Why Sleep On Latex

First of all, all latex mattresses are made with natural latex derived from the sap of the rubber tree. Latex mattresses feature natural, biodegradable ingredients that come from renewable resources and water-based raw materials, including natural latex, air and water. Latex is a truly green and environmentally friendly product that does not contain any of the solvents and toxic chemicals that can be found in memory foam mattresses.

Furthermore, the manufacturing process does not damage the ozone layer; the rubber trees have up to 25 years productive life and a strong positive effect on the environment, as they absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and reduce emissions.

Second, latex is an extremely flexible and elastic material. Latex is not too soft and not too hard. Its natural resilience means it offers resistance to a sleeper’s weight in every body position and always returns to its initial shape. This is called ‘progressive comfort’ – the higher the pressure exerted on it, the greater the support it provides. Latex responds instantly to every your movement and adapts to the body contours, keeping your back and spine perfectly straight if you sleep on your side or in their natural double-S position if you sleep on your back.

The excellent elasticity of latex supports the body’s natural movements, which is a very important condition for revitalising sleep as a healthy sleeper changes his or hers physical posture up to 60 times a night. Latex also provides great pressure relief and muscle relaxation, which makes it easier to fall asleep and also improves circulation, resulting in less tossing and turning.Proper support is essential if you are suffering from back problems or recovering from a serious injury, but it will also ensure that you never experience that stiff, uncomfortable feeling when you wake up in the morning.

Latex has great point elasticity meaning it compresses only in the point of contact. As a bonus, this means that two people can share a bed without disturbing each other when they move in the night, even if one partner is heavier than the other. It doesn’t squeak either, so there’s minimal chance of one of you waking the other up if you need to get up in the middle of the night!As well as being very elastic, latex is incredibly durable. A latex mattress can last as long as twenty years, compared to conventional spring-based mattresses, which generally need to be replaced every 5-7 years or so (or even more frequently in the case of cheap mattresses).

Latex is up to 20 times more durable than standard polyurethane foams. The strength of the latex material allows the manufacturers to offer strong guarantees for their products and assures maximum value for consumers. This means they represent an excellent long-term investment and won’t require any upkeep, other than occasionally airing, flipping and rotating them to keep them fresh.

One of the main concerns with bedding today is being too hot when we sleep; it is uncomfortable and interrupts the quality of our sleep. Fortunately, the open cell structure of latex mattresses means that they are highly ‘breathable’ – they don’t retain heat in the same way other designs do, as the air inside them is able to circulate freely.

As a result, you won’t find yourself throwing open windows and sleeping on top of the bedding during the hot summer months in an effort to stay cool. All this is in stark contrast to the popular memory foam mattresses. These are made entirely of synthetic materials (mainly plastics), retain a lot of heat and, as the name implies, have ‘memory’ or slow recovery properties. As a result, they will never be able to offer you the instant comfort and support and the natural breathability of a high quality latex mattress.

There is a common misconception that latex in beds can cause an allergic reaction, but this is incorrect. Latex is anti-bacterial, anti-dust mite, and resistant to mould and mildew. This makes latex mattresses ideal for people with allergies. Indeed, when latex is manufactured, it is vulcanised at more than 110 degrees for around fifty minutes to kill off all the most common allergens, so a latex mattress is the ideal choice for asthmatics, or those with similar respiratory conditions. This vulcanisation process also means that even people who would normally be allergic to the latex used in latex gloves, for example, can enjoy one of these mattresses without any cause for concern about suffering a reaction.Latex is also toxin-free – you simply cannot find a healthier and safer bedding material.

By way of contrast, standard polyurethane and memory foams contain up to seven chemicals that are known as carcinogens. Latex contains none of them.

 

WHAT ARE THE MAIN BENEFITS OF A NATURAL LATEX MATTRESS?

• Natural origin. Latex is made from the rubber tree, Hevea Brasiliensis, and therefore free from harmful chemicals.

• Progressive support. Latex feels comfortably soft at first touch and as you settle deeper in your mattress, it gives you full support. That's why latex is ideal for providing back support. It adapts to the body contours, keeping proper alignment of the spinal column.

• Excellent pressure distribution for a good blood circulation.

• Elastic, allowing you to move freely at night. Latex is made of millions of molecular springs, ensuring support in every point of your body.

• Naturally anti-dust mite, anti‐microbial and anti‐bacterial and therefore, good for people with allergies.

• Good breathability for a comfortable sleeping temperature & excellent moisture absorption. Latex has an open cell structure and has ventilation holes allowing you to sleep in a fresh environment.

• High durability. Latex mattresses are known to last longer than mattresses made of other materials such as spring coil and PU foam.

WHAT IS THE IDEAL FIRMNESS?

Too Hard

Our bodies are not flat. When a mattress is too hard, you sleep on top of it and you get no support. All weight will be supported by two pressure points, resulting in bad blood circulation. If your mattress does not follow the contours of your body, then it is time to change your mattress.

Too Soft

Sagging in the middle at the heaviest part of your body is what you get if your mattress is old or of low quality. Such mattress is very bad for your back because it does not give the support that your body needs. If your mattress shows signs of sagging, we recommend you to change your mattress immediately.

Just right

The right mattress gives you both comfort and support. It feels soft and comfortable at first touch, but as you sink deeper, it gives you full support, so that your spine is in the right position and your body pressure is evenly distributed. We call this progressive support. All of our mattresses provide the “just right” support. We use high-quality materials like 100% natural latex which mold perfectly to your body contours and are elastic at the same time.

