with chronic pain, such as arthritis and fibromyalgia, can benefit from sleeping on a memory foam mattress. Memory foam properly aligns the body so that the individual is not putting pressure on sensitive areas while they sleep.
A key benefit of memory foam mattresses is their longevity. Memory foam mattresses can last up to 10 years and they’re less likely to sag or become misshapen over time — a common problem with innerspring mattresses.
Because of a longer lifespan, memory foam costs more than a typical mattress. However superior support and durability means you won’t have to keep spending money on a mattress every three to five years.
Even standard memory foam mattresses are low-maintenance, so they're an excellent choice for people who want a supportive bed with minimal upkeep. It's best to avoid electric beds because their equipment can malfunction and need costly repairs while memory foam is less likely to experience this problem.
Memory foam mattresses don't require flipping, rotating, or spring repairs the way traditional innerspring mattresses do. With a memory foam mattress, you only need to rotate and vacuum it every once in a while.
No matter what position you adopt to sleep — on your stomach, on your side, or on your back — a memory foam mattress will cradle and support the body. This type of bed also provides relief from pressure points and joint pain.
Memory foam pads offer a range of firmness options from soft to medium to firm. That way, you can choose the level of support that's best for you.
Mattresses made from memory foam are a popular choice for many people because they help reduce the pressure on sensitive parts of the body.
Memory foam mattresses offer relief from pressure points and don’t apply any downward force to your body, unlike other types of beds. Instead, they comfortably contour to your shape and cradle your curves.
Despite these general benefits, not all memory foam mattresses are created equal. It’s important to remember that materials, manufacturing, and construction all make a significant difference in your sleep quality, your respiratory health, and your overall comfort through the night.
If you think that getting a good night’s sleep is just a fluke, think again. These details of your mattress matter — a lot. Let’s take a look at what the highest quality memory foam mattresses can afford you as you sleep.
Every Essentia memory foam mattress begins with our Beyond Latex organic foam made of natural, organic latex that is sourced from hevea milk sap. A mattress made of natural ingredients promotes a cleaner sleeping environment that focuses on recovery through rest. Our patented eco process is GOLS- and GOTS-certified to ensure that the materials we use are sustainable and suitable for your body.
Besides this, all Essentia mattresses incorporate essential oils and organic cotton to ensure a deeply restorative, low-impact sleeping environment.
It's essential to have a good mattress in the summer if you're going to sleep in a hot room. Essentia Beyond Latex Organic Foam mattresses are a good choice because they wick heat away from the body and dissipate it, so you don't overheat at night.
If you're a sleeper that gets too warm under the covers, memory foam beds will help you balance out your body temperature regulation. Essentia’s Classic REM5, for example, naturally pulls heat away from your body and sleeps five degrees cooler than your body temperature.
Unlike other mattresses, Essentia memory foam doesn't retain any allergens like dust mites or mold. The foam’s dense structure makes it inhospitable to these irritants. This means that if you have an allergy or sensitivity, Essentia's Beyond Latex organic foam mattress will allow you to sleep soundly!
Give your body the comfort and support of natural memory foam. Essentia mattresses are crafted with high-quality, organic ingredients that prevent you from inhaling the harsh chemicals that other polyurethane mattresses contain.
Along with our superior temperature regulation and pressure relief features, Essentia provides the sleepers the most restful and restorative sleep in the world. Get a better night's rest now and for years to come by adding some memory foam to your home with Essentia.
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Everyone is on a quest to experience better sleep, and one of the hotter topics coming up lately is biohacking your sleep or sleep hacking. The goal is to experience deeper, quality sleep. This doesn’t necessarily mean sleeping longer, but rather what changes can you make to wake up fully recharged and ready to conquer your day.
“Getting good sleep is both an art and a science — yet the overwhelming majority of people have trouble sleeping, even those who have mastered every other aspect of their lives. Even if you had time to sleep an entire 8 hours a night, would it be optimal, uninterrupted sleep? Would you wake up feeling 100% refreshed?”
DAVE ASPREY
NY TIMES Best-Selling Author and CEO of Bulletproof 360
Let’s take some time to really digest that quote from the father of biohacking himself, Dave Asprey. Do you think if you slept longer you would truly feel rested? Why do we focus so much on the hours of sleep? To really understand what it means to hack your sleep, let’s start at the beginning.
The general idea of biohacking is the art and science of changing your environment, both internal and external, in order to control and upgrade your own biology. This encompasses a wide range of ideas and methods including diet, intermittent fasting, supplements, certain fats and even specific products to help the body achieve this fully upgraded goal.
Many of us will fall into the category of gentle biohackers meaning we’ll try things like tracking our sleep and make adjustments to our sleep environment based on that data. Biohacking is about optimizing your life and your body, through the use of technology, biology, holistic research and personal experiments.
In a perfect world, we would be sleeping in rooms that automatically gather data about us such as body temperature, heart rate and sleeping position and that smart room processes that data and then optimizes certain elements of the room to ensure you get into deep REM sleep. But did you realize there are a few tricks you can do to help hack your sleep, and one very important item you should have in your room.
If you want to get on the road to hacking your sleep, there are a few things you can do without the use of multiple trackers such as limiting blue light, black out curtains and adding specific supplements to your diet such as Vitamin D, krill oil and magnesium. But one important item will trump them all to become the core to hacking your sleep effectively: an Essentia mattress!
“This is what we do. Since 2008, we’ve been observing and tracking the body’s reaction to it’s sleep environment and have built Essentia to be the perfect vehicle for sleep hacking. It’s not in one single feature, it's the combined features that create the most effective sleep environment for a body to regenerate at a faster pace.”
JACK DELL’ACCIO
Founder and CEO
Your sleep environment plays a huge role in your body’s sleep-wake cycle, and like that smart room we hypothesized above. What Essentia has been able to accomplish is to score highest at all seven key elements that a sleep surface can offer to establish this environment. The sleep environment is key to undistracted work of regeneration that the body goes through during sleep. These critical key elements that Essentia has combined are clean, non-toxic materials; allergen friendly materials; adaptive accelerated response to reduce movement interruptions; support and pressure redistribution; an organic mineral formula that drives EMF patterns; and a dynamic temperature control. Individually, some of these elements are attainable by some, but often these conflict and achieving all these combined is how Essentia stands alone.
One of the most important aspects of your environment to hack your sleep is your body temperature. This is where an Essentia mattress becomes the optimal tool to help you hack your sleep.
“We’ve reviewed hundreds of mattresses from organic to synthetic to smart beds and only when we came across the Essentia mattress did we discover a company with a material technology that scored well on all important aspects for a thriving sleep environment."
RICHARD MACARY
Chief Strategy Officer - Delos
While all of Essentia’s 7 key elements combined create the ultimate environment to hack your sleep, there are two in particular that are at the core of helping you to hack your sleep: Active Cooling and Clean Air Environment.
Essentia mattresses are made using organic components in our GOLS and GOTS certified organic facility, one of the biggest advantages to our patented natural memory foam is its ability to actively cool the body throughout the night. This means we are not using ‘cooling fabrics or phase changing chemicals that give the initial illusion of a ‘cool touch’ meaning they feel cool when you initially lie down but heats back up to force you to move to a fresh ‘cool’ spot.
Essentia patented natural memory foam actively cools the body through the night by naturally pulling heat away from the body and out through the mattress, creating an environment that consistently helps to keep you in the deep REM stages of sleep. In fact, the Dormeuse REM9 organic performance mattresses have been tested to sleep up to 9 degrees cooler than your internal body temperature over an 8 hour sleep cycle.
This means that Essentia’s patented natural memory foam is not temperature sensitive in the way that other foams would be, meaning it does not rely on your body heat to contour to your body for proper support and comfort. As we sleep, we naturally change positions to accommodate our bodies. On an Essentia mattress the foam accepts your body quickly and rebounds quickly meaning you are never jostled out of sleep when making these natural nighttime movements. This is key as any interruption of your sleep can restart your sleep cycle and keep you away from those deep sleep stages.
The second big advantage of sleeping on an Essentia is experiencing a clean air environment. As we use only the highest quality organic components, Essentia mattresses do not contain any petrochemicals or toxic chemicals used in synthetic mattresses that could keep your sympathetic immune system active at night. So your body spends less time fighting invisible evils and more time cycling through deep sleep.
If we think back to the questions that Dave Asprey asked, it is easy to see how sleeping on an Essentia mattress will help you experience optimal, uninterrupted sleep to wake up refreshed and ready to conquer your day. All you have to do is fall asleep on your Essentia!
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A quick Google search for “mattress flame retardant” nets you 1.5 million search results in .40 seconds. Scroll down to get information and most articles or blogs cover the same content; since 2007 US Consumer Product Safety Commission required all mattresses to contain flame retardants, however, they forgot to require manufacturers to identify the chemicals they used. Click the news tab and you see the most current legal issues with major brands and mega-retailers. “Fiberglass a cheap alternative”, “Failure to meet fire standards” and “Made In USA” top the search and news headlines.
Did you know that due to that requirement all mattresses sold in the US are required to contain enough fire retardant chemicals to withstand a 2-foot wide blowtorch open flame for 70 seconds Nearly 92% of the market, or most major sleep product brands, use a highly controversial fire retardants due to its cost efficiency.
With so much noise and confusion, how do you know what your mattress uses for flame retardant? Is it organic or is it full of chemicals and toxins? It makes sense to have fire protection but at what cost to your health?
While researching, we found that there are hundreds of different flame retardants and understanding them all requires a Ph.D. in chemistry and biology. PBB, PBDEs, HBCDD, TDCPP, TCEP, PolyFR, TBPH, TBBPA, and the list goes on. However, we can generally group them into categories based on structure.
When shopping for a new mattress, be mindful of these words: bromine, chlorine, phosphorus, nitrogen, metals, and borons. If you see them listed, run… FAST! The mattress industry is listening to its consumers and many brands are offering organic solutions to provide healthier and safer fire protection but complete transparency is still lacking. The adage “you get what you pay for” really applies when comparing cheap memory foam to high-end organic mattresses.
So how are we exposed to flame retardants? Skin contact, inhalation, and ingestion.
We don’t see it or feel it but prolonged exposure has been documented to have adverse effects on your health. This is more evident for adults and children with compromised immune systems or other health complications. We sleep 7-8 hours a day and have our nose and mouth very near the mattress surface so any airborne particles will likely be inhaled.
Other things to consider:
It is not just the mattress material you consider but also the additives used to combine with petroleum based foams to make them fireproof. These ingredients are not usually listed on labels or manufacturer’s websites, so ask the right questions to get the right answers. If you value your health, do the research and evaluate your sleep priorities and needs. Find out what is best for your situation and make the investment for healthy sleep. One shoe size doesn’t fit all and one mattress is not made for everyone.
Fire Retardants are prevalent in a multitude of common household products and can be found in everything from pillows to couches, children's clothing, carpets, computers and baby toys.
These are just a sampling of the chemicals and additives that can leech through mattress covers and are absorbed through the skin.
Chronic exposure to these chemicals causes them to accumulate in the body and present themselves in your bloodstream, breast milk, and even umbilical cord blood.
The U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission (CPSC) approved a 2006 federal regulation (16 CFR 1640) enforcing a strict national flameproof mattress standard, mandating all new mattresses to withstand a two-foot wide blowtorch open flame test, for 70 seconds.
The national flameproof mattress regulation has been in effect in California since 1/1/05 and is now effective nationwide. All mattresses, sofa beds, futons, cribs and fold out beds are included under the regulation.
Fire Retardants are prevalent in a multitude of common household products and can be found in everything from pillows to couches, children's clothing, carpets, computers, and baby toys.
Though the new regulation is intended to provide fire safety, it has produced a new health risk due to the use of the hazardous chemical composition of most flame retardants.
Most major mattress brands treat their sleep products with hazardous fire retardants in order to acquire the anti-flammable property necessary to withstand the two-foot thick open flame blowtorch test.
The regulation does not mandate the labeling of chemicals used in fireproofing; manufacturers are free to use any and all chemicals including those that have yet to be tested for hazardous side effects.
Ironically, the National Flameproof Mattress regulation in the US allows physicians, including chiropractors, to prescribe fire retardant-free mattresses for patients should they conclude that the health risks posed by toxic fire retardants will interfere with the patient's well-being.
The requirement for a Flame Proof mattress is only applicable in the United States. Here at Essentia we manufacture our mattresses in our GOLS and GOTS certified organic factory in Canada. As Canada does not have the same regulation in place as the US, all mattresses that we ship within Canada do not have the non-toxic Kevlar flame retardant fabric.
This also means here at Essentia we are happy to ship a mattress to our customers in the US without that Kevlar fabric sock if we are provided a prescription from a doctor stating that you require a mattress without a flame retardant.
When shopping for a new mattress there are some options for natural and nontoxic materials for fire protection.
As more people prioritize their sleep, the options for healthy and safe mattresses will become mainstream. The use of flame retardant chemicals is a poor choice for us and our planet. This means it will be even more important for you to seek a mattress that is free of toxic chemicals and made with only natural ingredients.
Essentia Mattresses are the foundation of healthy sleep. With our GOLS and GOTS certification, all Essentia mattresses are truly organic and hypoallergenic which means no exposure to VOCs, and are impervious to bed bugs and dust mites. If you are looking for more comfort, support and performance you’ll like our Lifestyle and Performance mattress collections.
We, Essentia, have also opted to incorporate a better quality fire retardant in all our mattresses.
By using Kevlar, the same fabric used in bulletproof vests, Essentia organic latex foam mattresses, and organic crib mattresses meet all safety standards without compromising our product integrity and commitment to a healthier night's sleep. Since Kevlar is a fabric, we put it on the mattress much like a sock and sew it up on the other end. This means we don’t spray any harsh chemicals or toxic flame retardant chemicals in our GOLS and GOTS certified organic factory.
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The fact is that having too many options can overwhelm you because you’re not quite sure about the differences between each option.
That’s how you feel when you attempt to find the right mattress for you. Unlike many other purchases, mattresses are subjective because each person’s body and sleep needs are different.
Today, there are many different mattress “types” marketed to sleepers. Manufacturers like to introduce confusing abbreviations or labels to make their product seem unique — but that’s not helpful when shopping for a mattress.
It’s time to cut through the jargon.
In this article, we will break down the differences between a spring mattress vs. memory foam mattress. We’ll look at the benefits of each, what you need to watch out for, and where each type of mattress ranks for factors like comfort, support, and hypoallergenic materials.
Today, a spring mattress is the “standard” mattress. Rewind to the middle of the 19th century, and it was a novelty. Heinrich Westphal designed the first modern-day spring mattress. He repurposed the coil spring invention used for chairs and wrapped rows of them in an iron frame.
At this time, manufacturers used raw cotton, hair, wool, or feathers as stuffing in the mattress’s encasement, with a frame of tightly-wound, uniform steel spring coils.
However, these natural materials collect vermin and mildew, especially in warmer states across the United States. Manufacturers changed their production process and some materials to make sure their spring mattresses were sanitary.
During the 1940s and 50’s these types of mattresses occupied a space in almost every home across the country. They would remain unchallenged until the 1970s and 80’s, when waterbeds and memory foam mattresses became viable alternatives.
There are several types of spring mattresses available on the market today.
Pocketed or Encased Coil, very popular today, these are individually encased in a fabric to act independently of each other. This design allows targeted support and offers a balance between feel and comfort and you can tailor the springs to suit your body weight. Many offer a comfort layer for a more luxurious feel.
Offset Coils are similar to Bonnell, however, they have a square head design flex like a hinge when compressed, and provide better contour characteristics. In addition, they have one straight side to lace more closely together.
You can still buy an open coil innerspring mattress today, but they’re usually very cheap, and they break down quickly. They offer no pressure relief and will also start to creak and sag in no time. This is why people who prefer an innerspring system always choose pocket coil springs as a standard.
The red areas are significant because it means the spring mattress is pushing back against your body, rather than absorbing your body’s weight. Some areas of your body will push down harder than others, which means that you won’t be able to experience even support as you sleep.
This is also why you sometimes wake up with a sore shoulder or a stiff lower back when sleeping on an older spring mattress.
Somehow, mattress material innovation is something only astronomers work on. Heinrich Westphal was a German astronomer. Similarly, memory foam mattresses came about in 1966 through Charles Yoast's work. He happened to be an American space engineer under contract for NASA.
It began as “temper foam,” and the whole point was to improve seat cushioning and crash protection for airline pilots and passengers. That tells consumers a significant fact: memory foam is designed for motion and shock absorption, and to protect the body from impact.
