Talalay? Natural? Organic? Huh?

Sleep coaches expound its virtues. Sales associates point to latex foam mattresses and flash their high-end smile. Brochures, ads and labels scrawl it in big, bold letters… on angles… with little golden outlines.

Nirvana for joint pain sufferers? An insomniac’s Valhalla? Is a latex foam mattress the answer to your sleep problems or just another buzzword trying to grab your attention?

And by the way…would the real latex please stand up?

picture courtesy of Travelblog.com

Natural vs. Synthetic, what’s the dif?

Natural latex foam comes from the Hevea Brasilinesis, or “rubber” tree, tapped and gently drained maple-syrup like. Latex pillows, latex mattresses and latex bed toppers are created with this firm, yet supple chuck o’foam. It’s biodegradable, hypoallergenic and naturally resistant to mold, mildew and bacteria.

Synthetic latex is a man-made compound of styrene and butadiene. Like natural latex it’s used for a myriad of products, many in the sleep industry. It’s less expensive than natural latex and more commonly used.

While synthetic latex claims to harbor no allergenic properties, it’s less resilient than its natural counterpart.

Dunlop vs. Talalay (aka tradition vs. innovation)

Talalay and Dunlop refer to the process used to transform liquid latex to foam latex. The Dunlop process involves frothing the liquid latex, pouring it into a mold and baking it. This process produces latex with a firmer bottom (the latex particles sink during baking) and a lighter top.

The Talalay method begins the same, however, once the latex is molded, it’s sealed, vacuumed and flash frozen to stop the sinking and maintain a consistent cell structure. It has the same density throughout, and maintains resilience much longer.

Healthy sleep solutions: hypoallergenic meets body cushioning comfort.

Latex foam mattresses are loved above all for the health and comfort advantages they possess.

• Latex mattresses are breathable.
• Latex mattresses conform to your body shape, and reduce pain from pressure points
• Natural latex is moisture resistant, making your bed a hostile environment to the friendly neighbourhood dust mite, bed bug, bacteria, mold and mildew population.
• Organic latex mattresses contain no synthetic foam and are chemical-free, creating a healthier breathing environment for you to sleep in.

Ready for a new mattress? Considering a latex sleep system? Visit our Healthy Sleep Center for more information.

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