According to the National Sleep Foundation, 48 percent of Americans suffer from insomnia occasionally, while 22 percent experience it regularly or almost every night. There are numerous reasons for insomnia – it could be stress, emotional or physical discomfort, a lingering illness, or environmental factors like temperature or noises.
But did you know that your bed – your pillows, comforter, and mattress – can also play a significant factor in the amount and quality of sleep you get?
According to studies, choosing a high-quality bedding can help:
- Enhance your total sleep time
- Improve sleep efficiency
- Increase the length of Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep, which is the most beneficial phase of your entire sleep cycle
But it’s not just the thread count of your sheets, the softness of your pillow, or the firmness of your mattress that can determine the overall quality of your sleep. In fact, the material used for the bedding can also have a significant effect on your sleep – and your health.
Why Selecting a High-Quality Bedding Is Essential to a Good Night’s Sleep
Unfortunately, some of the most popular beddings today, although inexpensive, cannot give you the high-quality sleep you need. This is because they are usually made from synthetic materials that fail to help your body effectively thermo-regulate while you sleep.
For example, polyester beddings are found to get too hot, which fails to keep your body thermo-regulated as you sleep. The polyester filling stuffed into the bedding is also made from polyethylene terephthalate (PET), which deteriorates over time.
What’s more, synthetic beddings often contain risky perfluorinated chemicals, flame retardant chemicals, and volatile organic compounds (VOC) that may have negative consequences on your health.
Down beddings, which have also been commended for providing “superior comfort,” may not be an ideal choice as well. Although they are preferable than synthetic beddings, they aren’t “breathable” enough and do not provide sufficient insulation to regulate your body temperature.
Down beddings also create “microclimates” – this is when temperatures significantly vary from one section of the bedding to another. This causes your body to expend too much energy in thermal-regulation.
So What’s the Best Type of Bedding for Optimal Sleep?
When it comes to quality and comfort, wool bedding is the best option. Wool beddings and mattresses made from 100 percent handpicked organic wool are not only made from a sustainable resource but also provide superior resilience than other fillings.
Here are some benefits of using a wool mattress and bedding:
- They promote thermo-regulation. The fibers keep a pocket of air close to your body as you sleep, helping regulate your body temperature by insulating you when it’s cold and providing breathability when it’s warm.
- They are resistant to mold and mildew. The breathable nature of wool helps wick away moisture. It also prevents dust mites from thriving in your bed.
- Wool is naturally hypoallergenic, making these beddings ideal for people with sensitive skin.
- They do not contain synthetic materials. Harsh chemicals are not used to treat 100 percent handpicked wool.
Wool is also naturally flame-resistant, so no risky flame retardant chemicals are added to the mattresses, ensuring you get high-quality sleep without putting your health on the line.
Other Tips for Optimal Sleep
Aside from choosing a high-quality mattress and bedding, try these other techniques to improve the quality of your sleep:
- Establish a sleep routine. Try to go to bed at the same time every night, including weekends, to help your body get into a sleep rhythm so you can fall asleep much easier.
- Sleep in complete darkness or close to it as possible. Even the tiniest bit of light in the room can disrupt your internal clock and your production of melatonin, the sleep hormone.
- Avoid eating grains and sugar before bedtime, as these can raise your blood sugar and delay sleep. You should also avoid consuming caffeine and alcohol before bedtime.
- Do not watch TV or use any electronic gadgets before bedtime. Better yet, keep these electronics out of your bedroom.
About the Author
Elaine Ferrer writes for Mercola.com. She is currently researching organic mattresses and how they contribute to your sleep routine. She also writes about home improvement, and her previous articles include topics such as how to maintain an organic garden and how to clean your home using natural products.