Today, memory foam mattresses offer superior comfort and pressure point support. Many of them are designed to align the spine for side sleepers, stomach sleepers, and back sleepers.
In fact, they’re so popular that those who are more familiar with innerspring systems will often opt for a hybrid mattress. This allows sleepers to experience the therapeutic benefits of a memory foam mattress through a spring mattress construction. It’s the best of both worlds.
Now, there is a lot of confusion about memory foam mattresses because there are quite a few types of foam materials incorporated into the construction of these mattresses. Some manufacturers use uniform foam materials, while others use a combination. With an innerspring mattress, the frame is always a set of pocketed or open coils.
But, as you can see, memory foam mattresses include several different foam layers for a truly customized sleep experience. Beyond this, you can also opt to change the density, firmness levels, and contouring of a new mattress.
To help you understand the difference between the different types of foam mattresses available, use this handy comparison chart. You’ll see that not all memory foam mattresses are created the same, even if they’re called “memory foam.”
You can opt for latex, polyurethane, gel, or combinations of these layers, based on your budget and sleep needs.
The pros and cons of memory foam mattresses relate to the use of these materials. There is a type of memory foam that addresses the “cons” of a latex or foam mattress -- and it’s used in all Essentia mattresses.
The one type of memory foam that counteracts many of these disadvantages is natural memory foam.
Despite its many therapeutic benefits, it’s hard to find a memory foam mattress that is also eco-friendly. For quite a while, sleepers had to choose whether they wanted a good night’s sleep, health-safe materials, a cooler, comfortable sleep surface, or hypoallergenic mattresses.
Natural memory foam mattresses transform all these concerns, providing a safe bed-in-a-box alternative to many memory foam mattresses that off-gas. Essentia offers the only mattresses that are made of it's patented slow response organic latex foam called Beyond Latex:
Now that you know the essential differences between a spring mattress and a memory foam, it’s time to test which type of mattress can offer the best sleep.
Your personal experience on each mattress type is what matters most. However, you need to keep in mind that it’s not just about that first sleep. It’s also about all the nights of restful sleep after that first night, and how well your mattress supports your body over time.
Let’s take a look at four factors that will help you choose between a spring mattress and a memory foam mattress.
Traditionally, innerspring mattresses have a clear advantage over memory foam mattresses when it comes to body temperature. Those who sleep hot may prefer spring mattresses. The coils allow air to flow freely through the mattress.
However, natural cooling changes through the years for spring mattresses. The accumulation of dust, allergens, and dead skin cells adds density to the coil spring mattress.
When it comes to back support and pressure point support, memory foam mattresses win out every time. The materials used provide unparalleled support and pressure relief.
That’s not to say that innerspring systems can’t offer support. However, even pocketed coils wear out much faster and tend to sag in a few years.
One good option for sleepers is using a hybrid mattress. For example, the Tatami Hybrid uses the patented natural memory foam in layers, over an organic latex foam layer. However, it also packs in an eight-inch pocketed coil “support” core.
You can always determine the longevity or durability of a mattress based on the manufacturer's warranty. They know how long their mattresses are supposed to last, so they’ll typically offer a warranty that runs out two years before the mattress is simply unusable.
Many spring mattresses come with a seven- to 10-year warranty, which tells you that you can expect to start seeing serious wear and tear by the three- to seven-year mark. Memory foam mattresses have a much longer lifespan because they’re made to absorb the force of your body’s weight.
Both spring mattresses and memory foam mattresses are good at eliminating motion transfer if you move around while sleeping. However, you have to rely on a high pocketed or individually encased coil count to experience true motion isolation for a spring mattress.
A memory foam mattress that claims to have motion transfer reduction can be just as effective as a pocketed innerspring system because it absorbs movement. However, these memory foam mattresses might be too soft, so make sure you can customize the firmness levels. The ideal firmness for back pain is medium-firm support.
While scientists are still studying the phenomenon of sleep, the mysteries of mattresses shouldn’t get in the way of truly restorative sleep. At Essentia, we believe that both foam and spring mattresses have their perks — but you should never have to choose between your health and a mattress’s comfort and . Essentia offers a variety of mattress types, including hybrid mattresses and all foam mattresses, so you can find exactly what you’re looking for.
That’s why we build each of our mattresses using the world’s only natural memory foam material. Over 19 years of innovation, we’ve thoughtfully designed each mattress style to conform to your goals for a good night’s sleep. Learn more about Essentia’s world-class memory foam mattress collections today.
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Many people do not realize that there is a direct connection between body temperature and sleep. During the day, your body temperature is held between roughly 98.6-100.4 degrees by your circadian rhythm. However, this temperature can shift when you sleep dropping as low as 96 degrees for periods of times. The reason for this shift in temperature is that human beings, and many other mammals, lose much of their ability to regulate their body temperature when they are asleep.
In addition to this correlation between sleep and body temperature, there is another direct relationship in how body temperature affects sleep. The lower your body temperature is, the more sleep you subsequently become. As you fall into a deeper sleep, your body temperature will continue to decrease accordingly. In addition to an initial dip in body temperature when you first fall asleep, as your body continues in its sleep cycle and reaches Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, the body ceases to produce its own heat. This means that to maintain a restful night of sleep, it is important that your surrounding environment is supporting an ideal temperature for facilitating sleep. Ideally, your surrounding environment will keep your body warm enough that you do not wake up from being cold but will ensure your body temperature is low enough to remain in a restful sleep cycle.
Your body temperature as you sleep is significantly affected by your surrounding environment. Many individuals unknowingly cause their body temperature to rise as they sleep due to environmental factors. One of the most common environmental factors that contribute to hot sleeping is keeping the room you are sleeping in too hot. If you are a hot sleeper, it is important that the room you are sleeping in be kept cool. In addition, many people cover their bed with blankets and comforters that are too thick, which can create a hot environment that will raise your body temperature. Hot sleepers should pare down their bedding to thinner, breathable fabrics to help promote air circulation that will have a cooling effect on the body.
Another environmental factor that many individuals do not realize can contribute to hot sleeping is the material your mattress and pillows are made out of. Mattresses and pillows that are made out of polyurethane memory foam can sometimes lead to an increase in body temperature for sleepers. In addition, electronics are another environmental source that can promote an increase in hot sleeping because of the blue light they produce. As your body’s circadian rhythm attempts to lull you to sleep, the blue light emitted by electronic screens has the ability to interfere with melatonin levels in the body. The blue light of electronic screens can sometimes cause melatonin levels to decrease if viewed too closely or for an extended period of time, which can affect your body temperature as you sleep and your sleep quality. These are just a handful of different environmental factors that are capable of causing your body temperature to rise and may negatively affect your sleep patterns.
If you find yourself too hot at night to get a comfortable, restful night of sleep, then it is important that you take proactive measures to help improve your sleep. Sleep is extremely important in order to have ideal mental clarity and for your body to function correctly. We have put together a number of different cooling tips to implement into your nightly routine to help reduce your body temperature and get a cool, restful night of sleep.
If you are a hot sleeper, it is important that you pick the right types of pajamas to sleep in to help reduce your body temperature and promote cooling air circulation. Target pajamas that are made from light, breathable fabrics like cotton and that have a loose fit. Looser fitting pajamas will allow more air to travel in between the fabric and your body, which helps to keep your body temperature cooler throughout the night. However, if you experience night sweats, then it may be better to try a lightweight clothing, which will wick moisture away from the skin. If you are a hot sleeper, avoid pajamas made from fabrics like flannel, wool, and fleece, which can promote overheating.
Bedroom temperature should be set for between 65 and 72 degrees. Placing a fan in your room will also help to create air circulation that will cool your room down without the high price tag of air conditioning. Depending on where you live, there may or may not be a cooling nighttime breeze you can use to your advantage throughout the night to help you keep cool. If you do live somewhere where it is cooler outside, open a window and place a fan in front of it positioned towards the bed to help create a cross-breeze that will boost the airflow in your room and drive your body temperature down. Don’t be afraid to have a few fans places strategically throughout your room while your sleep to help keep you cool, especially during the warmer summer months.
Many people do not realize that light bulbs emit heat, which can cause the temperature in the room the rise. Even environmentally-friendly light bulbs produce heat, so be sure to turn your lights off when you want to start cooling down for the night before sleep, especially during the summer months when it stays light out for longer. Utilize natural light instead and embrace the darkness while you sleep to get a cooler night of sleep.
If you own a hot water bottle, it can help you to keep warm during the cold months, but did you know you can also use it to stay cool while you sleep during the warmer months? Simply fill your hot water bottle with room temperature water and stick it in the freezer until it is completely frozen. From there, use it as you would a hot water bottle, but it will function as an ice pack driving your temperature down instead of causing it to rise. This can be a cost-effective method to keep your utility charges down so that you aren’t relying solely on air conditioning to keep you cool as you sleep.
How you feel when you lay down to go to sleep at night can have a tremendous impact on your quality of sleep. If you lay down for bed with a layer of sweat on your skin that is making you feel damp and warm, chances are that you will not get a restful night of sleep. To combat this, take a cold shower each night before you go to sleep. This will help clean the sweat off of your body from the day, and the cold water will help to decrease your core body temperature, which will better prepare you to get a cool, relaxing night of sleep. This shower does not need to be long or drawn out, just long enough to get your feeling cool, clean, and ready to rest.
If you want to get a cool night of sleep, be sure to unplug your electronics at night before you go to sleep. Similar to light bulbs, electronics and other small appliances can emit heat even when they are turned off, which can drive the temperature up. In addition, you will likely be able to fall asleep much easier without the presence of electronics since many individuals find that using electronics before bed affects their ability to get a restful night of sleep due to the blue light it emits.
Hot sleepers often find themselves tossing and turning throughout the night. In some cases, tossing, turning, and sweating at night may occur as a result of dehydration. To prevent this, be sure to drink a glass of cold water before bed. Not only will the cool water help to reduce your body temperature, but it will also hydrate you so you can get a better night of sleep. Keep in mind that just one eight-ounce glass of water should do the trick. Otherwise, you may end up having to get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom, which could further disrupt your sleep pattern.
If you are a hot sleeper, just as you need to be judicious in choosing the right clothing to sleep in, you must also be thoughtful about what bedding you sleep on. The bedding you sleep on is an important factor in staying cool throughout the night and getting a better night of sleep. When selecting sheets, look for high-quality cotton sheets since they will be much more breathable than other fabrics like flannel, polyester, satin, fleece, and lycra. Essentia’s organic sheets & mattresses are made from high-quality certified organic cotton that is supremely soft and will help to promote airflow to keep you cool throughout the night. Once you have found the right sheets, the next step is to find the right mattress.
When looking for the right mattress, target an all-natural mattress that is made from cooling components that will help you to sleep cooler throughout the night. Essentia’s mattresses are made using the world’s only natural memory foam that helps you to sleep cool during the night. The latex-based natural memory foam pulls heat away from the body and out through the mattress, it has been proven that you can sleep up to seven degrees cooler than your body temperature on an Essentia mattress over an eight-hour sleep cycle. While many mattresses that use memory foam can promote hot sleeping, natural mattresses promote a cool night of sleep because of their unique engineering, design and conscientiously chosen materials. The natural elements used to make Essentia’s mattresses sleep cooler than other materials, which will help you to get the cool night of sleep you are looking for.
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Memory foam has been a trending material for both mattresses and pillows, steadily increasing over the past few years. It has been marketed as the cornerstone of new-generation mattresses that have the ability to recover their shape. So, what exactly does that mean and why is that important? What is memory foam? How does memory foam work? How long does memory foam last? And what is the difference between memory foam and other mattresses? These are questions many consumers find themselves asking when considering this as the material for their next mattress, however, such an investment should be examined carefully.
When it comes to mattresses, there are all sorts of types available to consumers. Ranging in material and stiffness, finding the best fit for you can be tricky. Below are some of the most common mattress types currently available in the marketplace.
Also known as coil mattresses, innersprings are one of the oldest and most popular mattress options and still make up a large portion of mattress sales. These mattresses utilize the internal support of metal springs which can vary in shape and gauge. The number and distribution of coils determine how well the mattress will conform to your body, thus you can generally measure the quality of support from an innerspring mattress by how many coils are in the design. Back, side and tummy sleepers can potentially be comfortable with the right type of innerspring mattress. However these have a very short life-span.
Pillow tops essentially have an additional layer of upholstery that is added to the top of the mattress. They are very soft and cushiony, allowing for hips and shoulders to “sink” into the mattress making it an ideal choice for side sleepers. Typically, you can choose the level of softness for your pillow top, and they are generally used with an innerspring mattress.
These mattresses use, you guessed it, water as their primary support system and are best suited for back sleepers. A waterbed consists of a chamber of water which is then padded with an upholstery material such as foam or fibers. The water chamber can be either free-flow or limited-flow, also known as waveless. In a free-flow chamber, nothing obstructs the water from moving from one end of the mattress to another. Limited-flow chambers, however, have fibers that restrict the water's movement. Typically a free-flow waterbed offers slightly less support than those with limited-flow chambers.
While gel functions similarly to memory foam and is often added to memory foam mattresses, it has a slightly different feel than memory foam. One of the most notable differences is the way gel mattresses dissipate your body heat more effectively, so sleepers who run warm may find gel to be an ideal solution.
Finally, we have memory foam which has become increasingly popular due to the way it gradually conforms to the body. Memory foam can offer excellent support for all sleepers, but side sleepers especially. So let’s take a deeper look at what memory foam is and how it works.
So what is memory foam anyway? Well, memory foam was actually developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the 1960’s as part of the flight seating. NASA placed a premium on the comfort of the astronauts they were sending into space, given the extremity of the environment they would be facing. As a result, they developed a material that was able to quickly mold around the body, relieving stress in the process. The cradling nature of the material also helped to alleviate pressure from the G-forces endured by astronauts. The new material was successfully created in 1966 as an outcome of extensive research.
The memory foam material, made from a substance called viscoelastic, remained the property of NASA until the 1980s when it began being used in the development of athletic equipment and within hospitals. It wasn’t until 1992 that the first memory foam mattress was revealed to consumers with its popularity increasing steadily over the coming decades.
Newer memory foams have an open-cell structure that reacts to body heat and weight to form around you as you sleep which helps relieve pressure points and prevent pressure sores. Generally speaking, the majority of memory foam has the same basic chemical composition. However, the density and layer thickness of the foam gives each mattress its unique feel. A high-density mattress will have better compression ratings over the life of the bedding while lower-density one will have a slightly shorter life due to the compression that takes place after repeated use. On average, medium to high-density foams can last eight to ten years while low-density foams will last around four to six years. This is comparable to other mattress materials which last, on average, eight to ten years. Though that timeframe decreases as the person using the mattress ages, Consumer Reports states that anyone over the age of 40 years-old should not sleep on the same mattress longer than seven years.
Now that we understand how memory foam works, we can better understand the number of benefits it offers to those consumers who decide to purchase a mattress of the material.
As we’ve already mentioned, one of the core benefits of memory foam beds is its ability to mold around the body. When you lay down on memory foam, the material yields and adjusts to your shape, rather than forcing you to contour to it. Unlike springs and other materials, memory foam does not “push back” or place added upward pressure on the sleeper.
Many sleepers can experience discomfort on more traditional mattresses due to the pressure of downward pulling gravity and upward resistance in bedding materials that affect circulation and damage soft tissues caught in the middle. The pressure-relieving benefits of memory foam were used to help prevent pressure sores and minimize pain in sensitive areas in the healthcare community prior to being released commercially.
Given that memory foam supports each part of the body evenly and individually, it is no wonder it helps to keep the back and neck in alignment, keeping your body in a neutral position. Other materials like springs concentrate weight on areas that contact the mattress. This leads to your hips and shoulders bearing most of the weight and inadequate support of the lower back. Such displacement can also create tension and pain in the neck or legs as the body is forced into an unnatural position.
Regardless of how you sleep, on your stomach, back, or side, memory foam accommodates any position, especially when taking into account the wide array of firmness available within memory foam. Because the foam hugs the body, it eliminates the pain and pressure points of any sleeping position.
This is an especially important benefit for those who share a bed. Since the memory foam material absorbs and isolates motion rather than transferring it, when one person rolls over or gets out of bed, their partner isn’t disturbed.
Memory foam mattresses are relatively low-maintenance when it comes to caring for them. They typically benefit from rotation a few times per year and an occasional vacuuming, that is the extent of the care they require making it one of the easiest mattresses on the market to maintain.
