Latex Mattress Alternative To The Memory Foam Mattress

A Latex Mattress Is A Safer, Healthier Alternative To The Memory Foam Mattress

The latex mattress has been around for some time but its popularity waned over the years. However, recently it has enjoyed a revival, partly due to the introduction of the memory foam mattress and because people are rediscovering how this naturally sourced product is mildew, mold and dust mite resistant and is hypo-allergenic without needing any chemical treatment during its manufacturing process. It's also more fire resistant and totally free of carcinogens that can be found in memory foam.

Natural latex is obtained from the sap of the rubber tree which makes a renewable and sustainable resource. Unlike manmade foam no chemicals need to be added during the manufacturing process to make the bed mattress resistant to mold and dust mites. All polyurethane foam, including memory foam, has chemicals added to make it resistant.

More importantly, natural latex is naturally fire resistant. All polyurethane foam based mattresses, including memory foam, are extremely flammable. As a result, stringent fire regulations have been introduced which has led manufacturers to greatly increase the amount of fire retardant chemicals, called PDBEs, being added during the manufacturing process. PDBEs build up in the body in ways similar to banned PCBs and research has linked them to cancer and other illnesses.

As a result PDBEs have been banned in Europe and manufacturers are now using alternative chemical fire retardants. Unfortunately, PDBEs have not yet been banned in North America. There is a fear among some medical researchers that the use of PDBEs in mattresses may cause hundreds of thousands of cancer cases in the coming decades. PDBEs enter the body directly through the skin. If you do buy a mattress other than latex make sure it is free of PDBEs.

Another chemical present in mattresses made with polyurethane foam is formaldehyde. Each night you sleep on one you are exposed to the 'outgas' of this dangerous chemical. Formaldehyde has been shown to cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, and nausea. There is growing evidence that some people can become sensitized to formaldehyde.

Contact with these chemicals can be totally eliminated by sleeping on a natural latex mattress. Additionally, the mattresses often come quilted with organic cotton and wool making them a more eco-friendly product.

Just like a memory foam mattress, latex also conforms to the exact body shape of the sleeper. However, latex isn't temperature sensitive and it conforms immediately so there's no sinking feeling when you lie down or rollover. It also distributes weight evenly and eliminates pressure points and there's no need to ever flip it.

There are a number of good quality latex mattresses on the market such as the Simmons Natural Care and Jamison Talalay mattresses. They come in different configurations offering, firm, soft and plush with a wide choice of fabric coverings.

From its near vanishing into the pages of history, the latex bed mattress is making a strong comeback. Many consumers appreciate the pressure relieving qualities of memory foam mattress but want a safe, natural product. What they're discovering is that it was there all along.

Follow the links for the Jamison Talalay mattress and find out more about the memory foam mattress and make up your own mind about which is the best bed mattress for you.

Latex Mattress