Beginning on plantations in Malaysia and Indonesia, latex is sap milked from rubber trees in a manner not unlike collecting maple syrup. Local workers harvest the liquid latex and prepare it to be processed. The liquid latex is then shipped in drums to locations in Europe and the United States where it is manufactured into mattress cores and toppers, as well as pillows. Unlike Talalay processed latex foams, natural latex has no added petroleum or other chemical additives making it a truly all natural material. Being a 100% renewable resource, as well as biodegradable, natural latex does not have the taxing effect on the environment as other conventional bedding material.

2. In bedding, natural latex provides support where it is needed most by contouring to the bodys natural nuances:

It relieves pressure points, particularly at the shoulders and hips, and it allows for better circulation with less tossing and turning. The result is a deeper, more restful slumber.

3. Natural latex is remarkably conducive to situations that require custom mattresses:

Available in a wide range of firmness levels, it is simple to build a mattress that caters to an individuals needs: his and her sided beds, toppers, and more. Because of the wide variety of firmness variations available, natural latex can help ensure you feel as comfortable as possible when it matters most. Integrating an open cell structure with a pin core design allows for maximum breathability essential for removing excess heat and moisture that can prevent a good nights sleep.

4. For those who struggle with allergies natural latex provides a safe haven as it is naturally hypoallergenic, and anti-microbial:

This means that moulds, mildew, and dust mites that may help trigger allergies will not be waiting for you in bed, where they can be the most frustrating.

5. A naturally resilient and durable material, natural latex will supply consistent performance for 20 years or more.

6. The Advantages of Latex mattresses have been tried, tested and proven in Europe for decades:

Unlike the plethora of new age sleep systems available today, latex mattresses have been tried and tested in Europe for over twenty years. Their ability to withstand the test of time as well as provide an all-natural sleep surface that conforms to the contours of the body is finally beginning to catch hold in the United States.

7. Other new age sleep systems cannot offer the same qualities as natural latex:

Viscoelastic (memory) foam offers good support and relieves pressure points, but comes up short in other areas. It is a chemical product that is not biodegradable and as such it is not environmentally friendly. It doesn’t breathe like natural latex, which translates to a more stuffy and sticky sleeping environment. Memory foam easily retains moisture and is an environment prone to dust mites and molds, leaving allergy sufferers sniffing and congested during what should be the most restful time of the day. Being far less resilient than natural latex, viscoelastic foam has a lifespan of only about 10 years, meaning it will need to be replaced twice as often:

8. Air beds, such as sleep number beds, offer much less support and pressure point relief than natural latex:

They are non-breathable bladders full of air so they offer no way to keep moisture and heat from building up during the night. The only advantage of this type of mattress is its adjustability, which is only an advantage to those who enjoy varying firmnesses.

9. Innerspring mattresses seem a thing of the past when compared to natural latex – they don’t provide nearly the amount of support and customization opportunities:

Frequent tossing and turning is the result of pressure points caused by a rigid spring system. The batting material in the cover cultivates any amount of dust mites, molds, and fungi giving them free range to reek havoc on allergies. Motion is easily transferred through the mattress decreasing the quality of sleep for couples. It is clear why the standard is changing.

10. The independent cell construction of natural latex is not prone to transfer movement allowing two people to comfortably share the same bed without disrupting each other with every motion.

Natural latex provides excellent support and effectively relieves pressure points. Couples can sleep soundly together without disruption. It is a natural product and is environmentally sound. Designed to be breathable it is effective in keeping heat and moisture build up to a minimum for more comfortable sleep. Finally, it is hypoallergenic and antimicrobial to keep allergy sufferers well rested. It is easy to see why natural latex is far and away the best natural sleeping surface available.

About The Author

Ben Hermsen, a latex mattress enginner, is a manager for http://www.foamsource.com where he champions the benefits of latex mattresses, toppers and pillows for both individual health and also the preservation of our natural environment.

Written By: Ben Hermsen

The importance of getting sufficient good-quality uninterrrupted sleep cannot be overstated. No-one functions well on lack of sleep. Due to the abundance of artificial lighting and late-night entertainment and activities, the vast majority of people in the developed world are sleep-deprived, and sleep deprivation is a important cause of accidents. Remember the Exxon Valdez? That accident took place in the early hours of the morning, and industrial accidents peak on the graveyard shift. Sleep-deprived students learn poorly. Chronic sleep deprivation has an effect on the appetite centers of the brain, causing overeating and subsequent obesity. Any bed system which allows you to reach a deeper level of sleep will substantially improve your quality of life.