Since its creation and release to the public, memory foam has been increasing in popularity. Clearly, memory foam can offer a number of health benefits and provide purchasers with an easy to maintain option. It is important to understand what options will work best for you when shopping for a memory foam mattress as there are a number of considerations to take into account.
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As you slip into your comfy bed that you’ve loved for years, you slow your mind and take deep breaths to start the sleep journey. You curl in your favorite blanket and fade to dark. The night was normal till you woke up at 4:00 AM with inexplicable pain in your back. Everything was fine before you went to bed, the day prior was great and you didn’t do anything to hurt your back. What gives? Why can’t you get out of bed? Chances are good you tweaked your back and have acute low back pain (lower back pain). According to the CDC, 25% of adults reported they had lower back pain and is the most common type of pain. Causes of back pain are accidents, lifting heavy objects, sudden movements, and sometimes back pain can develop over time with age. A sedentary lifestyle can lead to lower back pain especially if you have a burst of activity your body isn’t prepared for.
If you’re waking up with back pain, that means you’re tossing and turning and not getting the deep and REM sleep cycles you need at night. Most lower back pain last just a few days to a few weeks. Often, it resolves on its own or with a treatment of the underlying cause. However, chronic back pain persists for 12 weeks or longer and can require medical or surgical procedure to relieve the pain, but sometimes, pain persists despite treatment.
There are many potential sources of lower back pain, how you’re sleeping is a huge factor. We are not just talking about the mattress, posture or length of time in bed, it’s about getting into your repairing, healing and growth sleep cycles sooner and longer. This is when your mind and body are allowed to detoxify, repair injuries and grow mentally and physically. In theory, when you are sleep-deprived, your pain tolerance is lower than it would be if you slept well and the resulting sleep loss increases painful inflammation, so getting enough sleep may reduce inflammation.
It’s difficult to identify the causes of back pain, however, there are some clues to look out for to see if your mattress is to blame. If your back pain exists the moment you wake up and open your eyes, but you can do light stretching for 10-20 minutes and alleviate the pain, then your mattress is doing more harm than good. Also, if you’re waking up more frequently or are tossing and turning, that's another sign you should be looking into a new mattress. Even if you are not prone to back pain, you should ideally replace your mattress every eight years.
Signs your mattress needs to be replaced:
A good mattress will address your posture needs and help to align your spine for lower back pain stimulant free sleep. People who suffer from lower back pain should look for a mattress that eliminates pressure points and evenly distributes the body weight to provide the necessary support, particularly the shoulders and hips. The proper support and alignment can alleviate aches and pains commonly associated with lower back pain. It’s also important to choose a mattress that meets your requirements for firmness and comfort. Herein lies the biggest challenge for consumers and brands. Comfort is subjective and personal and that’s why you typically only have 3 variations: Soft, Medium and Firm
When you’re shopping for a mattress for lower back pain, consider these points:
The best mattress for back pain promotes spinal alignment, weight distribution and pressure relief for your preferred sleeping position. For instance, if you’re a side sleeper or you’re recovering from a recent injury, a model with responsive foam layers that cradle your joints may be right for you. Dedicated back sleepers, on the other hand, may want a slightly firmer feel while combination sleepers should aim for something in between.
]]>While many memory foam manufacturers offer quality products, some opt for a cheaper variety of materials and in turn offer lower prices; but a bargain for your pocketbooks is no bargain for your health.
Low mattress prices are directly related to poor quality mattress materials.
A healthy lifestyle begins with a good night’s sleep. A good night’s sleep begins with a premium quality mattress.
Low-quality memory foam mattresses result in improper support, which in turn affects joints and muscles. You want a mattress to contour to your body's curves and not hammock on you, which cheap foam mattresses will inevitably end up doing sooner than later. You will want a therapeutic mattress that gently contours to your entire body offering support to your neck and back.
Using a premium quality latex memory foam mattress greatly improves comfort level because of proper spinal alignment and support.
When proper body alignment is achieved, it allows your body to recover from stress endured throughout the day. Proper alignment ensures proper blood circulation which is critical for hydrating the spinal cord and repairing body and mind while you sleep.
Premium quality memory foam mattresses will save you from joint pain and back problems, allowing you to live life to the fullest.
]]>A study published in the “American Journal of Public Health 74, no. 5” reveals that our skin has a 64% absorption rate of toxins it comes into contact with during our sleep. Another study found the face to be several times more penetrable than larger body surface areas and the additional absorption rate for underarms and genitalia is 100%. So it's important to consider what you’re sleeping on as well as what you’re breathing in at night. Choose only 100% natural fibers to sleep on; cotton, linen, or silk. These materials allow your skin to breathe while naturally wicking moisture away from your body.
Nowadays, the best organic bedding is made from cotton, hemp, and flax. High-quality flax is grown in Europe and is used to manufacture linen bedding. This type of organic bed linen is lightweight, breathable, and perfect for summer sleeping. Hemp is naturally antimicrobial and antibacterial, it controls your body temperature by keeping you cool in the summer and warm in the winter. Many manufacturers blend hemp with cotton because hemp alone is quite expensive. Cotton is one of the most widely produced crops in the world. Organic cotton sheets are incredibly soft, and durable and are available at many price points and in several weaves that create materials of different textures and looks.
Who would have thought that buying new bed sheets could be a complicated process? But with all of the materials available and the varieties of each, it can be a tough decision to make. Gone are the days of a simple sole choice of white cotton sheets. In today’s market, there is everything from cotton to bamboo and ranging from synthetic to organic.
Which option is the best for you? Are organic fabrics and thus organic sheets really better than others? More durable? Healthier? It’s a lot to take in!
But fear not, we are here to guide you. Let’s start by taking a look at the fabric options that sheets may typically be made from and finish with a discussion of the numerous benefits organic sheets.
To start, let’s take a look at the variety of fabrics that sheets are made of. Keep in mind that many sheets are available as blends of multiple fabrics meaning your sheets may contain more than one of the materials listed below. This will provide a better foundation for understanding the benefits of organic sheet sets over more conventional options.
Organic Cotton
Grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production reduces the use of toxic pesticides and fertilizers and builds a biologically diverse agriculture. 3rd Party certification organizations verify that organic producers use only methods and materials allowed in organic production. All cotton sold as organic in the United States must meet strict federal regulations covering how the cotton is grown. Regular cotton comes from genetically modified seeds. These seeds are modified to resist bugs and more pesticides are needed when bugs become resilient. Natural seeds are used to produce organic cotton, and pesticides and other harmful chemicals are not used.
Percale
A tightly woven plain weave fabric with a thread count of 200 or higher. It is medium-weight, firm, and smooth with no gloss, and uses various fibers like cotton and polyester. Think of the perfect white button-down shirt: crisp, clean, and washed for ultimate comfort and will only become softer as it's laundered. Percale is also durable and versatile, making it one of the best bed sheet materials you can buy. Typically made using long-staple Egyptian cotton, cool to the touch, has high-end appeal, is breathable, easy to maintain, and perfect for all seasons.
Sateen
The most luxurious variety, made with spun yarn instead of filament. Smooth, soft, sturdy, and resistant to pilling, there's much to appreciate. Utilizing a sateen weave structure – four-over-one-under – gives this material the sheen and soft and luxurious feel against your skin. Many like that it's sleek and drapey like satin, but with a subtle sheen instead of a shiny appearance. For those who prioritize softness and appreciate a subtle luster, sateen is an excellent choice.
Linen
Light and airy fabric made from fibers of the flax plant. Known for its casual elegance and breathability, this fabric is well-suited for year-round use. Linen is strong, absorbent, dries faster than cotton but has tendencies to wrinkle. Not only that, but linen holds up for several years and is appreciated for its ability to get softer with every wash. Flax grows quickly and doesn't need much water, making linen a sustainable material. Though sometimes priced higher than other textiles, linen’s breathability makes it great for hot sleepers but cozy enough for year round use.
Brushed Cotton
One of the softest bed sheet materials on the market today. You know that material that your old school flannel pjs are made from? After the fabric is spun, it gets a gentle brushing to give it that fluffy texture that feels oh-so soft against your skin and it's warmer than regular cotton. Similar to flannel except it gets brushed on one side only, it’s lighter and less insulating so you don’t get too hot. Brushed cotton bed sheets are ideal during the winter. You won't get the cool and crisp feel of percale or the sheen of sateen, but the naturally moisture-wicking fabric is plenty breathable for year-round use.
Silk
A well-known luxury fabric, silk is a soft fiber produced by silkworms. Real silk sheets will provide a cool and smooth feeling while also offering a naturally hypoallergenic option. The downside, however, is that silk comes with a high price tag and is high maintenance when it comes to care given the delicacy of the fibers.
Polyester
Produced from the same polymers used to make plastic drinking bottles, polyester is a manmade fiber. Sheets made using this fabric are often stiff and scratchy if polyester is the sole thread. So you will most often find it mixed with another fabric like cotton in inexpensive sheet sets. Sometimes very finely woven polyester will be sold as microfiber which can be very soft but will not offer the same breathability as cotton. However, they are durable and resistant to stains.
Bamboo
Most often what you will find labeled as “bamboo” sheets are in reality made of rayon which is what is produced when the bamboo pulp is put through a chemical process. This process dissolves the pulp, then re-solidifies it before spinning it into a thread. The process utilizes harmful chemicals and can be difficult on the environment making bamboo sheets less environmentally friendly than manufacturers tend to claim. However, it does produce a very soft, durable and silky fabric which is just as breathable as cotton. And while bamboo can be made into fabric without a chemical process, the resulting sheets are usually rather stiff and rough.
When purchasing sheets, it is important to note that the type of weave can also have an effect on the feel of the sheets regardless of the fabric used. It can also have an influence on the longevity of the sheets and the cost. For example, a basic plain weave is woven from an equal number of vertical and horizontal yarns and is the least expensive option while percale is an upscale plain weave with a thread count of 180 or higher known for its longevity and crisp feel. Sateen weaves, on the other hand, have more vertical than horizontal yarns which result in an extremely soft fabric but one that is less durable and more apt to pill or tear.
Organic sheet sets have become increasingly popular over recent years. They are more environmentally safe and healthier than more conventional bedding options like non-organic or synthetic sheets. Organic cotton sheets and organic linen sheets provide a number of benefits to both the consumer and the environment. They are pesticide-free, pigment-free and hypoallergenic. Organic cotton is extremely comfortable due to its ability to wick moisture away from the body and offer superb durability and convenience.
While buying organic products has many benefits, sometimes it can be hard to know if the item you are buying is genuinely organic. That’s because some manufacturers label their products as “organic” even though they haven’t been produced using accepted organic practices. And since different countries have different regulations for manufacturing home textiles, what’s considered “organic” in one country may not be so in another. That’s why looking for products with reputable international certifications is essential. These certifications are issued by independent global organizations that regularly test textile products.
Look for GOTS and GOLS certification which guarantees that the organic product you’re bringing home was produced in a safe, sustainable and socially conscious manner, from organic fibers. You can also rest assured that the organic products don't contain any toxic substances that may endanger your health or that of your family members.
If you are curious but not sold on the perks of organic sheets yet, let’s take a deeper look at each of these benefits.
Organic sheets are safer for the consumer because the cotton, or another plant, is grown without the use of pesticides. A pesticide is any substance used to destroy insects or other organisms harmful to cultivated plants. If used while growing the cotton plant, these chemicals may leave traces on the fibers used to ultimately produce bed sheets. (If chemicals in sheets freak you out, don’t even get us started with the chemicals in mattresses.)
Since organic sheets are pesticide-free, pigment-free, and bleach-free, it is not surprising that they are also hypoallergenic. The lack of chemicals during the manufacturing process means the sheets are less likely to cause a reaction in those individuals with sensitivities to certain chemicals. Organic sheets also do not contain any metals, typically found in the dyes used to add color to bedding, which is a known allergen to many consumers. As compared to conventional cotton, organic cotton has also been shown to be beneficial for asthmatics.
Unlike synthetic materials, organic fibers allow for ventilation and air circulation which helps remove body moisture by absorption. Specifically, cotton fibers can absorb up to 20% of their weight before feeling damp to the touch. Thus, these fibers are able to absorb body moisture which then evaporates into the surrounding air which helps your body to stay cool and dry throughout the night.
According to the Organic Trade Association, organic production systems are able to replenish and maintain soil fertility. These systems utilize natural fertilizers, as opposed to toxic and persistent pesticides or fertilizers, while also contributing to the building of biologically diverse agriculture. As a result, organic growing methods not only maintain soil health but also utilize fewer natural resources and less land to yield the same amount of product.
Organic sheets are biodegradable meaning they can be broken down by living organisms should you decide to get rid of them. Most biodegradable sheets can break down and return to nature in as little as two weeks! This means less waste in landfills and that is better for the environment overall.
Don’t let their biodegradability fool you! Organic sheets are still exceptionally durable, especially organic cotton or linen sheets. This means they can withstand lots of use without showing signs of wear and tear. A good element for sheets that may be used often.
Organic bedding is completely safe to wash and dry in a regular washing machine and dryer making them very easy to care for. No special trips to the dry cleaner needed!
As you can see the benefits of organic sheets to both the environment and consumers are hard to ignore. Typically, you can find organic bedding in a variety of fabrics, especially with its increasing popularity, but organic cotton sheets, or linen, are produce with regularity. When you are ready to purchase organic sheets, try to find some that have the following characteristics:
Once you’ve selected the perfect set of organic sheets don’t forget to look for an organic mattress to put them on!
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Instead, it’s their beds causing the sneezing, sniffling, coughing, dry eyes, itchy throats, and even skin rashes and hives. And most people don’t even know it. They'll lie down on their mattress, and, the next morning, wake up with breathing problems and a distinct feeling that they haven't slept well.
That's not surprising because the percentage of indoor pollutants in homes in the U.S are two to five times higher than anything we breathe outdoors. 90% of all U.S. households have detectable levels of cat and dog allergens. So you can see why allergy sufferers have got it bad all year long.
In this article, you’ll learn why your mattress is the prime suspect for your allergy symptoms and which materials make the best mattresses for allergy sufferers.
Indoor allergens can cause quite a few issues to your waking life as well as your sleeping hours. It's much worse than seasonal allergies because you’re there at least six to eight hours every night. During this time, your resting body is vulnerable to prolonged exposure to a variety of microscopic allergens.
Common allergens are silent perpetrators. They set up shop, multiply in your mattress, make a home in your bedding, and even get lodged in the air. As you continuously breathe them in, these irritants can trigger allergies and asthma or worsen the experience for people with allergies
Allergy sufferers should know about these four common triggers.
Dust mites occupy the top spot on this list of common allergens driving allergy sufferers mad. A dust mite is a microscopic creature that thrives in warm areas, especially those with high humidity levels.
What better place than a mattress, warmed by your body heat and, potentially, humid because of night sweats?
Because a dust mite is invisible to the naked eye, it's easy to forget that they're even there. These quiet creatures will feed off human skin cells and use your bedding's fibrous and hollow components to make their homes. When they excrete feces, their droppings can trigger allergy symptoms in many people.
Just like bed bugs and roaches, dust mites are absolutely a kind of pest! They can lay anywhere from 40-80 eggs — at this rate, it only takes about a month for them to multiply in your bed, your couch, and other fibrous home decors like drapes and cushions.
Signs of dust mite allergies in your mattress includes symptoms like:
The fact is that unless you rid your bedroom of fibers and sleeping elements that dust mites like to nest in, you can never completely rid yourself of these little critters.
Like dust mites, allergens like pet dander contribute to bedroom- and mattress-related allergies. That's especially true if you allow your fluffy friend to hop up and take a nap on your bedding. You don't have to be allergic to pets to experience this kind of allergy because you're not reacting to the animal's hair.
Instead, you're sensitive to dander, which, like proteins from dust mite droppings, is a skin particle protein from animals.
Pet dander can trigger symptoms like:
As you can see, pet dander is more likely to look and feel like asthma symptoms than those of seasonal allergies like pollen or ragweed.
Of all the "silent" triggers for allergy sufferers, nothing creeps up slower than mold. Often, you only notice the spread when it's too late. However, your body is likely registering the presence of mold sooner with symptoms like:
Mold is essentially a fungus that grows on moist and natural surfaces such as carpet, paper, insulation, and wood. It can also fester in drywall.
Mold spores take 24-48 hours to develop in warm, wet, unventilated conditions. From here, it spreads by forming a multicellular filament network, which allows it to feed and grow.
