Going Green Gradually-Session 1-Start with a Little Pillow Talk

Let's face it-Going green is not a cheap or easy proposition! Most of us have to decide where we will start our transformation and then try to understand what shade of green we can afford and what is acceptably healthy and sustainable. Trust me, you almost have to obtain a degree in Organic Sciences to ensure that you purchase safe, real-deal, eco-friendly greenery, and even then, there is so much to learn.
So, to simplify things, go green in segments!  Let's start at the top:

Your Pillow! 

You may not think much about your pillow -- and, hey, you're asleep while you're using it -- but you could be breathing in chemical fumes, or being exposed to synthetic dyes and other toxins. Poly-fill and other synthetic materials, like polyurethane foam, are often made from petroleum derivatives.
Pillows are treated heavily with polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) or other brominated fire retardants, and, while that helps them not burst into flames, they can bio-accumulate in your body, and toxicological testing indicates those chemicals may cause liver toxicity, thyroid toxicity, and neurodevelopmental toxicity. Not something you want from the spot where you lay your head. Not in our Pillows!

Pillows also often harbor dust mites, and many people are allergic to their leavings, so finding hypo-allergenic options can also be beneficial for your health.
Now that you have had a chance to learn about some of the dangers that lurk beneath your head each night, we hope that you can find some healthy pillow alternatives.
Good first step! Next Post - we will talk about mattresses! So many options, which one do you need, and how do you know fact from fiction? In the next segment we will try and answer some of these question and present you with some healthy sleepsystem choices!

So Stay Tuned!

Need a little head start? Visit our site and sign up for our free monthly pillow drawing and you could win this incredibly green Natura Dream mate pillow on March 15th!

Evaluate your Family's Priorities-Sleep for your Health in 2010

Sleep is how your body repairs itself after a busy day. A 2005 poll by The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) found that more than half of us don’t get enough sleep, which could be putting us at risk for a slew of mental and physical illnesses. How do we ensure that we get enough quality sleep?

 

Maintain a Comfortable Sleep Temperature

Our bodies are 70% water and we maintain our optimal warmth by releasing minuscule amounts of vapor on the surface of our skin. When evaporation doesn’t take place, the moisture collects and becomes sweat. Likewise, when you step out of a warm shower into a cool room, the moisture chills you quickly. Wool naturally draws moisture away from your body, storing as much as 30% of its own weight without feeling wet to the touch. Cotton only absorbs 8%, synthetics less than 5%. Because wool is so good at drawing moisture from your skin to its core, your body regulates its own temperature more efficiently.
If you’ve ever woken up cold and clammy or hot and sweaty, you’ll understand how temperature swings can fuel heart palpitations. Studies show premature babies who sleep on wool have lower heart rates, which allows them to grow and develop at a faster rate than infants who sleep on other types of bedding. A resting heart rate and natural temperature regulation allows you drift into a deeper sleep and repair your body from the previous day. Natura's All Natural Mattress Topper provides a dreamy wool surface in a flash. 

Body Support to Avoid Aches & Pains

The average person moves more than 50 times a night. Your brain constantly sends out signals to move as circulation is compromised. Wool buffers the body’s pressure points, providing cushioning support to relax muscles and ease joint pain. Studies show that wool reduces tossing and turning by as much as 75% because the crimped fibers gently support the body at its heaviest points. No pain signal equals less unnecessary movement – and waking – during the night.

Wool’s amazing springy-ness earned it a place in official baseballs (made with 150 yards of yarn) and piano hammers. And hospitals have long been providing long-term care patients with wool toppers and bedding to prevent bedsores.

Congested?                                                               

Wool naturally repels dust mites, bed bugs and other common allergens because it lacks the one thing they need – moisture. While wool fibers store moisture at their core, it’s released directly to the environment while the outside stays dry. With synthetic fibers, moisture sits on the outside of the fibers and the fabric feels wet to the touch. 

If sinus complaints and breathing difficulties keep you from getting the rest you need, it’s time to consider adding wool to your sleeping environment.

Be sure to check out our collection of therapeutic sleep systems and keep in mind that these mattresses are all made from natural organic materials-good for your family and good for the environment .