There are many benefits to memory foam above a conventional mattress: it’s hypoallergenic, molds to the individual contours of anyone’s body, and will provide a form-fitting cradle of insulation on cold nights so you require fewer weighty, dusty allergenic blankets and comforters. All the pressure points that cause discomfort, and subsequent tossing and turning, are eliminated.

Memory foam was first introduced onto the market by a Swedish firm called Tempurpedic. This brand-name top-of-the line product is very expensive, and there are dozens of cheaper competing brands, some made in China, others from the USA. In any case, be warned: not all memory foam products are alike, as with any merchandise, you tend to get what you pay for, both in quality and longevity.

Memory foam is visco-elastic, and it responds to temperature changes much as bubble gum does. Better-quality memory foam has a wide range of temperature responsiveness, while some of the cheaper brands can get as hard as wood if the ambient temperature of the bedroom goes beneath sixty degrees. Finally, as you change position the foam warms up from your body heat, it will respond and conform to your body shape, however this can take a couple of minutes. Meanwhile, pressure points and discomfort are created which could cause you to awaken. Also these cheaper brands might turn into soft goo on hot summer nights, offering no support. Better brands of memory foam, like Sensus and Temperpedic, specifically state their consistent performance through a wide temerature range.

An additional issue is the longevity of the memory foam, as all foam products eventually break down and lose their springiness. Better memory foams offer longer guarantees, twenty years, whereas the cheaper brands offer ten years.

So, in summary, you do not have to acquire the brand name Tempurpedic product, however it’s best not to pinch pennies and buy the cheapest either. You’ll spend many nights regretting a bad choice of mattress. Two or three hundred dollars is not really a large additional expense when spread out across decades of memory foam mattress utilization.

As well as differences in quality, there are also differences in memory foam mattress construction. Mattresses can have either three or four inches of memory foam across a denser supportive core. More isn’t necessarily better, because if the top layer of memory foam is too thick, you’ll sink in quite far prior to hitting the supporting layer underneath. Tummy sleepers should purchase two inch foam, side sleepers and medium sized people should buy mattresses with three inch memory foam, large or heavy people or back sleepers should acquire the four inch.

The base of the bed can diverge as well. A few memory foam systems feature loose sheets of foam of different firmness levels that can be arranged to the sleeper’s private taste, others are laminated together. As well, man-made (petrochemical foam products) are about 1/3 the cost of natural latex. People who are sensitive to out-gassing of man-made products should think about a natural product.

About the Author

Frank Hague is sort of an expert on sleep, he does a lot of it. Visit his website at http://www.tempurpedic-now.info for even more articles.

Written By: Frank Hague

I do web promotion for a variety of websites featuring everything from sports memorabilia to breast implants, but I rarely have any personal views on the product. However Tempurpedic is different. I have actually tried out a memory foam mattress and pillow set, and can honestly express my enthusiasm for this product. It feels so much better than a conventional mattress!

There are so many advantages to memory foam over a conventional mattress! It’s hypoallergenic, molds to fit anyone’s body, and provides some insulation on cold nights so you need fewer heavy, dusty blankets and comforters. And it’s so comfortable, it’s like sleeping on a cloud. All the pressure points that cause discomfort, and subsequent tossing and turning, are eliminated.

The importance of a good night’s sleep can’t be overstated. No-one functions well on lack of sleep. The majority of people in the western world are sleep-deprived, and sleep deprivation is a significant cause of accidents. Remember the Exxon Valdez? That accident took place in the early hours of the morning, and industrial accidents peak on the midnight shift. Students who are sleep-deprived learn poorly. Chronic sleep deprivation affects the appetite centers of the brain, causing overeating and subsequent obesity. Any bed system conducive to a deeper, more restful sleep gets my vote for health product of the year!

Tempurpedic is the brand name of the pioneer of memory foam, a company in Sweden. It’s a great product, but expensive, and there are dozens of cheaper competing brands, some made in America, some in China or other countries. HOWEVER, be warned: not all memory foam products are alike, as with any merchandise, you tend to get what you pay for, both in quality and longevity.