Like dust mites and pet dander, latex allergies come from a kind of protein that can trigger skin-based allergies in addition to the common symptoms like breathing issues, congestion, and runny noses.
You may experience immediate itching in the area that came into contact with the latex, along with redness, rashes, and even hives.
You can find latex in very common, household items like rubber gloves, balloons, and even condoms. Even though it's a natural substance, it's a notable condition in about 5-10% of the general population.
What's even more interesting is that, even if you don't start with a latex allergy, prolonged exposure can trigger dermatitis. This is true of up to 17% of health care workers and 10% of rubber industry workers, whose bodies develop an allergic response after a period.
There are two ways to remove allergens from a mattress altogether. One of these methods is temporary, while the other can provide more long-lasting results.
The first strategy is to entirely wash your bedding, vacuum up your mattress's surface, and implement an air filter for your bedroom. You may also have to wrap your mattress, box spring, if you have one, and pillows in covers designed to resist dust mites.
Keep in mind that if you choose this route, you're committing to making this cleaning overhaul a consistent practice, as that's to rid yourself of allergens completely.
The second route you could take is to opt for a mattress for allergies. This type of mattress is resistant to dust mites, mold, and mildew. It's essentially an "anti-allergy" mattress. It resists dust mites, doesn't trap pet dander, and keeps your body cool with its materials and construction.
If you're not prone to seasonal allergies, your criteria for the best mattress doesn't usually include thinking about dust mites, mold, and mildew.
Instead, these are the factors that count when you choose a mattress:
It's only allergy sufferers that will look at a new mattress from an entirely different perspective. People with allergies need to watch out for coil or spring mattresses. The innerspring system creates little pockets of space where dust mites, their feces, and your dead skill cells collect to form a cloud of allergens.
You may also find mold and mildew actively developing in the cavity of a coil or spring mattress because your body transfers heat through the night.
Over time, innerspring mattresses lose their support, firmness, and bounce. Instead of buying a new mattress, people may choose to use pillow-tops or quilted tops. However, these additions are ideal because of their soft, airy fibers, which create open entryways for dust mites.
The density and materials that form Essentia's natural organic latex slow response foam mattresses make it the best mattress for allergies. As reported by Dr. Robert G. Hamilton of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine the Essentia mattress is dust mite-resistant, so you don't need to use a mattress cover for allergies. Plus, there are no proteins in the latex that my trigger an allergy, so it is safe for a person with a latex allergy to sleep on an Essentia.
It's important to note that not all memory foam mattresses are equal. A latex mattress may not be the right mattress for allergy sufferers if they also have contact dermatitis because of the chemicals used in synthetic latex.
Essentia's organic latex mattresses are allergy-friendly because:
Almost every natural memory foam mattress across Essentia's mattress collections boasts natural materials and features of a true "hypoallergenic mattress." They also provide pressure relief, supportive contouring, and posture alignment.
We spent three years refining the production and processing technique to create a natural latex-based memory foam that is unparalleled in its comfort, durability, and therapeutic features. Browse Essentia's Lifestyle, Wholebody, Performance, Hybrid, and custom collections today to discover the right fit for your family.
]]>Around 35% of American adults sleep less than seven hours per night, and another 10-30% suffer from insomnia. Poor sleep quality increases the risk of sleep disorders or other problems such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, depression, diabetes, and more.
However, simply sleeping is not enough. The brain has to go through several stages of sleep in order to feel completely rested and rejuvenated again. In this article, you’ll learn about the details of our sleep stages, what we know so far about the brain during these stages, and why we need them.
Sleep is a particularly important part of our lives. Our brains are continuously working throughout the day, making decisions, and guiding us through our everyday lives.
When we sleep, the brain rests. This allows it to form crucial neurological pathways, create new memories, and retain or learn new information. That’s why sleep deprivation leads to difficulty concentrating and maintaining a balanced life.
Sleep is a complicated cycle that involves several parts of our brain, and each contributes to a good night’s sleep.
Without three critical neural areas, and the body’s circadian rhythm, we would not be able to get quality sleep or even sleep at all. Let’s take a look at the role of each brain’s three regions for sleep.
The circadian rhythm, otherwise known as our internal body clock or master clock, controls the sleep cycle. It’s tied to light exposure, which enables us to understand when we have to be awake and when we have to sleep.
People with disrupted circadian rhythms experience severe disruptions to their sleep cycle, or sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep deprivation.
The hypothalamus is a structure about the size of a peanut, and it’s located really deep into our brains. Within the hypothalamus, a cluster of cells called the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN) receives information about light exposure into our eyes.
A person with damage to their SCN would have difficulty distinguishing between light or dark. This would lead to erratic sleep or poor-quality sleep. Even blind people still retain some sense of light due to a well-functioning SCN.
The brain stem and the hypothalamus work together to control our sleep and wakefulness states. Without this connection, we would have difficulty maintaining the balance and distinguishing between these two states. The brain stem also releases chemicals that make our muscles relax, so we don’t act out our dreams in REM sleep.
This part of our brain controls whether we hear the outside world during sleep or not. During most stages of sleep, your thalamus is quiet. This allows you to to tune out external noises and get a good rest. However, during REM sleep, the thalamus becomes active with different sounds, images, and sensations for your dream state.
The sleep cycle varies from one person to the other. Even in one individual, sleep is not uniform and it depends on several environmental factors. During the night, a person’s sleep cycle is made up of different types of sleep, each with sleep stages.
REM stands for rapid eye movement. During non REM sleep, your body relaxes, and your brain activity decreases. This is also known as quiet sleep and is made up of different stages of sleep.
During non REM sleep, your body can repair tissue, build bone and muscle, and strengthen the immune system. Younger people go through a more extended period of non REM sleep than older people, so this stage does change with age.
Rapid eye movement or REM sleep, happens later in the sleep cycle. When we are in REM sleep, our sleep cycle and brain are active again. During REM sleep, your eyes move rapidly, and this is when you have most of your dreams.
Because of such an intense dreaming period, your body is temporarily paralyzed, so you cannot act out those dreams. During rapid eye movement REM sleep, your body and brain restore themselves, create new memories, and integrate learning.
Both of these types of sleep are paramount for our well-being. We tend to shift from one to the other during our sleep cycle, but REM sleep usually occurs in the morning.
Everyone sleeps differently, but a typical person goes through four to six sleep cycles or sleep stages. During these stages of sleep, a person goes through non REM sleep and REM sleep. Each stage might last an average of 90 minutes.
Here are the four most common stages of sleep in order of occurrence. The first three are stages of non REM or NREM sleep, and the final one is REM sleep.
As you are falling asleep, the heart rate starts to slow down, and you start relaxing. You feel like you are in between sleep and wakefulness, and you experience different brain waves, like beta and alpha brain waves. You might also experience some strange sensations while you're falling asleep.
These include hypnagogic hallucinations, which is that jolting sensation of falling and hitting the ground, or feeling like someone just called your name. Other sensations include the myoclonic jerk, which is when a person is suddenly startled for no reason at all.
These sensations suggest that the person is starting to fall asleep but do not necessarily constitute an actual sleep stage.
During the NREM sleep stage 1, a person is dozing off. Your brain activity starts slowing and emits slow brain waves or theta waves, your heart rate starts decreasing, but your body isn’t completely relaxed.
This sleep stage lasts only 5 to 10 minutes, and if you wake the person up during it, they may say that they were not sleeping because it doesn’t feel exactly like sleep. But, if left undisturbed, the person might move quickly from stage 1 to stage 2.
The NREM stage 2 sleep is also known as light sleep. During this stage, the body temperature drops, while breathing and heart rate become more regulated. The brain is in a more rested state, and you are unaware of your surroundings. Your brain activity is quick and emits faster waves known as sleep spindles.
The non REM stage 2 sleep lasts for around 20 minutes but is repeated many times throughout the night. The American Sleep Association reports that we spend a lot of time in this stage, so about 50% of our total sleep time in stage 2 sleep.
The third stage of sleep, or the NREM stage of sleep 3, is also called the period of deep sleep. Because your brain emits delta waves, this is also called delta sleep.
Delta sleep, or NREM sleep stage 3, is one of the sleep stages that makes you feel refreshed in the morning and usually occurs during the first half of the night.
During these sleep cycles, your heart rate and breathing are very slow, your body temperature starts decreasing, and you are so relaxed that it would be difficult to wake you. Your brain emits slower delta waves, and your blood pressure is also lower than average.
Deep sleep is restorative, and it may help your immune system. Studies show that non rapid eye movement in sleep stages 3 contributes to creativity and memory.
REM sleep is the stage of sleep for dreaming. During this stage of sleep, your body is temporarily paralyzed while your heartbeat quickens and eye movements are rapid, which is where this stage gets its name from.
REM sleep is believed to occur about 90 minutes after you fall asleep. According to the American Sleep Association, we spend about 20% of our sleep time during this stage.
REM sleep can also be considered deep sleep but is just another form of deep sleep. This stage of the sleep cycles is essential for memory restoration, learning, and creativity.
Different factors can affect sleep and the stages of sleep a lot. Poor quality sleep, and sleep disorders such as sleep apnea can trigger if a person doesn’t go through each sleep stage properly or fails to sleep completely.
Here are the four most common factors that affect the sleep stages.
Sleep is just as important for our survival as food and water. Without sleep and going through the proper sleep stages, we feel tired and have problems concentrating or responding. Severe sleep deprivation could lead to even more severe problems with memory and general wellbeing.
People should generally go through at least four to six sleep cycles, including non REM sleep in three stages and REM sleep for one stage. Each stage could be repeated several times for good sleep quality. There are also several ways you can promote better sleep hygiene, including reducing your light exposure before bed and putting digital devices in another room.
At Essentia, we know that external factors like what you sleep on can be the best sleep medicine. Our mattresses are designed to completely revolutionize how you sleep, what you sleep on, and how rested your body feels.
From promoting tissue repair to improve muscle tone and keeping you allergen-free, our world-class collections offer an unparalleled path to an optimal sleep experience. Learn more about our all-natural latex memory foam mattresses and how they can support the sleep brain today.
]]>Some of today’s best mattresses contain Kevlar, providing sleepers with superior safety, comfort, and durability. In this blog post, we explore the advantages of Kevlar mattresses and explain how the material can help make your sleep experience safer.
Kevlar is a highly durable synthetic material known for its incredible strength and resistance to cuts and impacts. Originally known for its use in bulletproof vests and helmets, Kevlar has now found its way into the mattress industry.
It is generally used in mattress covers to provide sleepers with extra layers of fire protection and overall durability. This innovative and lightweight material ensures that the mattress is resistant to tears, punctures, and weathering, making it ideal for anyone seeking a mattress that can withstand the test of time.
Kevlar mattresses are hypoallergenic, perfect for those dealing with chronic allergic reactions. They also provide full support and excellent temperature regulation so that you can sleep comfortably and safely.
One common misconception about Kevlar mattresses is that the entire bed and mattress would be made of Kevlar. However, the Kevlar part of the mattress is actually the outer layer - typically a sort of sock exterior pulled over a memory foam mattress - providing an additional layer of protection.
Kevlar fiber provides exceptional durability, making it a smart choice for those wanting to purchase a long-lasting bed that resists fire, punctures, or daily wear and tear.
Another misconception is that Kevlar mattresses are bulletproof. While Kevlar is indeed used in bulletproof vests and helmets, its application in mattresses is quite different.
Kevlar in mattresses isn’t meant to stop bullets or other high-impact projectiles, but it is instead used to provide a non-toxic fire-retardant layer along with enhanced strength and protection against everyday use, ensuring you own a lastingly comfortable mattress.
Kevlar is a synthetic material made of soft, durable, fire-resistant fibers. This innovative material is not treated with any harmful chemicals, making it non-toxic and safe for human contact.
While Kevlar mattress covers are not the cheapest way to make a mattress conform to US fire laws, they offer a unique combination of benefits over the typical harsh chemical treatments. In addition to being highly durable, Kevlar is also chemically inert, meaning it does not introduce any harmful chemical compounds or particles into the air or your sleep environment.
It's worth noting that US law requires a flame retardant on mattresses sold in America, which sometimes results in the use of potentially harmful chemicals.
However, we fulfill this requirement by using an outer “sock” of Kevlar fabric over our Essentia organic latex memory foam mattress - meeting this requirement without exposing you to harmful chemicals.
We at Essentia use Kevlar fabrics to cover our mattresses because it aligns with our brand's Beyond Organic values, as it is non-toxic and provides extra strength in our mattresses and protection for you. Our Kevlar mattress cover is simply placed around our quality organic mattresses and sewn up on the open end in our manufacturing centers.
However, the National Flameproof Mattress regulation in the US allows physicians, including chiropractors, to prescribe fire retardant-free mattresses. So if you don’t want a Kevlar cover on your mattress and provide us a doctor’s note, we will be happy to assist you in getting an Essentia mattress without an outer Kevlar layer
Our Kevlar mattress covers offer a number of unique benefits and features, making them a fantastic choice for anyone seeking a durable and safe sleeping surface. Here are some key advantages:
Despite Kevlar’s reputation, the long-term durability of a mattress is determined primarily by the materials and processes used to create the mattress inside of the Kevlar sock. A top-quality latex foam mattress from Essentia can last decades and is backed by a 20-year warranty.
Experience an optimal sleep experience that will improve your health and wellness with Essentia mattresses crafted to create a tranquil sleep environment.
With Essentia mattresses, you can experience greater frequencies of deep sleep and REM sleep, which are crucial for daily mental and physical recovery. These mattresses feature Essentia's Beyond LatexTM slow-response organic latex foam, providing unparalleled comfort and support.
Handmade in Essentia's GOLS and GOTS-certified organic factory in Canada, these mattresses are free from springs and fiber batting that can harbor dust mites. Furthermore, Essentia mattresses are also protein-free, reducing the risk of latex allergies, according to the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Browse our full selection of organic latex and non-toxic mattresses, pillows, toppers, and more. Experience the pinnacle of sleep luxury.
Essentia's non-toxic mattresses start at around $2,400. While the price may seem higher than the cost of traditional mattresses, it's important to remember a comfortable, reliable, non-toxic mattress is an investment in your immediate and long-term health and well-being.
Essentia mattresses are made with organic materials and free from harmful chemicals, providing a safe and healthy sleep environment. The superior quality and durability of these mattresses make them well worth the cost of the investment, ensuring a good night's sleep for years to come.
Parents often wonder if memory foam mattresses are safe for their babies. The answer is it depends. While foam mattresses are generally considered safe, the mattress meets safety standards. Look for a foam mattress that is firm and supportive, as a soft foam mattress increases the risk of suffocation
Essentia's LaLa natural memory foam crib mattress is crafted with the utmost care and features the highest quality natural and organic materials to provide your baby with the safest and purest sleep surface. No need to fret over small spills or accidents - the mattress cover boasts food-grade waterproofing for added peace of mind. The LaLa memory foam mattress also meets firm crib mattress standards and provides unique pressure-relieving and breathable support that cradles and comfortably protects your baby.
]]>Your back and shoulders ache.
You don’t feel refreshed in the morning.
Whether you identify with one or all three, these are tell-tale signs that it’s time to begin shopping for a new mattress. After all, your mattress is not just a place to sleep: It’s where you spend one-third of your life.
Unfortunately, buying a new mattress can feel like yet another expense.
But in reality, it’s an invaluable investment. Studies have found that a new bed can change your life for the better by reducing back discomfort, diminishing stress-related symptoms, and offering deeper and longer REM cycles.
To obtain the best sleep possible, many people end up opting for memory foam mattresses. With so many to choose from, how do you know what kind is right for you? There are different types with varying thicknesses, materials, types of foam, among other vital factors.
The good news is that this guide will dive deep into everything you need to know about how to choose a memory foam mattress.
If you’re in the market for a new memory foam mattress, it can be challenging to know what features are essential and which ones to overlook. Density, mmHg, ILD, and knowing the country of origin are the four most important qualities you should consider when choosing the right memory foam mattress.
The first thing you need to think about when choosing a memory foam mattress is the foam density. Memory foam density has to do with the foam’s durability and lifespan.
So, for example, a 5-pound-per-cubic-foot memory foam mattress will outlast a 3-pound memory foam mattress by ten years. This means that most high-end memory foam mattresses will have density foams somewhere between 3.5 and 5 pounds.
But what exactly is foam density? Simply put, density is a significant influence on how the memory foam feels and performs.
