Importance of Choosing the Right Mattress

We all know that comfort is key to buying the right mattress, but did you know that your health is effected by the mattress you buy? We spend 1/3 of our lives sleeping, thats a lot of time tossing, turning, back and neck aches, and breathing in toxic chemicals if you aren't sleeping on the right mattress. 

Many people are perplexed to learn that not all mattresses or even natural latex is created equal. Traditional mattresses are pumped with fillers and toxic chemicals that are harmful to you and your family. And as a matter of fact, there is a world of difference between natural latex and synthetic latex. 

Natural latex is manufactured from sap tapped from rubber trees, then it is either vulcanized (Dunlop method) or frozen, then vulcanized (Talalay method.) I don't want to get too involved in which method is better, because it's hugely dependent upon the processing facility and a number of other factors. Again, that's where you have to be careful. There are many manufacturers who tout their product as “natural latex”, when in fact it's actually a blend of natural AND synthetic. Interestingly, Dunlop and Talalay latex can be either natural or synthetic. Needless to say, Caveat emptor -- do your research.

Synthetic latex, being chemically based, has a tendency to break down more quickly than natural latex. If you've ever had a warranty issue with a mattress, you'll understand immediately. Have you ever had a body impression in your mattress measured by your friendly local mattress salesman and told that it's “normal wear and tear?”

Finding the perfect mattress that fits your body correctly is also key to sleeping better at night. When on the search for a mattress, be sure to find a retailer that can correctly fit a mattress to you not you to a standard mattress. This is a big investment and purchasing the bed that allows you the proper sleep you need.

The La Jolla

So you like having a soft mattress? BUT it can't be so soft that you can feel the pea stuck ten mattresses below you AND it can't be so firm you wake up with an aching back?  It sounds like it should be an easy find- a simple and natural mattress with medium firmness. However, all those traditional mattress salesmen trying to get you to buy a "quadruple layer, extra foam, infused with gel, with a SUPER topper mattress" are proving you wrong. Well we think we can help you end that stressful search. 

It is simple and it is natural. 

Our firm support layer paired with our plush built in topper, this product is perfect for those sleepers that desire a medium (firmness) sleeping surface. No other mattress puts you closer to rubber naturally. Made with stretch certified organic cotton and is 100% wool free & animal free.

2” Pressure Relief Layer- Plush Organic Rubber +  6” Support Core - Firm Organic Rubber       = 8” Beautifully Natural Mattress 

Made in the USA, 20 year warranty, and certified GOLS. Our mattresses are 100% Organic Rubber and finished with the signature Ergovea Organic Cotton Cover.

Contact a retailer near you today. Looking for a firmer mattress? Try the Cavallo or Madera.

Homemade and Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL)

We all love anything autumnal and cozy, one of those things being a PSL from Starbucks! However paying three to six dollars for a drink with obscene amounts of calories can get a little ridiculous over the fall season. We have tried and tested to perfect a homemade and healthy alternative to  this beloved drink. Let us know what you think and what your favorite food and drink alternatives are!

Ingredients

1-2 shots (¼ cup) espresso OR ¾ cup spice tea or chai tea

2 cups your milk preference

2 tablespoons organic canned pumpkin puree

½-1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

½-1 tsp raw honey OR 2 tablespoons sugar (we prefer the honey for its taste and health benefits!)

¼-2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (to your preference)

Add cinnamon to taste

Optional- whipped cream

Supplies

Mixer/Blender/Hand whisk

Saucepan

Metal or Wooden Spoon

Espresso machine or coffee maker

Construction

1. While you brew tea or coffee (your preference), slowly heat the milk and pumpkin puree in saucepan till the mixture becomes very warm.

