A Better Choice for Healthy Sleep
by Brielle Bleeker
Many people are taking steps to lead a cleaner, more natural lifestyle. Most begin on their journey to healthier living by changing the foods they eat, the cleaning products they use in at home and even swapping out beauty products for options without commonly used chemicals. But many don’t realize there is one item that is used daily that consists of a high number of toxins that could be detrimental to both our health and the environment. Mattresses are used every night for sleep, but we don’t give much thought to how a mattress is made and the materials it contains.
Almost all standard mattresses are made of polyurethane foam, which is a crude oil-based, chemical-laden synthetic substance. By law, mattresses must pass certain standards for being flame retardant. so manufacturers must add even more chemicals. We are exposed to these toxic flame retardants every day in a variety of ways. They can be found in household dust, the air and furniture. They can be hard to avoid, but it is necessary to our lower exposure due to growing concerns over the health risks of cancer, brain development in children,and hormone disruption, among others.
Standard mattresses are not biodegradable, either, and once thrown out, they end up in landfills, creating a tremendous burden on the environment. This is of huge concern because many mattresses purchased online are shipped a great distance, adding to their carbon footprint, only to be returned from unsatisfied customers. Mattresses cannot be resold due to hygiene concerns, and therefore end up polluting more landfills. Returning a mattress to an online retailer can also prove to be a painstaking process. It’s just not an item that you can easily repackage and bring to the nearest post office counter.
As people try to implement a more natural lifestyle in all areas of their lives, switching to an organic mattress is a simple, yet profound way to reduce chemical exposure. Approximately one-third of our lives is spent sleeping, so we can reduce a large source of chemical exposure by choosing an organic option. Many people research healthy, organic food options as well as other more natural household products, and choosing a more natural mattress should be a high priority on their list when striving to lead a cleaner, greener life.
Dave Spittal, owner of Healthy Choice Organic Mattress, in Ridgewood, says, “In addition to organic mattresses being incredibly comfortable and supportive, they are chemical-free and made with only high-quality natural and organic materials, including organic wool, organic cotton and 98 percent pure, natural rubber. The other 2 percent is fatty acids and soaps with no chemicals.” In addition, Spittal explains that organic mattresses can be enjoyed for 25 years and won’t burden a landfill because they are completely biodegradable.
Every product sold by Healthy Choice Organic Mattress is manufactured in Connecticut. Although the cost of an organic mattress can exceed that of a regular mattress, it is an investment in long-term health. The toxic burden that people are forced to deal with on a daily basis is increasingly alarming. The simple decision to opt for an organic mattress will not only be beneficial financially and environmentally, it will play a huge part in leading a healthier lifestyle.
Healthy Choice Organic Mattress is located at 14 Wilsey Square, in Ridgewood. For more information, call 201-857-3245 or visit hcmattress.com.
Brielle Bleeker is a writer for Natural Awakenings magazine.
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