This means that foams with a high density will feel more firm and withstand more pressure, whereas low-density foams are softer and won’t support as much pressure. A comfortable mattress should help you maintain support through the night.
Manufacturers will often use a mix of foams and various density ratings, so you should read the label closely when shopping for a new memory foam mattress. Many companies claim that they have 5-pound or higher density foams but fail to specify that the density is only within the first inch of the mattress.
That makes the other support layer weaker.
You want to avoid buying into these mattress types. Opting for a high-quality foam mattress will boost overall performance in several ways, including durability, pressure relief, and temperature regulation.
When you invest in something as costly as a quality memory foam mattress, you want to be sure that’s the last bed you have to buy for at least a decade.
Unfortunately, when you buy memory foam beds made of cheaper materials and foams, the quality degrades — and fast. That’s why it’s best to stick to high-end memory foam mattresses, like ones that are made of organic latex.
When shopping for a new mattress, around 75% of buyers say comfort and avoiding sore muscles are at the top of their priority list. And because of their pressure-relieving capabilities, people are attracted to memory foam mattresses.
Here’s how it works: The foam inside the mattress can match the sleeper’s body shape, which means better pressure relief and less stress on joints and muscles. In addition, higher-density foams will offer better support by molding closer to the body, whereas lower-density foams won’t offer as much support.
Over time, cheaper, low-density memory foam contours around your body in a way that forms dips around your usual sleep area. These spots don't support your body — rather, they contribute to deep tissue pains and soreness.
Are you sleeping hot? Perhaps the only problem with memory foam mattresses is that even the most high-end ones tend to trap body heat, which is not ideal for hot sleepers. To counter this, some mattresses use cooling gel beads to help you sleep cooler. Others rely on quality organic materials to naturally pull away body heat, which can promise a better rest if you sleep hot.
The mmHg (Millimeter of Mercury) is a unit of pressure used to measure how a mattress reacts to pressure. In other words, the number of mmHg gives you insight into how well the sleep surface supports you through the night. This number is what you should look at to gauge mattress comfort level.
Healthcare experts say that 32 mmHg is the standard, and anything lower than that is considered pressure-relieving because the dense foam provides better circulation. With that being said, do your best to avoid any mattresses over 32 mmHg because that’s when your blood circulation begins to impede.
Some mattress companies offer super-low mmHg, which means fewer pressure points and more pressure relief. For example, Essentia mattresses use high-quality organic latex and foam, resulting in a low mmHg of 12.43 and a medium-firm feel.
The Indentation Load Deflection, or ILD, refers to the process in which the foam manufacturing industry uses to assess the softness of foam. Here’s what you need to know about indentation load deflection:
Companies use a circular flat indenter to conduct an ILD test that presses against the given foam sample. First, it is compressed two times to 75% before it’s allowed to recover for six minutes. Then, the indenter will measure for 60 seconds after achieving 25% indentation.
After the testing, scores are given. Lower scores correspond with less firmness, whereas higher scores indicate a firmer mattress. So if you want an extra-soft mattress, find memory foam mattresses with a low ILD number. And if you prefer a firmer night’s sleep, look for a number on the higher end of the scale.
Quick Tip: Density and firmness often get confused with one another, but they’re not the same. Firmness refers to the entire composition of the bed, whereas density is a measure of individual components of the foam.
The fact is that a mattress’s country of origin is an important thing to consider—and it’s even more crucial to know that “made in” and “assembled in” are not the same thing. For example, your mattress label may say it was “assembled in the United States,” but its parts are transported from overseas.
Even if your mattress brand is assembled in the U.S. or Canada, tests are rarely performed on imported mattress components. Unfortunately, that means that there’s no accurate way to know the exact components for certain mattress parts, which can be dangerous to your and your loved ones’ health.
This is because mattresses are typically made of toxic chemicals that can cause chemical off-gassing within a few hours of unpacking. These chemicals trigger volatile organic compound (VOC) exposure, which has been connected to incidences of cancer, respiratory issues, and even infertility.
When buying a memory foam mattress, always ask about the country of origin and whether or not your bed was made and assembled in the U.S. or Canada to avoid low-end quality mattresses that may cause VOC exposure. The good news is that organic latex memory foam mattresses don’t cause this type of chemical off-gassing.
Chemical off-gassing refers to the volatile organic chemicals that emit from household materials like cleaning products, paint, and mattresses, over time.
In terms of buying a new mattress, you should know that most beds are made with some dangerous chemicals that your household can be exposed to. One study found that body heat is a significant trigger for VOC emissions, which means these levels are increased when the bed is being used.
“Consumers are in a very difficult position,” says Dr. Kenneth Spaeth, chief of occupational and environmental medicine at Northwell Health. “It’s very hard to get good information about what a mattress contains, and even if you know that, unless you have a good understanding of the different materials it’s hard to know what chemicals might be emitted from those materials.”
But if VOCs are found in many household products, then how bad could they be?
The fact is that in small doses, VOCs aren’t all too dangerous—and, it's important to note that not all VOCs are toxic. However, exposure to most VOCs can (and does) negatively impact your home’s air quality thanks to chemicals like polyurethane, flame retardants, formaldehyde, and benzene.
This type of chemical off-gassing has been linked to health issues like cancer, infertility, and brain disorders and can cause a laundry list of uncomfortable health effects. Unfortunately, these chemicals are present in most mattresses, including traditional memory foam and innerspring mattresses. So far, natural latex mattresses remain the exception.
In the mattress industry, sometimes “foam” and “memory foam” are used interchangeably. But, in actuality, the two are very different—especially in their durability and overall lifespan.
First, we’ll start with the similarities: Both foam and memory foam mattresses are most often made with a synthetic polymer called polyurethane foam, one of the most inexpensive and widely-used materials bedding in the world.
In addition, polyurethane foam is soft to the touch and can offer more support and help achieve neutral spine alignment. However, it's the chemical composition that sets regular foam and many memory foam mattresses apart.
Regular foam mattresses usually refer to poly-foam beds, which are primarily made up of compounds from petrochemicals. Poly-foam mattresses come in several densities, with high-density poly-foam offering more durability and longevity to the mattress.
However, when you're mattress shopping keep in mind that thickness doesn't play a role in longevity. Poly-foam will still degrade faster than latex memory foams of decent quality.
Poly-foam is popular because it’s inexpensive and comfortable, but only for a short time. In fact, it might not even make it through the standard 100-day sleep trial. Initially, these types of mattresses provide support and softness, regardless of sleeping positions or body weight.
However, the quality won’t last for several years as it would for memory foam mattress owners. Since poly-foam collapses when pressure is applied quickly, it is not on the same level of pressure-relieving contour as latex memory foam mattresses.
Memory foam mattresses are made of a man-made material called viscoelastic polyurethane foam, which has added compounds that change the way it feels. These components give memory foam mattresses unique pressure-relieving and body-contouring capabilities.
However, since memory foam is also made of polyurethane, even the highest-quality memory foam mattresses still have compounds derived from petrochemicals. This means that while memory foam is more comfortable than regular poly-foam, the chemical makeup is not much better.
That’s why you should go for an organic, latex-based option instead.
Latex memory foam mattresses are rising in popularity—and rightfully so. These mattresses feature higher quality in every detail, including materials and comfort. Higher quality means longevity so you can feel confident knowing you're getting the best memory foam mattress designed to help you sleep without discomfort or hazardous chemical off-gassing.
In fact, studies have found that sleeping on a latex mattress guarantees a better night’s sleep in terms of comfort. Compared to polyurethane foam mattresses, latex mattresses exert lower peak pressure points, translating into better sleep comfort and quality.
Latex foam mattresses are often natural, organic, and don’t contain any harmful chemicals that are usually found in polyurethane foams. Companies like Essentia offer organic and latex memory foam made with hevea milk, GOLS-certified organic latex, Dunlop latex, organic essential oils, and natural plant extracts, and GOTS-certified organic cotton.
Latex is unlike memory foam as it doesn't naturally contour to the body. Organic latex is made from hevea milk, the sap of the rubber tree. Like a rubber ball that bounces back, when you lie down on latex its instinct is to push back causing pressure points. However, latex mattresses have a faster recovery time and a lot more bounce. Latex mattresses can be made differently, with natural latex and synthetic latex being the two most common materials.
Essentia is the only company making a slow response organic latex foam that behaves like a memory foam by contouring to your body and eliminating pressure point without any of the toxins or petrochemicals found in a memory foam.
Natural latex comes from rubber trees and is the purest, most natural option available for the health- and environmentally conscious. Synthetic latex is a different kind of rubber made from various synthetic materials intended to mimic the natural look and feel.
In addition to natural and synthetic latex, you can also choose from Talalay or Dunlop latex.
Dunlop latex is the birth of latex mattresses, serving as the original process of manufacturing latex foams. The method was developed in 1929, and the process has since remained the same.
Dunlop latex foam is a dense and firm foam that is relatively inexpensive to manufacture. This latex is “bottom-heavy,” which means that the bottom is firmer than the top. Because of this, many mattress companies incorporate Dunlop latex as core support.
The Talalay latex process derived from the Dunlop and was first established in the 1940s to mold pieces of latex foam rubber. Talalay latex typically uses styrene-butadiene rubber, which is mixed with natural latex found in the hevea tree.
There are hundreds of memory foam mattresses to choose from, but as with anything, you should always do your research before taking the plunge:
Among these crucial tips, you should also decide whether you want a regular foam, memory foam, or latex mattress. At the end of the day, natural memory foam mattresses with latex are the clear winner: They are organically made without any harmful VOCs, will last years beyond your expectation, and are sure to fit any type of sleeper.
The best part is that organic latex mattresses are easy to find. At Essentia, you’ll find the most comprehensive selection for natural and organic latex memory foam mattresses. This means that you can get the best of both worlds by getting both comfort and health when you choose a latex mattress from Essentia.
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The quality of your mattress drastically impacts the quality of your day to day activities, so it's very important to have the best mattress possible for your overall wellbeing. Good health requires healthy sleep, and that's exactly what Essentia provides.
A refreshing night's sleep sets the stage for the day to come.
Do you:
a) have a worse night's sleep than you did a year ago?
b) wake up with stiffness and body aches?
c) find your mattress sags, has lumps or is worn out?
d) have a 6-8 year old mattress?
The life of a mattress depends on its usage and material quality; generally manufacturers and chiropractors recommend replacing your mattress every 6 to 8 years.
If you answered YES to any of the above, it might be time for an upgrade.
Sufficient product knowledge is critical to making the most informed and appropriate purchase for your sleeping needs.
Typically, two types of mattresses are available: innerspring and memory foam.
Softness, support, and size are three important attributes you should look for when purchasing a mattress.
To best suit your body size, there are 7 mattress sizes to choose from:
Sleeping with a partner, room size, lifestyle, comfort preferences, body size, and budget are all factors that should be taken into account before deciding on mattress size.
It is recommended to choose a bed that is at least 4-5 inches longer than you and your partner as well as wide enough so you can sleep comfortably without disturbing your partner.
Mattress prices range widely depending on the size and materials used. When it comes to quality sleep and comfort, buying the best mattress that's within your budget should be your main concern.
Eco-friendly, environmentally friendly and natural are just claims.
When it comes to organic products, the word "organic" should always come with a certified stamp of approval. To claim a product is organic, it has to be certified by a third-party organization. In our case, we proudly boast GOTS (global organic textile standard) and GOLS (global organic latex standard) certifications.
Look for these logos to be sure you're getting the real deal:
Most claiming to have organic mattresses contain both organic materials and natural components in their organic mattresses.
But, here's the catch – not all "organic" mattresses are created equal. Some manufacturers might switch from organic to non-organic materials once their certification expires. Always check for expiration dates on certifications. It's like the best-before date for your mattress's organic goodness!
Moreover, there are some companies that will even try to pass off a supplier certificate as their own. We're put together a guide on how to tell if an organic certification is real.
In the world of organic mattresses, natural latex foam is a common ingredient. But remember, being labeled "organic" requires certification. Control Union is the company that certifies latex as organic under the Global Organic Latex Standards (GOLS). When you see "certified organic latex," it means at least 95% of the latex is made from certified organic ingredients. Sadly, some companies cut corners by including only a small fraction of certified organic latex. Imagine, just 1 out of 8 inches being genuinely organic!
Keep in mind that latex foam can be made natural, synthetic (man-made), or blended for a combination of natural and synthetics ingredients. learn more about latex foam.
Organic cotton is grown without synthetic chemicals like fertilizers or pesticides and is not genetically modified in any way.
It’s healthier for you as residue from chemicals used in organic cotton agriculture can be taken into the body through the skin.
Unbleached organic cotton is even better as it ensures no harsh bleaches have been used on the cotton.
There are pros and cons to organic wool used in mattresses.
Pros - Wool is good at wicking away moisture and helping you keep cool. How does it do this? It contains a natural wax called lanolin. It’s a greasy yellow wax produced by sheep which keeps their hairs dry and soft through harsh weather.
Cons – Wool is an animal fiber. With this comes maintenance. Wool, like any animal fiber, needs to be washed at least once a year. Many are also allergic to wool so finding an organic mattress that doesn't contain wool is difficult.
Organic mattresses are typically made from GOLS certified organic latex foam as a support layer, topped with certified organic wool to soften it up and wrapped in certified organic cotton.
3 Tips for Your Organic Mattress Hunt:
If they stumble when answering any of these questions or cannot back up their claims with certifications like these, RUN!
Innersprings may be used as a replacement to latex foam for support.
You need to keep in mind that springs do not come close to offering the durability and pressure relief natural latex offers.
It’s also a nesting ground for dust mites and their feces to accumulate, providing a large, warm, open area. We aren't allergic to dust mites, we're allergic to their feces so this is not ideal sleep environment for kids or adults with allergies.
If you'd like the best to both worlds, comfort and health, check out how our mattresses are made.
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According to the Sleep Foundation, you're not alone. In a study with over 2,000 sleepers, researchers found that 41% of the patients experienced interrupted sleep because of night sweats within the last month.
Sometimes, hot sleepers break out in a sweat during the night time due to unavoidable hormonal issues, such as those experienced in menopause. However, there's a lot you can do to ensure you remain cool throughout the night, and opting for the best cooling memory foam technology for your mattress is a gamechanger.
Let's take a look at some of the cooling mattresses for hot sleepers and the pros and cons of each type of technology that claims to help you sleep cool at night.
Crafting the optimal sleep experience is still something we're studying. Based on the research we have so far, what we know is that temperature plays a significant role in how deep and restorative your sleep is.
The bottom line is that sleep deprivation can affect everything from your immune system to your memory so it's in your best interests to make sure you're getting a good night's sleep.
When your room temperature is lower, around 60℉-67℉, you sleep better, deeper, and remain asleep through all the requisite cycles your body goes through at night. Personal preferences vary, of course, so even a room up to 72℉ is fine for some sleepers.
Even though we're not quite sure why yet, science helps us point to all the benefits that sleeping cool can trigger in the body.
Sleeping “cool” goes beyond maintaining optimal room temperatures. You can enhance your sleep experience and draw heat away from the body by sleeping on a cooling firm mattress. These mattresses use materials designed to wick away moisture and help the body naturally drop its temperature to match its cooler surroundings during the night.
It's only when you switch your low-quality, polyurethane foam mattress for something like a gel-infused memory foam bed for a week that you realize how important it is to sleep on mattress types that support temperature regulation and stay cool to the touch.
These days, sleep manufacturers include mattress materials with cooling features. As these technologies have evolved and developed, there's undoubtedly a great level of sophistication and utility available — and that means more options for those who sleep hot.
Whether it's the use of cooling gel in a gel memory foam bed or including pocketed coils for more airflow, there are a variety of ways hot sleepers can gain some relief through the night.
However, not all of these mattress technologies are effective over time, nor do they all combine other priorities like firmness levels, allergy reduction, or pressure relief.
Here are seven different technologies used by cooling mattresses today:
Open-cell mattresses are made from polyurethane and latex. The structure of these rubbery materials naturally allows heat to travel through the mattress without becoming trapped.
The trade-off is that this type of memory foam layer is less dense. It can affect how well you sleep if foam with less density is used in the upper comfort layers because they won't be able to absorb as much impact.
A typical memory foam mattress, though incredibly soft and plush, is essentially a closed-cell mattress. So, while it's denser than open cell foam, and also water resistant, it also chokes airflow, which can cause a sleeper to wake up in the middle of the night. The use of closed-cell material is why most memory foam mattresses trap body heat and elevate your sleep temperature.