If you are considering a latex mattress, you should be aware of its advantages and disadvantages. Let's take a look at these.

PROS

1. Extremely comfortable. A latex mattress delivers ultimate comfort. When you first lie down on a latex mattress, you'll at first feel a soft sinking feeling, followed immediately by a buoyant supportive sensation. This is due to the natural springiness of latex, and it feels incredibly comfortable.

2. Promotes pain relief. Latex mattresses are an ideal choice for those with back pain or joint pain. Many health professionals such as osteopaths, physical therapists and chiropractors recommend latex mattresses for pain relief. This is because of the comfort and cushioning properties of the latex, as well as its ability to promote natural spine alignment. In any case, if pain is interfering with your sleep, a switch to a latex mattress could help you significantly.

3. Natural spine alignment. A huge advantage of latex mattresses is their ability to promote proper spine alignment. Heavier parts of the body such as the shoulders and hips sink into the latex, yet lighter areas are still strongly supported to align the spine naturally. The ability to support the natural curvature of the spine is a huge bonus for health and wellness, as well as keeping pain at bay. Furthermore, with this good pressure distribution, blood circulation is improved on a latex mattress.

4. All-natural. Latex is a natural product, produced from the sap of the rubber tree, Hevea brasiliensis. The milky-white sap is processed into a comfortable foam mattress block. The springiness you feel when you lie down is entirely due to the natural properties of the latex. Because of its all-natural origin, you do not have to worry about toxic chemicals or metals being present in a latex mattress, unlike other mattresses. At European Bedding Singapore, we only sell 100% pure latex mattresses.

5. Natural resistance to mould and dust mites. Latex is naturally mould resistant and dust mite resistant without the use of any added chemicals. This factor alone is a huge advantage in warm humid climates such as that of Singapore. Other types of mattresses are either not resistant at all - resulting in big problems such as visible mould growth - or they are resistant but only because harsh chemicals have been added. You won't want to sleep on a mattress which contains dust mites or mould, and neither would you want to sleep on a cloud of chemicals. Hence, latex is the ideal choice for a naturally hygienic and healthy sleeping environment.

6. Naturally allergen free. Did you know that the vast majority of allergies in the bedroom are actually caused by the body's reaction to proteins produced by dust mites or mould? Latex mattresses are naturally resistant to mould and dust mites, so they simply do not contain these allergens. Therefore, those who suffer from year-round allergies may find relief with a latex mattress.

7. Environmentally responsible. When you purchase a 100% pure latex mattress, you are supporting the growth of the rubber tree. Tapping the rubber tree to collect the latex-containing sap will not kill the tree. Therefore, the production of latex mattresses encourages the growth of rubber trees. Plantations are carefully managed to ensure their growth is sustainable. The trees in these plantations remove carbon dioxide from the air, so you are helping the environment when you purchase a latex mattress. There is simply no other type of mattress which is as environmentally responsible. All other types of mattresses require a lot of synthetic ingredients and harm the environment instead of helping it.

For those who want the ultimate in environmental friendliness, organic latex mattresses are available. This is becoming increasingly popular, especially among eco-conscious shoppers and parents of babies and young children. Organic latex is 100% natural latex which has been grown without the use of pesticides.
Whether or not you opt for the organic variety, you can feel good about doing your part for the environment when you purchase a latex mattress.

8. No metal, therefore no amplification of electromagnetic radiation. The zero-metal content of latex mattresses make them very popular among those who want to sleep safely. In contrast, the metal springs in spring coil mattresses are believed to amplify electromagnetic radiation, acting like an antenna: this is not a good environment for our bodies to sleep on.

9. Excellent air circulation. Latex has a natural open-cell structure, allowing for good air flow. In addition, a series of pinholes are added during the processing of latex, and this increases airflow even further. This excellent air circulation makes for a cooler night's sleep - a big advantage in the warm humid climate of Singapore. In addition to comfort, hygiene is another benefit of the superb air circulation of latex mattresses. Perspiration does not linger or make a latex mattress feel damp.

10. Does not transmit movement easily. The natural resiliency of latex means that movement on one side of the mattress is not transmitted easily to the other side. This means that if you sleep with a partner, you will both be a lot more comfortable and will sleep more deeply than you would on a mattress which transmits movement.

11. Highly durable. Latex mattresses are among the most durable types of mattresses. They last a lot longer than other types of mattresses before needing to be replaced. This high durability is one of the many reasons for the high level of owner satisfaction with latex mattresses.

Cons

1. Heavy. A latex mattress tends to be, on average, heavier than many other types of mattresses. That being said, all mattresses differ greatly in their weight, depending on the different types of materials present and their density. Overall though, a latex mattress can require a little more effort to move or lift. However, this is not a big drawback because it does not occur very frequently that you will need to move your mattress.

2. Cost. Latex mattresses tend to be more expensive than a regular spring coil mattress or polyurethane (PU) foam mattress. However, this is a case where the extra cost represents extra value. A latex mattress is more durable, and part of the cost increase is offset by the reduced frequency of replacing old mattresses. Another factor is the vastly improved performance that a latex mattress offers.

You'll get a more comfortable sleep, healthier body support and a more hygienic way to sleep when you use a latex mattress. Furthermore, a very high-end spring coil mattress may quite easily cost more than a latex mattress, yet do not offer similar performance compared to a latex mattress.