2. Add milk mixture, tea/coffee, pumpkin pie spice, honey or sugar, and vanilla to the blender or mixer or hand mix.

3. Continue mixing until drink is frothy top off with whipped cream and cinnamon.

Yields 1-2 serving

Bees Going Extinct

Honey Bees

Honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) is the phenomenon of the decrease in the bee population and is currently recognized as an urgent crisis. "The U.S. Department of Agriculture is trying to get ahead of a nationwide problem of colony collapse disorder, in which honey bees suddenly disappear or die. The agency has funded bee disease studies, and has created a working group to address bee issues. Its latest effort, announced Tuesday, will send $3 million to help reseed pastures in Michigan, Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Dakotas with bee-appropriate plants. Increasing the availability of plants like alfalfa and clover will provide more foodstock for the thousands of commercial beekeepers who bring hives to those states each year, the Associated Press reported." - Newsweek

Last year a study was released that found 35 pesticides and fungicides, some at lethal doses, in the pollen collected from bees that pollinate food crops in five U.S. states. In another research study, bees that contacted pollen contaminated with fungicides were three times more likely to get infected by a parasite associated with CCD.

Even though this doesn't seem like a major issue for such a small creature, but bees have a large impact on plant life and human life. The honey bee (Apis mellifera) is one of nature’s hardest workers and most valuable keys in the insect kingdom. This tiny pollinator is one that we lean heavily on for the majority of food crops and harvest every year. The possible loss of the honey bee will lead to the eradication of a large portion of plant life which will affect the crop levels and food production and effect the entire human race and economics.

Bumblebees

The rusty patched bumble bee is becoming a vanishing pollinator. This bee was listed in January as an endangered species, the first wild bee in the continental United States to be listed under this federal protection. The bumble bee (Bombus affinis) is one of several species facing major declines, its population has decreased almost 90 percent in abundance and distribution since the late 1990s, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"Bumble bees are essential pollinators of wildflowers and about a third of all U.S. crops, from blueberries to tomatoes, according to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, which petitioned the government for protection of the insect. Pollination services furnished by various insects in the United States, mostly by bees, have been valued at an estimated $3 billion each year." - The Scientific American

What We Can Do

The USDA report recommends the increase of collaboration and information sharing between the crop growers and beekeepers to foster mutually beneficial practices. More research centers are being designed to learn new (effective and innovative) ways to create restoration of the bee populations throughout the world. 

Programs are popping up and should continue growing in teaching and training residents to become amateur beekeepers. Cities around the US are now offering startup assistance to amateurs of all ages looking for an opportunity start beekeeping. It is also encouraged and helpful to this major issue to begin growing your own garden. This will help both the bee habitats and bee health. When we increase awareness and take steps to solve this world changing issue then both humanity and the planet will be benefited.

GMO Cotton

Some leading European retailers were caught a few years ago when it was discovered that the certified organic cotton garments they were selling in-store were actually made from genetically modified (GM) cotton fiber.

As a result, issues surrounding the use of genetically modified technology within the clothing and textile industries have been laid out in a new document prepared by the RITE Group (Reducing the Impact of Textiles on the Environment).

This short, document was created to clarify and inform on the issue of GM textiles.  RITE intends to develop an objective, independent and authoritative position on GM textiles and how this type of biotechnology relates to the environmental impacts on the industry.

Is it the responsibility of the retailers and brands to implement more effective solutions to improve the supply chain integrity and maintain consumer trust? Start a discussion below!

Photo by Permanent Glimpse

Autumnal Oil Blends

Everyone on the Ergovea team adores their diffusers and each has their go to oil blends (for topical and diffused purposes), however when it comes to fall these are some blends we can agree on!

Autumn Cleanse

Perfect for this mornings that you wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Whether you feel a fall cold, stuffy sinuses, or a groggy and foggy head this is the perfect pick me up! 

Winter Walk

If you like crisp winter air through the dewy forest then you can join our club! We adore all winter green and forest scents, this particular blend makes sure your home smells like Christmas tree while not giving you a scent headache in the process. 

Ginger Bread House

Right now is the perfect time to snack on treats and fill your home with the scent of fresh baked cookies, and who doesn't love fresh baked cookies?! However, if you don't want to gain too much weight over the holiday season then this is the perfect alternative.