Convolution and contour cutting is a method that mattress manufacturers use to create air pockets in the mattress. This promotes better airflow and a cooler sleep surface for customers who sleep hot. You'll usually see this innovation used on a foam mattress-type base for improved cooling properties.
Perforations used in mattress construction achieve a sleeping experience similar to contour cutting. You'll usually see these applied to latex mattresses as they help improve air circulation and cool down the mattress's surface temperatures.
Thousands of mattresses on the market still use coils. However, mattress companies across the world are innovating their coil mattresses by implementing pocketed coils. Pocketed coils increase airspace in the mattress while also providing consistent support.
However, springs do not belong in the conversation on sleeping cool. The spring unit in a mattress is a lower-level component that is distanced from the surface. On low-quality mattresses, the padding on the mattress may be minimal, however the higher the quality of the mattress, the further the distance of the coil unit from the surface. Economical spring mattresses where the coils are close to the surface are finished in polyurethane and polyester with no cooling benefits. But in all cases, the springs have nothing to do with any cooling or ventilating benefits. These benefits exist and must start at the surface.
Using cooling materials like gel is not a new technology but it certainly is a popular one used to help individuals stay cool when they first lie on the mattress. A cool gel memory foam bed counterbalances the heat retention of the foam, naturally cooling you down as you sleep a person.
Cooling gel is mainly used as an effective marketing spin and most recently has been introduced as low density, low support, comfort layers on affordable mattresses. The concept behind the cooling gel was to add tiny particles of gel blended into the polyurethane memory foam. Theoretically, as the gel is a surface that does not absorb heat, the gel does initially feel cool and does cool down the surface quickly if the mattress is not in use. However, once the gel is heated to your body temperature it is no longer cool. Thus, cooling gel is not a dynamic cooling option.
Most of today’s gel foams no longer carry the memory foam title. Many of the newer foams have opted for microgel particles so they blend more consistently, and there is a higher percentage of gel within the formula. You will often see it as a low-density surface comfort layer on price-sensitive or lower-priced mattresses. The low-density polyurethane foam combined with a higher content of gel eliminates the support feature that memory foam is known for.
PCMs or phase-changing materials work by absorbing or releasing large amounts of "latent" heat when they change states (for example, going from solid to liquid).
The general concept of using phase changing materials in a mattress goes like this: PCMs capture your body heat as it escapes into the mattress and contain it in capsules. This is supposed to cool your body down and your temperature drops. Then, as you sleep, PCMs release heat and this raises your temperature to an optimal and stable level.
In reality, phase-changing technologies are micro-encapsulated chemicals that are applied to textiles and foams. The chemicals react when exposed to heat. While most common chemicals typically generate heat when they cause a reaction, these phase changing chemicals generate a “cooling” reaction. These chemicals are very volatile and unstable which, for safety purposes, requires fire barrier chemicals within the microencapsulation in order to stabilize the reaction. So phase-changing technology in mattresses and pillows is a chemical-laden process that requires additional fire barrier chemicals, all of which then exposes you to chemical off-gassing.
More than just the chemical off-gassing, phase-changing technologies when it comes to sleeping cool and achieving deep sleep is that it does not last. The initial “cooling” reaction only occurs once, which means outside of that initial 60 seconds of cooling, the surface you are sleeping on still generates and holds heat throughout the night. The only way to spark the reaction again is to change your sleeping position in order to have contact with a new portion of the surface that has not yet reacted. These movements are both consciously and subconsciously repeated through your sleep cycle constantly interrupting and reducing the quality of sleep.
Over the years, companies have been searching for ways to implement all-natural elements into their mattresses. Minerals like charcoal and metals like copper and silver do just that while also improving sleep quality and increasing its cooling characteristics.
As you can see, all cooling technologies, with the exception of PCMs, rely on additional, structural changes to the mattress. These could be in the form of using cooling gels, individually pocketing support coils, or using open-cell polyurethane foam for your comfort layer.
However, these options don't get right at the heart of the matter: high-quality materials and an improved production process. In other words, the best mattress for hot sleepers needs to go beyond these technologies and address the latent issues with the use of memory foam comfort layers.
That's precisely why we went back to the drawing board with all our mattresses, rethinking and redesigning latex foam from the ground up. Our process entirely transforms the production process so that what you're actually sleeping on is the world's first (and only) natural organic slow response latex foam.
Materials like gel-infused foam may be cool to the touch but they don't offer cooler sleep the whole night through. Essentia's all-natural organic latex foams, as well as our hybrid options, help sleepers stay cool all night long.
Essentia’s cooling mattress is a breathable material that pulls heat away from the body and allows it to flow out through the mattress. This constant air flow through the mattress allows your body to self-regulate its internal temperature. In fact, a recent study shows that Essentia mattresses keep the body cooler by up to 8.1℉.
This technology helps the body self-regulate and maintain a comfortable sleeping temperature, thereby improving the sleep cycle and helping you get a more restful sleep. Contrast this with a polyurethane memory foam mattress, which forms a core of concentrated heat and raises the body's temperature by a whole degree.
Moreover, Dr. Jace Provo MD, MS, CASQM has tested the Essentia mattress in his evaluation of sleep pattern relationship with circadian rhythm and found that:
“The Essentia mattress core provides an effective solution to minimize the impact of temperature affected sleep deprivation. Evidence suggests that a reduction in surface temperature could prevent fluctuations in skin temperature and maximize the total time spent on sleep.”
Essentia’s organic cooling mattresses combine six organic components to create its unique foam:
Hevea milk is a milky sap sourced from Indonesia. Hevea Milk comes from a rubber tree and provides the best cooling mattress with a solid base for its memory foam.
GOLS stands for Global Organic Latex Standard. GOLS is the highest possible standard for latex used in mattresses. When a company is GOLS-certified organic latex, your bed contains more than 95% organic raw material.
Dunlop latex derives from Hevea Milk. This material produces a strong, durable inner core to the mattress.
Grapefruit seed, coneflower, and jasmine essence are added to the mattress to provide a relaxing and peaceful sleep that energizes the body.
Using natural plant extracts like hydrolyzed corn help Essentia mattresses last longer while retaining their original shape and structure.
Global Organic Textile Standard is an established standard for creating necessary textiles without harming the environment. To be GOTS certified, a company must follow strict standards for farming, harvesting, and processing. Essentia uses cotton grown without harmful chemicals and pesticides.
Every Essentia natural organic latex mattress can help a sleeper achieve a deep, long-lasting nighttime rest. However, when it comes to cooling features, these are two of the best cooling mattresses available today. In fact, even Essentia’s Lifestyle mattresses are temperature neutral meaning they do not trap heat. But with Essentia patented natural memory foam technology featured in the Performance and Wholebody Recovery categories, an Essentia sleeper can experience active cooling throughout the night.
The Classic REM5's claim to fame was as Essentia's original organic foam mattress. Today, it delivers an elevated mid-contour designed to support proper spinal alignment, regardless of sleeping position.
Sleepers who rely on the Classic REM5 will benefit from a mattress designed to draw heat away and decrease your body's temperature by five degrees over an eight-hour cycle.
If a three-degree difference is not enough for you and you need a medium-firm mattress that contours to your body, the Dormeuse REM9 is for you.
Its design calls on our patented molding technology that responds intuitively to you through the night as you shift and turn. Furthermore, the Dormeuse REM9 helps sleepers sleep up to nine degrees cooler than your internal body temperature over an eight-hour cycle.
When it comes to finding the best cooling mattress for sleepers who sleep hot, you want to focus on the production process and high-quality materials. Essentia's cooling technology helps our products surpass the required mandates for mattresses sold in the United States.
Each of our products meets chemical-free manufacturing standards, including GOTS and GOLS certifications. They only use clean materials for their mattress designs, manufactured without harmful chemicals. This stringent qualification system guarantees you are purchasing the best cooling mattress on the planet.
To learn more about how a revolutionary mattress is changing the way that everyone from stressed-out insomniacs to high-performance athletes achieve the best sleep of their lives, browse the Essentia difference today.
All of the latex we use now is GOLS certified organic, so we no longer refer to it as dunlop latex but rather the organic latex support foam
Shop Essentia Cooling Mattresses here.
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Unfortunately, we live in a sleep-deprived world. A hundred years ago we slept 8-9 hours a night, now we average 6-7 hours a night.
According to a report done by the National Institute of Medicine on sleep, 50-70 million American's are regularly deprived of adequate sleep or suffer from sleeping disorders. This may be good for Starbuck's bottom line, but it's not good for your body or brain.
Sleep is when your body repairs and heals. It's considered one of the three main pillars of health and wellness, and what happens during your sleep determines how you respond to your day.
New studies indicate that improving the quantity and quality has a more significant effect on overall health than either diet or exercise! To understand sleep, one must first understand the importance of quality sleep habits to overall health.
People still rarely associate sleep patterns with their overall health and well-being. It's important to know and understand the different stages of the sleep cycle like the REM sleep cycle and the Non-REM sleep cycle so you know if you're getting a good night sleep or a poor night sleep.
Moderate and long-term sleep deprivation leads to increased:
Insufficient sleep deprivation can be a contributing factor to more severe health conditions. That's not to mention 100,000 car accidents a year-especially by teenagers.
If that doesn't get you to sleep more, then you should know that sleep deprivation spikes levels of the hormone ghrelin, which increases hunger, and lowers your appetite-suppressing hormones known as PYY. You eat more to compensate for the lack of sleep and you crave more sugars and refined carbohydrates as a result.
A lack of sleep also increases stress hormones such as cortisol, which kills brain cells in the memory and mood center called the hippocampus.
Sleep is not a nuisance or a luxury, it's part of regular maintenance and repair. Getting enough sleep can mean the difference between a sick, tired, foggy, unfocused, life and one where you feel vibrantly healthy and fully tuned into the world around you.
What many people forget is that good sleep is linked to a great quality mattress. The quality of your mattress can have a huge impact on your sleep, and poorer quality mattresses, also expose you to toxic glues, chemicals, fire retardants, dust-mites, and allergens that can inhibit sleep and have adverse effects on health. Read our mattress buying guide and tips to learn what to look for when buying a good mattress.
"A good mattress is critical to both prevention and care of a bad back" Dr. Stephen Elsasser, American College for the Advancement in Medicine". National Commission on Sleep Disorders Research.
Learn more about finding the best mattress for your back in our article related to solving back pain.
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Few things induce an uneasy feeling than discovering you have mattress bed bugs and pests.
You might wake up and see spots on your bed or even get itchy and have red marks all over your body. These could be signs that you are dealing with a bed bug infestation in your mattress, furniture, or anywhere else in your house.
Did You Know:
Bed bugs are problematic pests, but the CDC does not classify them as disease-transmitting. They are also not a sign of uncleanliness. A house or hotel room could be immaculate but still have bed bugs.
If you plan on getting rid of these unwelcome guests, solutions like throwing out your mattress and box spring, mattress cover, or dismantling your bed frames won’t work.
Instead, you should be aware of what bed bugs are, how they behave, and how to get rid of these pests effectively.
Use our ultimate guide on mattress bed bugs and learn how to deal with a bed bug infestation.
Bed bugs are small, oval-shaped, brown insects or pests, and they like to infest beds and furniture across the United States. Bed bugs feed on a blood meal from animals or humans, after which their color changes to a reddish hue.
Bedbugs cannot fly, but their quick movements allow them to walk over walls, floors, and ceilings. Female bed bugs can lay hundreds of eggs that are the size of a speck of dust over their lifetime. Once the eggs hatch, bed bugs begin life as nymphs and go through several life stages before reaching maturity.
During a bed bug nymph’s growth period, they shed their skins about five times and require feeding before each shedding. That means immature bedbugs need a blood meal five times before they become adult bed bugs.
So if you are experiencing many bed bug bites, they could be from bed bug nymphs trying to grow. Fully grown bed bugs have flat bodies, can reach the size of an apple seed, and are visible to the naked eye.
Bed bugs are crafty creatures, and they can enter your home through luggage, used furniture, clothing, or any other items.
Because they’re so small and flat, measuring the width of a credit card, bed bugs can fit into any crevice or crack. This makes it very difficult to spot them, but they still are visible to the naked eye.
From their nesting grounds, they then migrate to mattresses, box springs, headboards, bed frames, and other places where they can bite a person during the night. If you have pets, they will also move to your pet’s sleeping place so they can feed
As bed bug nymphs increase in number, they’ll move throughout your home, before spreading to other apartments. So identifying a bed bug infestation early is crucial to stopping the sprawl.
Here are a few things to look for if you suspect you have a bed bug infestation in your home.
When you suspect you have bed bugs, your first reaction might be panic. However, understanding their behaviors and habits can help you go from bed bug bites and infestations to bed bug control and treatment.
Bed bug feeding habits can help you reduce the opportunities for feeding:
Understanding how bed bugs mate and grow can help you gauge the level of infestation you may have in your home and what treatment would work best when dealing with this problem.
Eventually, all these eggs hatch and start the cycle all over again. You can see how quickly a bed bug problem becomes an infestation.
Knowing how bed bugs like to live and how they survive helps you get a better view of how to implement bed bug control in the United States or elsewhere.
Once bed bugs bite you, your skin will react with a red, itchy bump. Any part of your body that makes contact with infested bedding while you’re sleeping is fair game. To treat bed bug bites, you can take the following steps.
Sometimes, but very rarely, you may experience an allergic reaction to bed bug problem. In that case, an at-home treatment may not be enough, and you’ll need to reach your doctor or call emergency services.
Treatment and prevention are the keys to stopping an infestation from wreaking havoc on your life. If you’re unsure about having bed bugs in your home, begin by calling an exterminator. These experts will know what to look for in your mattresses and can help you find the source of the infestation.
But if you are confident that you have bed bugs, you should take these steps as a bed bug treatment.
In the infested room, remove any items you can, such as blankets, electronics, toys, etc. Many people make the mistake of just putting these items in other rooms, but you should be careful. Simply putting the items there will cause the bed bug infestations to spread to the other room. Instead, transfer the items to a vacuum bag.
Next, any items go straight into the laundry. This includes bedding, curtains, linens, and clothing. Wash these fabrics, which all bed bugs love, in high temperatures and dry at high heat settings. Place anything unfit for washing in the dryer for about 30 minutes to kill bed bugs.
Encase your mattress and box spring with a tightly zipped cover so the bed bugs cannot get out. Vacuum the mattress thoroughly and place the vacuumed matter in the garbage outside immediately.
Do a thorough cleaning of the entire room very frequently. Scrub the room to dislodge the eggs. At this time, you can rub or spray neem oil on your bed frame, baseboards, around your windows, and into cracks in your room.
Vacuum and scrub every crevice and potential hiding spot, including wall hangings and other furniture — even your wall paper.
If possible, use steam for a thorough clean. The combination of heat, washing, and vacuuming can be very effective in getting rid of a large majority of these pests.
Trying to remove bed bugs requires a multi-step approach. Besides washing and cleaning, you can also use a natural repellent treatment made specifically for the bedroom or on mattresses. This can include using sachets of lavender or mint, or eucalyptus oil-infused sprays.
Sometimes, the inevitable solution to bed bugs is throwing your mattress out. Bed bugs are stubborn pests that can be quite difficult to exterminate and treat after they hit a certain number in the population. So even if you thoroughly vacuum and treat the room with chemicals, it might be time to get a new mattress.
Essentia is the right choice for keeping bed bugs at bay if you're looking for a new mattress. Essentia mattresses have been extensively tested, and are uniquely impervious to dust allergens, dust mites, and other bed invading bugs — a perfect solution for allergy sufferers as reported by Dr. Robert G. Hamilton of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine.
Essentia’s performance-focused collection of mattresses also help you sleep at cooler temperatures all throughout the night, which means there’s less chance of your body overheating and your mattress attracting these heat-seeking pests. Learn more about the Essentia difference and how we help you get the rest you deserve.
Purchasing a new mattress can be an overwhelming task. There are a lot of factors to consider from material to structure and chances are, you've heard of memory foam as a top choice.
But here's the big question: Is memory foam safe for you and your family, or does it hide a toxic secret? What is memory foam? What is memory foam made of? And is it safe or toxic? These are common questions among consumers who have never purchased or used this type of mattress and ones we will address today.
While there are many types of mattresses to choose from, organic memory foam mattresses have become increasingly popular due to the way it gradually conforms to the body without the use of petrochemicals. There is only one company that is doing a slow response organic latex foam and that is Essentia! This structure offers excellent support for all sleepers, and side sleepers especially. So let’s take a deeper look at what memory foam is and how it works.
