Sleep Healthy

Insomnia can make you fat? Yep. And, shorten your life.

I came across an article in Body & Soul magazine “Sleep Longer for your Heart” with some interesting advice: Sleep one hour longer and lower your risk of heart disease. The information was found in a recent study by Lawrence Epstein, M.D., author of The Harvard Medical School Guide to a Good Night’s Sleep.

 

His work is helping people sleep their way to better health. Sleeping more is my kind of medical advice.

 

A recent article in M.D. News quotes Dr. Epstein, “Several studies have recently come out showing that those people who sleep less actually have shorter life spans, independent of all other health effects.”

 

According to Dr. Epstein, sleep studies link sleep apnea with hypertension, hearts attacks and stroke. Insomnia correlates with mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.

 

“We spend one-third of our lives asleep, and it shouldn’t be a surprise that things go wrong during it,” Dr. Epstein explains. “Up until recently, people just looked at sleep as a period during which nothing happened, but now we know that’s not the case. Sleep is actually a very dynamic state, during which lots of things occur.”

 

Sleep longer and live longer, I now have an excuse to sleep in and not feel guilty. But wait, it gets better.

 

“If someone is sleep-deprived, their body is actually stimulated to eat,” Dr. Epstein explains. “That could be part of what’s going on with the obesity epidemic that we’re seeing across the country these days.”

 

This is very good news for my husband who is trying desperately to lose weight. Now I can tell him to sleep deeper, and longer. More naps, sleep in every day, what more could he want. Besides, if he’s sleeping he can’t eat.

 

My advice to help you get started on a better night’s sleep

 

Allergists tell their patients a good night’s sleep starts with a clean sleeping environment. Your body’s immune system recovers during the night, allowing you to wake up refreshed and energized for the day ahead.

 

If your lungs can’t breathe properly you have a restless night of sleep. Your immune system has to work harder and you don't wake up as refreshed as you should. Airborne allergens are to blame.

 

The first step in cleaning up your sleeping environment is purchase an HEPA air purifier. There are many air purifiers to choose from but the best overall performance and value is found in models made by Austin Air.

If you toss and turn because your mattress is lumpy or hard, then you don’t get into the proper deep REM sleep either.  That's when your body's immune system does it's best work. Sleep fitfully and you put your health at risk.

If you can, replace your old lumpy mattress with one that is comfortable and free of toxic chemical flame retardants. My recommendation is an organic mattress, preferably a natural latex mattress that conforms to your body’s curves, creating a supportive yet cushy sleep surface. Say good-bye to tossing and turning and hello to deep REM sleep.

Link for more sleep tips from Lawrence J. Epstein, M.D.

Body & Soul Magazine: Lack of Sleep May Hurt Your Health

 

How can a crib mattress be waterproof and organic?

When the Naturepedic waterproof organic crib mattresswas first introduced four years ago, I dismissed them as not being truly organic. After all, they are “plastic-coated” I would tell customers; why would you want to take an organic mattress and coat it with plastic? Doesn’t that compromise the purity of the organic cotton?

 

I was having this argument with a customer recently who insisted I should do more research. She had investigated thoroughly, and concluded the Naturepedic baby mattress was organic, allergy free, and met her primary need: it was waterproof.

 

I countered as I usually do that the waterproofing process compromises the “organic” aspect of the mattress. She didn’t give up; detailed how Naturepedic uses Polyethylene a food-grade safe and non-toxic substance used to make produce bags for grocery stores, we put our kid’s sandwiches in them, and we eat off Polyethylene plates at picnics.

 

Hmm, I was intrigued, enough to do some digging on my own.

 

According to the Naturepedic website, “Polyethylene is an environmentally friendly plastic that is used throughout the food packaging industry for its purity and non-toxic properties. It has a very simple molecular structure that does not require chemical additives (as opposed to vinyl/PVC) and is favored by environmental groups all over the world. Naturepedic uses only polyethylene specially formulated to meet food contact standards. Polyethylene is easy-to-clean and highly stain resistant, and also provides an excellent barrier to dust mites and other allergens.”

 

Yes, but could Naturepedic pass the real test: Asking their competitors what they thought? I made some calls and not one said a negative thing about this waterproofing process. In fact, one mattress distributor said the Polyethylene coating was simple to apply to any fabric, and harmless. In my experience, if a competitor can bash another manufacturer, they will. This time not even the most notorious scaremonger had a bad word to say.

 

Result? We now carry the complete line of Naturepedic waterproof crib mattresses. I’m resting easy about the decision.  

Looking to buy an organic mattress? Don’t get lost in the rhetoric.

If you’re in the market for an organic mattress, you have your work cut out for you.

 

You’re probably surfing the ‘Net slogging through organic mattress jargon and wondering how you’ll ever be sure you’re getting the real deal. Here’s some insider info, hope it helps.

 

Organic food is regulated. The organic mattress industry is not. Most dealers can’t even agree on what the definition of an organic mattress, is. So I’ll take a crack at it.

 

To be truly organic, with the exception of an innerspring coil system, a mattress should be made with materials found in nature, not a chemical plant. These materials usually are produced organically without the use of pesticides or toxic processing treatments: cotton, wool, 100% natural rubber. Some high end models feature horsehair.

 

An organic mattress is free of chemical flame retardants; wool usually serves as the fire protection. To be truly “organic”, a mattress does not contain petrochemical-based synthetics, boron, borate, or boric acid, or other chemical treatments.

 

Here are four questions to ask your sales person:

1. Is the outer cover made with certified organic cotton? Be sure it has not been treated with stain resistant chemicals like formaldehyde.
2. How does the mattress meet the U.S. Fire Resistant Code #1633 that took effect on July 1, 2007? If the mattress is organic, in most cases a layer of organic or untreated wool is placed under the outer cover to pass the burn test. Wool self-extinguishes when exposed to a flame. Some manufacturers use non-chemical flame retardants like corn husks and baking soda; ask how these are processed to be sure they are truly toxin-free.
3. Is the innerspring coil system sprayed with oils or a rust-proof treatment? An organic innerspring mattress system is untreated.
4. Is the inner core of a latex mattress made with 100% natural rubber? If the sales person hedges, the latex core is probably a blend of 60/40 natural rubber and petrochemical-based synthetic. The percentage of natural rubber in the core of an organic mattress should be 90+%.

As you do your homework, keep in mind a .com website offers information to help sell their products. For objective opinions and reliable facts, do your research on sites that end in .org.

 

Look for third party reviews / certifications and buy from a reputable dealer. Steer clear of stores that recently opened, in this economy they could close just as quickly putting your warranty and your deposit at risk.

 

Don’t assume you’re getting an organic mattress when the brochure says it’s all natural, eco-friendly, green, or sustainable (a true organic mattress is all of these things). Remember, unless it’s called organic, it’s just marketing hype.

 

Let me know what you think.