A Mini-Guide To Choosing The Best Nontoxic Mattress

A good night’s sleep is a major component of a healthy lifestyle, and yet it’s elusive for many people. I’ve talked at length about circadian rhythms and the importance of creating a sleep routine, but cleaning up your sleep environment can have a big impact, too. Your mattress plays a big part in that.

Here are the three most important questions to consider in choosing a mattress to support a healthy night’s sleep:

1. Is it made from toxic materials?

You’re ideally spending 7 to 8 hours a night cozying up to your mattress, so make sure you choose one that is as natural as possible. Avoid PBDEs, which are used in mattresses as flame retardants. A good natural mattress will utilize a non-toxic Kevlar flame retardant or a wool layer.

Even if yours has a wool layer, ask questions about it! Wool, even organic, must be bonded together with synthetic adhesive fibers, which are often toxic. Some companies can make you a mattress without the flame retardant if you have a note from your doctor. If your body can work on its own vital processes instead of combatting toxins while you sleep, you’ll wake more rested.

2. Does it optimize blood flow?

Is your mattress really comfortable? Comfort is not just about the first ten minutes, it’s about the whole eight hours. Optimized blood flow is a crucial element of a restful night sleep that is rarely considered. You want to find a mattress that creates unrestricted blood flow through proper support and pressure relief. One of the best options to ensure this is memory foam.

Poor circulation can cause pain that leaves you tossing and turning. Every time you’re roused to change your sleeping position, you reset your sleep cycle, which again can leave you feeling groggy and tired even after a full night’s sleep.

3. Will it give you good support?

You’ll want to avoid spring mattresses, as the components are generally the lowest quality on the market. Spring mattresses are also the biggest culprit of triggering pressure points, especially with the loss in support that occurs after just a few years of use.

Natural and organic latex mattresses are durable and work well for a clean air environment, but they fall short when it comes to properly supporting your body and reducing those pressure points. Memory foam is a material that gives you all the body support benefits but without the clean air benefits of natural latex.

Quick tip: If the natural mattress you’re considering is topped with wool, make sure the wool layer can be easily removed and washed. Wool is a nesting ground for dust mites, which are a pain for most allergy sufferers.

So, reducing sleep interruptions and pressure points, promoting a clean air environment, and ensuring proper skeletal support are the most important attributes of a quality mattress.