The primary materials found in memory foam were developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in the 1960’s as part of flight seating. NASA wanted to ensure that the astronauts that were sent into space were comfortable, especially given the extremity of the environment they would be facing. And so, scientists worked to create a material that could quickly mold around the body and relieve stress. The cradling nature of the material also helped to alleviate pressure from the G-forces endured by astronauts during launches. The final product known as viscoelastic was the outcome of extensive research and was successfully created in 1966.
Once developed, viscoelastic remained the property of NASA until the 1980s when its use was expanded to include the development of athletic equipment as well as use in hospitals. Fast forward to 1992 when the first memory foam mattress was introduced to consumers. Since then, these mattresses have steadily gained popularity for their ability to provide superior comfort and support.
Modern memory foams are created using an open-cell structure which reacts to body heat and weight, allowing it to form around the body as you sleep which helps relieve pressure points. And while most memory foam has the same basic chemical composition, the density and layer thickness of the foam gives each mattress its unique feel.
A high-density mattress will last longer than lower-density one which will have a slightly shorter life due to the compression that takes place after repeated use. On average, medium to high-density foams can last eight to ten years while low-density foams will last around four to six years. This is comparable to other mattress materials which last, on average, eight to ten years. Though that timeframe decreases as the person using the mattress ages, Consumer Reports states that anyone over the age of 40 years-old should not sleep on the same mattress longer than seven years.
Many consumers choose memory foam mattresses due to the many benefits these mattresses can provide. As already discussed, one of the most notable benefits is the ability to relieve pressure points. In addition, memory foam mattress can provide better alignment of the spine, and eliminate motion. Finally, memory foam is accommodating to all types of sleepers, side, back, and stomach, which has contributed to its popularity among consumers.
Even with all these benefits, many consumers may still find themselves questioning is memory foam toxic? It’s a fair question given the way memory foam is made.
The safety of a memory foam mattress can vary depending on where you purchase it from. Traditionally, memory foam is produced using a number of chemicals and processes. If you have been around a lower quality memory foam before, you may have noticed a distinct smell which is known as off-gassing.
This chemical odor is a result of the chemicals used to produce the mattress. New foams and many other manufactured products experience off-gassing as it is the result of “volatile organic compounds” (VOCs) breaking down. As opposed to being stable, these “volatile” (or unstable) compounds break apart, commonly forming gases hence the term.
In mattresses, the most commonplace to find VOCs is in the foam and adhesives. They can include chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), formaldehyde, benzene, methylene chloride, toluene, trichloroethane, naphthalene, perfluorocarbons, and polyols. Many consumers worry about the presence of these chemicals due to the fact that they can cause health problems after prolonged exposure. For example, the most commonly known polyol, polyurethane, is the primary ingredient of most memory foams and is a petroleum-based material that emits volatile organic compounds which can cause respiratory problems and skin irritation.
Formaldehyde, on the other hand, is not typically added to foams but may result as a byproduct of chemical reactions or adhesives. While CFCs can be used as a blowing agent to make foam materials, pollution regulations, known as the Montreal Protocol, have largely restricted its use and other toxic halogens in the United States since the 1990s. Instead, manufacturers can use other gases or pressurized foaming systems.
As you can see, there are a number of elements that could make a memory foam mattress toxic which is why it is important for consumers to be well informed. However, not all memory foam mattresses are created equal. In fact, Essentia natural memory foam mattresses have been tested to promote a clean air environment by not introducing these stimulants to your bedroom and body.
In reality, all foams, natural or synthetic, will have chemical contents. That's just the reality of making foam. However, a natural foam is obviously much cleaner. So if you are wondering is memory foam safe? The answer is yes, and no, it just depends on the mattress you decide to purchase.
Though a completely chemical free memory foam does not exist, there is one option that is created by Essentia which is a slow response organic latex foam. Essentia's patented Beyond Latex organic foam is the only foam of its kind that is made of certified organic components, offering the benefits of memory foam without the toxins and chemicals that are usually found in memory foam.
This means you can benefits from the pressure relief that memory foam offers with many of Essentia's added benefits such as active cooling naturally, a clean air environment and more as demonstrated by Essentia's seven key elements for rejuvenating sleep.
Essentia holds the two most stringent certifications for organic mattresses:
These restrictions include chemical flame retardants and polyurethane. GOLS ensures that a latex mattress is made of 95 percent organic latex and again places restrictions on the other 5 percent of the materials.
Essentia’s Natural latex mattresses are all made in Essentia’s GOLS and GOTS certified organic factory. When searching for natural mattresses, these are the best labels to look out for.
Clearly, there is a lot to consider when it comes to determining the toxicity of a memory foam mattress. But looking for the right labels and certifications can help you find a natural mattress that best suits your needs while providing a safe and comfortable alternative to traditional memory foam mattresses.
If you’re still wondering how to choose a memory foam mattress, contact us today and we’ll be happy to help!
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There are dust mites that feast on the leftovers, which leads to allergic reactions for anyone with asthma or other respiratory issues. Furthermore, if you live in a humid area, the moisture creates a breeding ground for mold and mildew that make bad smells worse.
An expensive mattress is only as good as the fabric it's made from. Buying a great mattress means nothing if it's ruined by old sweat, mites, stains, and other foul matter that can't be permanently removed. In this guide, you’ll learn the best ways to deep clean a mattress for a safer, more comfortable night's sleep, and a longer-lasting mattress.
You might be tempted to put off cleaning your mattress because it seems like a hassle, but it’s well worth doing. You’ll not only be saving money by extending the life of your mattress, but you’ll also be making your home a healthier place to sleep in.
A clean mattress is the first step to a luxurious night's sleep. Mattress disinfecting may seem like an unnecessary luxury, but it's actually critical for your health. Otherwise, you'll be breathing in dust all night and sleeping on germs that can transfer to your skin, causing breakouts and other ailments.
Since you spend one-third of your life sleeping, it’s only common sense to ensure you’re sleeping on a clean mattress.
Whether you’re dealing with mattress stains or dust and built-up debris, there are a number of popular methods for mattress cleaning. For your Essentia mattress, make sure to follow the cleaning steps laid out below to keep your mattress surface and fabric fresh and long-lasting for years to come.
Start by removing all the bedding from your mattress. This includes a mattress cover or mattress protector you have on there.
Next, wash all the bedding and linens that were on your mattress with laundry detergent.
Before you toss bedding in the washing machine, make sure that you read the care label. Labels can advise you about the cleaning process, ensuring that you wash your sheets or covers without shrinking it or damaging it in other ways.
If you have an organic cotton mattress cover, make sure to only wash it in cold water and use a mild detergent for the process. Organic cotton can shrink if you put it in the dryer, so air dry these fabrics instead.
Of course, Essentia memory foam mattresses are naturally anti-microbial and will not allow bacterial or dust mite infestations. Many other brands of mattresses are more prone to these issues — especially if they include box springs.
It’s hard to really spot bacteria or dust mites on your mattress — so just assume that the toll of daily living and sleeping makes cleaning all the more important. If the fabrics you use allow it, washing in hot water can help to eliminate bacteria from sweat or urine
Vacuuming your mattress at can help keep dust and dirt from building up. This will also help you prepare for any spills in the future by removing anything that could cause stains or odors.
This is a step you can skip if you own an Essentia organic latex mattress, as Essentia's foams are impervious to dust mites as reported by Dr. Robert G. Hamilton of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. This means an Essentia mattress does not collect the dust and dust mite debris that a traditional mattress would.
To vacuum a mattress safely, start by cleaning off the attachment and vacuum unit to ensure that there is no dirt or dust on them. You may need to clean it off multiple times until both are completely free of all debris.
Next, use the vacuum attachment to clean the surface and get into the creases around the edges of your mattress, as well as under it.
To clean a small stain on your mattress, cover the spot liberally with baking soda. When you sprinkle baking soda on stains, it absorbs any excess liquid. This cleaning solution should also help to rid any odors from the area. If you want to deodorize your entire mattress, simply apply a dusting of baking soda across the entire surface.
If you want to freshen up your mattress with a longer-lasting scent, combine baking soda with a bit of the essential oil that smells best in your home. Distribute this across the surface of the mattress. Give it at least 30 minutes to work its way into any breathing pores on the surface of the bedding and absorb any lingering odor.
To fully remove the baking soda from your mattress, vacuum the surface of the bed. As you clean away all residue, you will also be removing any odor attracting liquids that were absorbed into your mattress.
Once a mattress has been cleaned you should allow it to fully air dry before redressing it.
After a good cleaning, be sure to rotate your mattress from time-to-time.
Of course, investing in an Essentia Mattress requires no flipping or rotating because natural and organic latex is stronger and more durable than innerspring mattresses. In other words, there’s not much you have to worry about, since our organic latex memory foam mattresses bounce right back.
Also, don't skip out on mattress covers. Investing in a mattress cover will help protect your mattress from spills, stains and dirt. A good quality cover like this one will not only provide protection but also add to the lifespan of your bedding.
Essentia organic mattresses come with a 100% GOLS certified organic cotton cover that protects the foam and doesn't introduce plastics to the room.
The mattress is now all set to be turned back into your bed. Grab your fitted sheets and make the bed as you would normally do. Before you put the fitted sheet on, feel out to see if there are any stains that need attention from the spill. Then, enjoy how fresh and clean your bed feels!
Spot cleaning small stains and dirt between major cleanings helps keep your bedding fresher for longer. Simply strip the bed and mattress covers, and then use one of the at-home cleaning methods discussed above.
Time is of the essence when you're trying to remove blood stains, sweat, or urine stains from your bed, the first thing you need to do is assess the situation. The type of stain and how new it is will determine your next steps.
Mattresses can easily be damaged when they get wet. Be careful not to use too much liquid, or you may have a difficult time getting the stain out (especially if it is biological). If your mattress needs some deep cleaning, consider using an enzyme cleaner once all of the other cleaning methods fail to remove the stain.
If there are protein stains on your comforter or pillows, concentrate your efforts on the source of the stain. If it's fresh, then you may be able to remove it from your bedding with water and a mild laundry detergent. On the other hand, if the stain is older than a week or two, you should consider calling a professional cleaner to get rid of it.
Anything wet may damage your memory foam, so if you spill something, you’ll need to wipe it down immediately. Furthermore, harsh products like ammonia and bleach to clean your mattress can also be harmful. Stick to mild soap and water or vinegar and baking soda instead.
Generally, bleach is an effective cleaning product. However, if it’s used on your mattress, it can be very damaging. The best way to clean a mattress is to use a vacuum cleaner with a beater bar attached to it.
Vacuuming is one of the most critical steps in a mattress deep clean, but if you’re using the wrong vacuum, you won’t be able to clean your mattress thoroughly.
Furthermore, large mattresses can be tough to clean completely if your only implement is a vacuum.
Instead, use a vacuum with a crevice attachment to clean the mattress properly. Plan to target large pieces of debris like dust, hair, and pet hair during your first run.
The best way to deep clean a mattress is to focus on the areas that get the most human contact. For most people, this includes the head, seat, and foot of the bed.
Use a vacuum with an upholstery attachment to remove the dust mites and debris. Then, use a spray bottle cleaner or a solution of soap and water to wipe down the mattress and bed frame.
There are lots of methods for cleaning and deodorizing mattresses. It is a good idea to clean your mattress at least once a year because it gets stinky, dusty, and wet. You can use many household items as mattress cleaners.
Mattress sanitizing might appear complicated, but, with a bit of time and patience, you can get your mattress clean and cozy again.
Once your mattress deep clean is complete, it's important to take extra steps to protect it from future stains. A vinyl or plastic mattress pad will help prolong your mattress's life, prevent further stains, and add an extra barrier between you and dust mites.
Essentia’s BodyGuard mattress cover is a great way to prolong the life of your mattress. Our mattress cover protects from stains and spills, which can be difficult to remove from fabric. Coupled with a regular mattress cleaning routine, you’ll extend the life and comfort of your mattress for years to come.
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Simple fact is men and women sleep differently. Whether it is hormonal, individual circadian rhythm, socio-culture or geographic differences we all recognize the importance of proper sleep and its health benefits.
Sleep is an extremely vital part of living a healthy life, it is just as important as diet and exercise are to living a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Many people do not realize how vital this daily process is for the human body to reset, rest, and heal itself. When the body is asleep, the physical body is resting, but the mind and brain are still actively working.
Sleep is more than just a time to lay down, the body engages in a number of important processes while it sleeps. When the natural sleep cycle is interrupted, and the body begins to become sleep deprived, some side effects begin to occur that can be potentially dangerous. Some potential side effects of getting too little sleep include daytime sleepiness, increased accidents, inability or difficulty concentrating, increased sickness, weight gain, and poor performance in the workplace or school. Nearly 40 million men and women in America suffer from sleep disorders. These sleep problems affect their everyday life and overall health.
To help you understand the impact of sleep on men, we have put together an overview that includes what normal male sleeping patterns are, the most common effects of sleep loss and deprivation on men, how to find the right mattress, and health tips for men to get a better night of sleep.
There are significant misinformation and conjecture regarding normal sleeping patterns for both men and women. These misconceptions are fueled further by popular culture and the perpetuation of common sleeping myths. One question you have probably asked yourself is, “Do women need more sleep than men?” When researching normal male sleeping patterns, this comparison to female sleeping patterns often comes up. While there is significant overlap between the sleeping patterns of men and women, there are some differences as well. To help you understand normal male sleeping patterns, and how they compare to normal female sleeping patterns, we have compiled a brief overview to help you build a foundational understanding.
For both men and women, the body requires sleep to maintain optimal functionality and health. The body requires sleep each night to restore itself and the mind. Prior generations have primarily believed that sleep is an inactive brain state, but this began to be debunked by the era of modern sleep research in the early 1920s. While it was once believed that the brain shut down each night during sleep only to be reawakened in the morning, it is now known that sleep is a dynamic state. As research surrounding sleep advanced, scientists began to recognize that the brain experiences characteristic patterns of activity throughout each stage of sleep. In fact, in some states of sleep, the brain is more active than when you are awake. By having an understanding of the different patterns of sleep and how various factors affect them, it is possible to adjust your daily lifestyle to improve your quality of sleep.
While individuals recognize the body’s need to sleep each night, many people do not understand exactly what happens to the body as they sleep. The architecture of sleep is comprised of a pattern that alternates between rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Throughout a typical night of sleep, the body will undergo a cycle that repeats itself approximately every ninety minutes. NREM sleep accounts for seventy-five percent of the night. According to the National Sleep Foundation, below are the roles of each state and stage of sleep and the effect they have on the body.
With this understanding in mind, it is now possible to explore the differences between male and female sleeping patterns.
Though the recommended sleep parameters are often the same for men and women (seven to eight hours of sleep per night), there are often differences between the sleep patterns of men and women. As mentioned above, there is often a correlation made that women require more sleep than men, but is there any truth to that commonly held belief? It turns out, there is. Women do often require more sleep than men, but it may not be for the reason you think. Women often experience lighter sleep during the night, which can be more easily disrupted. In addition, many women have undiagnosed sleep disorders. Another potential cause of this shift is that women’s bodies undergo different hormonal cycles than men’s bodies. Many biological conditions are unique to women, like experiencing a menstrual cycle, pregnancy, or menopause. All of these natural processes affect the levels of hormones in a woman’s body, like estrogen and progesterone, which can have an impact on female sleep patterns. While women experience more easily disrupted sleep due to hormonal processes, men are more likely to experience snoring due to air passages that are often narrower than women’s nasal passages. Both men and women alike are likely to experience disrupted sleep due to periods of stress in their life.
Sleep loss or deprivation can have a tremendous impact on men’s overall health and cognitive function. Below are a handful of the most common effects of sleep loss and deprivation on male health and bodily function.
There are many simple steps both men and women can integrate into their everyday routines to improve sleep quality and quantity. Below are a handful of simple tips to implement in your life to improve your sleep and overall health.
Invest in a High-Quality Natural Mattress and Pillows: Many people do not realize how vital it is to a quality night of sleep to have a mattress and pillows that are supportive and comfortable. Many people keep mattresses and pillows long past when they are intended, and a low-quality mattress may contain chemicals and allergens that negatively impact sleep patterns and quality of sleep. To get a better night of sleep, invest in a high-quality mattress and pillows that are crafted using organic materials that are free from harsh chemicals and fire retardants. By understanding which pillow is best for your sleep style, you will be on your way to achieving a restful night sleep.