Memory foam is visco-elastic, and it responds to temperature changes much as bubble gum does. Good quality memory foam has a wide range of temperature responsiveness, but some of the cheaper brands can become as hard as wood if you let the bedroom go below 60-65 degrees. Eventually, as you change position the foam warms up and responds to your body shape, but this can take a few minutes, during which time you will be uncomfortable and may wake up. And cheaper brands may become too soft on hot summer nights, offering no support. Better brands of memory foam, such as Sensus and Temperpedic, specifically state their consistent performance through a wide temerature range.

Another issue is the longevity of the memory foam before it finall breaks down and loses its springiness. Better memory foams offer longer guarantees, 20 years, whereas the cheaper brands offer 10 years.

So, in summary, you don’t have to buy top-of-the line products, but don’t buy the cheapest either. You’ll spend many nights regretting your decision. A few hundred dollars extra isn’t really a lot when spread out over decades of memory foam mattress use.

As well as differences in quality, there are also differences in memory foam mattress construction. Mattresses can have either 3 or 4 inches of memory foam over a denser supportive core, and more is not always better, because if the top layer of memory foam is too thick, you’ll sink in quite far before hitting the supporting layer underneath. Side sleepers and medium sized people should purchase mattresses with 3 inch memory foam, very large people or stomach and back sleepers should buy the 4 inch.

The base of the bed can vary as well. Some models feature loose sheets of foam of different firmness levels that can be arranged to the sleeper’s personal taste, others are laminated together. Also, man-made (petrochemical foam products) are about 1/3 the cost of natural latex. People who are sensitive to out-gassing of man-made products should consider a natural product.

About the Author

visit our website at http://www.tempurpedic-now.info for more articles and sites to purchase these products

Written By: Frank Vanderlugt

Memory foam was developed for NASA in the 1970s to provide comfortable support for astronauts at take off and landing, it didnt become available in the shops until the 1990s. Since then the market has grown and is still growing very quickly, especially as the medical profession recommend its use in the relief of back pain and pressure sores. Although the first manufacturer was Tempur-Pedic and used mainly in hospitals, the company soon heard that patients who used the foam, slept better, and they expanded production to sell to everyone. Since then other manufacturers have developed their own memory foam products and the largest producers now appear to be China and the Far East.

So, how does it give you help to sleep? Memory foam is visco-elastic which means that it responds to temperature change by becoming softer when it is warm and harder when it is cold. That means your body warmth softens the immediate area of foam and moulds to your shape. Word of warning with the cheaper, lower density foams, when the real cold weather sets in, the foam can become as hard as a board or it might turn into soft goo on hot summer nights! The more expensive brands guarantee that they will perform in the way they should through a wide temperature range.

Still not sure? Although a memory foam mattress might be the ultimate goal, why not try a foam pillow or a memory foam pad in the first instance. Most manufacturers offer a selection of products and the better ones will offer a trial period and longer guarantees too so that if the product doesnt suit, you can hand it back.

What should you look for? There are differences in the way mattresses are made so it is important to find out from a retailer how they are put together and which would suit you best. Rule of thumb mattresses can either have three or four inches of memory foam over a denser supportive core. For help to sleep, more depth isnt necessarily right either as you might sink in too far before reaching the core! Tummy sleepers should purchase 2 inch (5cm approx.) foam, side sleepers and medium sized people should buy a foam memory mattress with three inch (7.5cm approx) foam and large/heavy people or back sleepers should buy the four inch (10cm approx).

The advantages are clear what about disadvantages .. why wasnt memory foam used by NASA? Foam is a man-made product that gives off gases when new. In your home this wears off in a very short space of time, but could have been a hazard in a space capsule! Nevertheless, if you are sensitive to this type of gas, you should think about finding a natural product like a foam latex mattress.

Although it is recommended that you try out memory foam mattresses in a local shop to find the one that suits you best, it is more cost effective to buy online.

About the Author:

Steve has been developing software for 30 years and is now looking for ways to make his life more comfortable. An important part of Steve’s current research is concerned with improving the quality of his sleep time and the website “The Memory Foam Mattress” has been created to share this research with you. http://thememoryfoammattress.com

Written By: Steve Gee