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When it comes to comparing Essentia mattresses with other brands, it becomes clear that we are in a league of our own. Essentia isn't just another brand – we're pioneers in providing you with the ultimate sleep experience. What sets us apart isn't just one thing; it's a combination of factors that make Essentia the leader in sleep innovation.
One key factor that sets Essentia apart is that we manufacture all of our organic foams! This means we don't simply assemble pre purchased latex foam in our factory, but rather craft all of our slow response organic latex blends in house.
When it comes to memory foam mattress comparisons, there are afew big names that dominate the memory foam market, like Tempur-Pedic. Then you have other brands who source their memory foam from the same manufacturers. This leads to "me too" retailers who rely on price, reviews, and marketing buzzwords, often piggybacking on the Tempur-Pedic brand.
Essentia manufactures all of our foams in a GOLS (Global Organic Latex Standard) and GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard) certified organic factory. This means our materials meet the strictest organic and non-toxic standards, ensuring you can sleep soundly, knowing your mattress is safe for you and the environment.
One thing to keep in mind when it comes to organic or natural mattresses: the Greenwashing Game!
"Greenwashing" is a term we hear a lot these days, with companies claiming to have eco-friendly memory foam mattresses. They slap labels like "bio foams," "plant-based memory foam," or "soy memory foam" on their products. But here's the catch: most of these mattresses still contain a hefty portion of synthetic materials, meaning that they don't truly address the environmental or health concerns.
What sets Essentia apart is our commitment to solving problems, not masking them.
We've taken on the challenges of memory foam, addressing issues like recovery time and pressure relief head-on. This commitment led us to develop our groundbreaking Beyond Latex organic foam and molding process, a patented innovation that's the heart of our mattresses.
We believe in a holistic approach to sleep, and addressing the seven key elements necessary for truly rejuvenating rest is something you will only find at Essentia.
Pressure Relief & Optimized Oxygen: Essentia mattresses are engineered to provide optimal pressure relief, reducing the risk of discomfort and pain during sleep.
Posture Support: Our mattresses offer exceptional support, aligning your spine and ensuring that you wake up feeling refreshed and pain-free.
Active Cooling and Breathability: With Essentia, you won't overheat during the night. Our mattresses are designed to keep you cool and comfortable.
Accelerated Recovery: If you share your bed, you won't be disturbed by your partner's movements. Our mattresses provide superior motion isolation.
Durability: We believe in longevity. Essentia mattresses are designed to last, providing you with a durable and reliable sleep solution.
Allergy-Friendly: Hypoallergenic and antimicrobial, Essentia mattresses are perfect for allergy sufferers. You can enjoy your sleep without worrying about allergens.
Toxin-Free & Certified Organic: Most importantly, our mattresses are toxin-free. We're passionate about ensuring you sleep on materials that are safe and healthy for you and the environment.
At Essentia, we firmly believe that you don't have to compromise on comfort or quality to enjoy a healthier night's sleep. Our organic latex foam mattresses are designed to offer both unparalleled comfort and uncompromising quality, making Essentia the brand to trust when it comes to a restful night's sleep.
In a market flooded with options, Essentia stands apart by genuinely addressing the issues that matter most to you, ensuring a healthier, more comfortable, and better night's sleep.
Numerous studies have been done on the relationship between athletes and sleep and have come to the conclusion that there is a direct link between strong athletic performance and healthy sleep habits. While those athletes with healthy sleep habits are more likely to perform better, the opposite is also true as there is a link between athletes and sleep deprivation as well. When an athlete does not get the quality or quantity of sleep that they need, their reaction times and physical abilities can be impaired as a result.
Finding the right mattress is extremely important for an athlete to get the high-quality sleep they need to maintain optimal performance. To help you understand the basics of athletes and sleep, we have put together a foundational guide that delves into the importance of sleep for athletes and the best mattresses for athletes. Keep reading to learn more about natural mattress options that can take your rest days to the next level.
Sleep is extremely important for all individuals as it is a time that allows the body to rest and recover. Before delving into how this process is specifically important for athletes, it is important to first have an understanding of the main stages of sleep and what happens to the body as it sleeps.
The standard sleep pattern is comprised of two main stages: rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM). NREM sleep accounts for seventy-five percent of the sleep an average person will get during the night. As you sleep, your body will undergo a cycle that will repeat itself approximately every ninety minutes.
In the first stage, the body is between being awake and falling asleep and is in a state of light sleep. As the body moved towards the second stage of sleep, it becomes disengaged from its surroundings, the body temperature begins to drop slightly, and the breathing and heart rate is regular. From there, the body moves to stages three and four, which are the deepest and most restorative sleep. During these phases of the sleep cycle, the breathing becomes slower, muscles are relaxed, the blood supply to muscles increases and tissue growth and repair occurs. During these phases, energy is restored and hormones, such as growth hormone, are released to the body.
All of these stages are NREM sleep. REM sleep accounts for twenty-five percent of the night and generally first occurs approximately ninety minutes after falling asleep and recurs every ninety minutes throughout the night. REM sleep supports daytime performance by providing energy to the brain and body. REM sleep is characterized by the eyes darting back and forth and an active brain state as well as the occurrence of dreams. During REM sleep, the body is immobile and relaxed as the muscle has turned off. With this understanding of a normal sleep cycle in mind, it is now possible to explore why this fundamental bodily process is so vital for athletic performance.
Prioritizing sleep for repair and healing is important for athletes at all levels, not just professionals. Sleep plays a crucial role in an athlete's overall physical and mental well-being, as well as their performance.
It is important to keep in mind that athletes often require more sleep than non-athletes. This need for sleep is even more vital before and after major athletic events, which can be taxing on the body. The standard sleep recommendation for the average, adult male or female is seven to nine hours of sleep to function properly. For an adult athlete, this number increases to ten hours of sleep needed per night when training or competing regularly.
Sleeping this much will allow the body the time it needs for physical recovery and optimal athletic performance. In addition to getting more sleep, it is also recommended that athletes maintain a consistent sleep schedule that allows them to get the necessary amounts of NREM and REM sleep during the night. During REM sleep, cortisol levels within the body are regulated. During NREM sleep, cellular division and regeneration occur, which is vital for proper muscle recovery.
While professional athletes often have access to specialized resources to optimize their sleep and recovery, amateur athletes and non athletes should also prioritize sleep for similar reasons. The specific sleep needs may vary from person to person, but getting 7-9 hours of quality sleep per night is generally recommended for most adults to support their physical and mental health. The good news is you don’t have to be an athlete to sleep like one.
With this understanding of the importance of sleep for athletes in mind, it is now possible to explore some of the best mattresses for athletes.
Finding the right mattress can be difficult for any individual and this difficulty can increase for athletes because there are special considerations that must be accounted for. To accurately determine the best mattresses for athletes, it is first necessary to examine the various elements of looking at a mattress, as well as the various mattress types and their respective advantages and disadvantages for athletes. While there are many tips for injury recovery, getting quality sleep should always be top of the list.
When looking for a new performance mattress, it is important to keep several factors in mind to make sure you are making the ideal selection. Below are a handful of the top mattress considerations for athletes.
The variety of mattress types available can make choosing the right one for your lifestyle and body a daunting choice. As an athlete, it is of the utmost importance to select a mattress that will optimize the quality and quantity of your sleep so that your athletic performance is maximized. Below is a breakdown of some of the most popular mattress types available, as well as their respective benefits and drawbacks for athletes.
Memory foam is one of the most well-known and popular mattress types available. Memory foam is often comprised of a polyurethane-based foam. Memory foam mattresses sink and conform closely to the sleeper’s body and often come at a reasonable cost. Memory foam mattresses aid in keeping the spine straight and alleviating pressure in the neck, shoulders, hips, and back. However, traditional memory foam mattresses often sag with age and may lose these supportive properties. These mattresses also sleep very hot as they rely on body temperature to conform to the body. In recent years, polyurethane foam has come under criticism for the plethora of harsh chemicals that are contained within the foam and their impact on overall health. For an athlete, in particular, it is important to make sure that your environment is free of chemicals and irritants that could potentially impact your ability to perform.
Innerspring mattresses are one of the most widely sold types of beds and earn their name due to their composition utilizing steel coils as their support core. These steel coils are often reinforced with high-density foam layers. Innerspring mattresses are usually available in a variety of firmness options. However, innerspring mattresses tend to sag over time and lose their supportive qualities. In addition, innerspring mattresses often lack contouring materials in their comfort layer to provide conforming properties.
As an athlete, choosing the right mattress can have a tremendous impact on your career. Acute injuries or fatigue can be career ending for an athlete, and the potential to experience both is increased when the body is not getting adequate rest and recovery time. Getting less quality sleep than is needed negatively affects mental clarity, accuracy, and speed and increases the likelihood of experiencing an injury. After examining the science behind how sleep affects athletic performance, it is clear that athletes need a sleep solution designed to meet their needs. Essentia developed the ProCor mattress specifically to address the unique needs of athletes. The ProCor mattress is a custom sleep system specific to each athlete’s individual profiles. The ProCor bed nurtures the body, allowing it to heal and recalibrate. Featuring all six key elements needed for Wholebody Recovery, the ProCor is the best mattress for athletes.
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Mattress toppers are 2-5 inch slabs of memory foam (visco elastic memory foam) placed on top of a mattress for added comfort. Toppers have the potential to prolong the lifespan of a mattress by alleviating pressure on the springs, thereby postponing sagging and overall wear.
In addition, toppers offer the advantage of being more convenient to clean compared to a full-size mattress. Many of them come with removable covers, serving as an effective shield against stains and everyday wear and tear. Additionally, mattress toppers can be easily moved from one bed to another or rolled up for travel purposes.
Many of us may think that investing in a memory foam topper would be a great idea instead of opting to buy a new mattress. It's natural to think that way if your bed is curved in the middle, giving you the hammock effect. Foam toppers cannot solve the hammock issue as the problem lies underneath, your springs or support foams are no longer supportive.
You may observe some areas of sagging on the mattress even when it's not being used for sleeping. The foam in the mattress doesn't rebound rapidly despite the fact that contemporary foams are engineered to be highly responsive and to resist early sagging.
If you're experiencing issues such as broken springs or if you're waking up with discomfort in your back, shoulders, or neck, even adding a five-inch memory foam topper won't remedy those problems. Check your sell-by date, if you’re expired your money is better spent on a new mattress instead.
Did you know that memory foam toppers don't work for nearly 20% of people? It is of no use to people suffering from acute back pain.
Since toppers suit only hard mattresses, they become unsuitable for normal soft beds. In fact using a memory foam topper will make your bed softer and you may finally end up counting sheep till daybreak!
When choosing a topper, keep in mind different materials come with different benefits and issues. Polyester blends are cheaper but become lumpy and compress quickly, while feathers and wool can be noisy and aggravating for those with allergies. Memory foam can sleep hot and make it hard for sleepers to turn over quickly in bed. While latex toppers can be firm and bouncy for some sleepers.
A major shortfall to foam toppers is that retailers like to store huge quantities for long periods of time.
This affects the foam mattress toppers in two ways:
Note: Some higher quality memory foam toppers actually become flat after a bare minimum use because of low density manufacturing techniques. With so many retailers flooding this business, be wary and do your research.
If you're open replacing the mattress that's failing you, check out our top-rated mattresses.
In most instances, mattress toppers prove to be a worthwhile investment, offering enhanced comfort and extended protection for your mattress. If you're already content with your mattress, a topper may be seen as more of a luxury than a necessity, however there are specific situations where a topper can provide definite advantages such as less weight for transporting and smaller footprint for storage space.
Certain mattress toppers incorporate memory foam infused with gel or copper to disperse heat, while others feature ventilation holes or cooling fabric covers. Additionally, materials such as open-cell foam or latex tend to retain less heat, providing enhanced comfort for individuals who experience warmth during sleep.
When it comes down to it, the choice of material depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you require additional support and cushioning, memory foam could be the best choice. However, if you seek a softer sleeping surface without the need for extra support, materials like down or down alternative fill can provide the desired cushioning. If you’re looking for durability, support and healthiest, organic latex is the only option. Be sure to weigh the advantages and disadvantages of each material before making your decision.
THICKNESS
The thickness of a mattress topper plays a significant role in determining its increased comfort and support. Generally, a thicker mattress topper offers more cushioning. The thickest options typically measure between 3 to 4 inches in height, effectively raising the overall height of your mattress and providing a plush, soft sleeping surface composed of materials such as foam, down fill, or down alternative fill.
However, if you don't require a substantial increase in thickness but simply want a touch of extra softness, a thinner mattress topper may be sufficient. Thin options are usually around 1 to 2 inches thick and can serve the purpose of adding a bit of additional comfort to your bed.
MATERIAL
Memory Foam:
Latex Foam:
The lifespan of your mattress topper will depend largely on the material it’s made from. Low-quality foam will often break down after a year or two, but better quality memory foam will usually last three to five years. Latex mattress toppers are especially durable and often last five years or more.
For the ultimate topper, check out Essentia’s collection, Made of Dunlop latex and cotton both are certified GOLS/GOTS organic. Designed for superior pressure relief at shoulders and hips and anyone your prefers a responsive surface.
]]>Today, we're delving into the world of plant-based or eco foam mattresses to help you make an informed decision when it comes to your sleep. While these mattresses are often marketed as a healthier and more sustainable option, let's dig deeper to understand whether they live up to the claims.
So what are these "soy mattresses" and "soy pillows" all about?
Only 5-20% of the mattress is actually made up of plant-based ingredients like soy. That means over 80% is still petroleum-based chemicals. Clearly not plant-based.
This would be fine if companies marketed them as eco-friendly mattresses that contain X% of soy. However, companies mislead you, calling them eco memory foam mattresses or plant-based organic mattresses and pretend they're healthy, safe and natural.
The first thing to recognize is that not all "eco" or "plant-based" mattresses are created equal. Many manufacturers tout the eco-friendliness of their products, but the reality can be quite different. It's crucial to understand that a mattress labeled as such might still contain a significant percentage of petroleum-based chemicals.
The term "greenwashing" comes into play when companies use misleading marketing tactics to present their products as more eco-friendly or healthier than they truly are. This practice is especially rampant in the mattress industry. To avoid falling victim to greenwashing, it's essential to scrutinize the materials used and the manufacturing processes involved.
Soy-based foams in mattresses often claim to offer health benefits. However, the truth is that the benefits of soy in mattresses are relatively minimal. Furthermore, some soy-based ingredients come from genetically modified sources, raising concerns about both health and environmental impacts.
One of the reasons consumers opt for plant-based or eco mattresses is their perceived lower environmental impact. However, the reality might surprise you. Some plantations, such as those for soy in countries like Brazil and Argentina, contribute to deforestation, leading to the loss of vital habitats for various plant and animal species.
Have you ever wondered why some eco memory foam mattresses emit strong chemical odors? This phenomenon occurs due to the use of harsh chemicals in the production of synthetic foams. In some cases, manufacturers add green tea extract or industrial perfumes to mask these odors, but the underlying issue remains.
Eco memory foam mattresses are often wrapped in bamboo fabric. The percentage of bamboo is anywhere from 20-60% bamboo.
You guessed it. Bamboo fabrics are far from eco-friendly. It takes so much processing the final product is considered man-made, so they're not biodegradable.
According to the OTA, Organic Trade Association, "bamboo may be a more ecologically sensitive source of feedstock for rayon production, the rayon itself is not distinguishable from rayon produced from any other feedstock, and uses a lot of toxic chemicals in the process. So while the bamboo itself may be considered environmentally friendly, the production of rayon is not, and the public should not be misled into thinking that the bamboo-derived fiber can be considered "natural" - it is clearly synthetic. There are a lot of misconceptions about the "natural" label too, whether it is related to food or textile products."
As you consider your options for a healthier and eco-conscious sleep, it's essential to look beyond marketing claims and dig deeper into the materials, processes, and environmental implications of the mattresses you're considering. Not all plant-based or eco foam mattresses are created equal, and understanding the nuances can help you make a more informed choice.
Here at Essentia, we are proud to produce our patented Beyond Latex slow response organic foam. This foam has all of the good characteristics of a pressure relieving foam, without any of the gunk! Our patented foam is made entirely of GOLS certified organic hevea milk and combined with other organic essential oils and plant extracts. This means you can have a truly organic, healthy mattress which still also experiencing the pressure relieving benefits of foam.
Remember, a little extra research can go a long way in ensuring your sleep environment truly aligns with your values and health priorities.