Cider Time

So maybe not everyone loves fresh baked cookies, hopefully this one will be a little less sweet for your taste! This blend always reminds of a warm cup of cider on a cold fall and winter night. This combo is great for cozy nights at home or evenings that you are entertaining!

Photo by Permanent Glimpse Photography

Sleep Positions and Pregnancy

Unfortunately, during pregnancy your normal sleep positions probably won’t be comfortable any more and even more tired than ever! THere could be many accumulation of reasons you can have discomfort but we have a few simple sleep positions to help you drift off to sleep comfortably and easily.

Dr. Kathryn Lee of the University of California at San Francisco recommends mothers plan for sleep the way they schedule other daily needs and activities.  In a study of first time mothers vs. experienced mothers, experienced mothers received an extra 45 minutes to an hour of sleep each night.

During pregnancy your body goes through many changes that will disrupt your normal sleep pattern and cause discomfort.

These changes include: a growing baby belly, back pain, heartburn, troubled breathing, and insomnia.

Sleep Positions for Pregnancy

The best sleep position during pregnancy is side sleeping, preferably your left side. Sleeping on your left side can increase the blood supply and nutrients that reach your placenta and baby.

While sleeping on your side you should bend your knees and keep a pillow between your legs.

• Dr. Jodi Mindell, professor of psychology at St. Joseph's University and of pediatrics at University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine stated, "Your first trimester is the perfect time to start training yourself to sleep on your left side to improve the flow of blood and nutrients to your fetus and uterus and to help your kidneys get rid of waste and fluids. The sooner you get used to this position, the better you'll be able to sleep when your belly is bulging." (from article for Babycenter.com)

• If you are suffering with back pain, then try the side sleeping position, and also place a pillow under your abdomen (under the small of you back).

• When/if you suffer from heartburn at night, try propping your upper body with pillows.

• In the last couple months of pregnancy you may suffer from breathing problems and shortness of breath. Try sleeping on your side or propping yourself up with pillows. In late pregnancy, you may experience shortness of breath.

Again, you may not find pre-pregnancy comfort in these positions, especially if you are a tummy or back sleeper, but try them and see if they help with lack of comfort and rest. And yes, it is okay to move around during the night and change sleep positions.

Sleep Positions to Avoid

Because your abdomen is sitting and pressing your blood vessels and intestines when sleeping on your back it can cause backaches, breathing issues, digestive discomfort and issues, hemorrhoids and even low blood pressure.

And of course… when you are farther along in your pregnancy laying on your tummy can be difficult, uncomfortable, and not practical.

College Tips: Pulling an All-Nighter

If you know us then you know we don't suggest or believe in skimping on sleep, however, we do know that sometimes it's necessary to use those few precious hours at night to finish a project or work on a paper. 

It is important to know the risks of pulling off all nighters throughout the school year before you actually try and accomplish it. 

1. Lower Grades/Bad Memory- Stated by the National Institute of Health, habitual sleeplessness can result in decreased learning capacity. Even if all-night cramming works in a pinch it’s not reliable for long term learning.
2. Less Effective-  All-nighters are also not great for your memory, attention, or focus. Staying up all night for a test the next morning is simply a bad idea. If you need to be a functioning human being the next day then cut your losses and get some sleep. "Studies have shown that people tend to remember the first and last things we hear in a given time period, while the information in the middle gets sort of hazy if it’s remembered at all. Now, apply that to an eight-hour session of almost constant information intake by a sleep-deprived mind. That’s a whole bunch of lost information." - Huffington Post 
3. Health Problems- If you’re perfectly healthy (i.e. exercise and eat well) but your sleep habits can have harm your health. The Associated Professional Sleep Societies state, “healthy adults that get fewer than six hours of sleep per night are four times more likely to suffer a stroke than their well-rested counterparts.”
4. Chronic Sleep Deprivation- Reducing your amount of sleep will always take a toll on your body. Whether you suffer from insomnia, sleep deprived euphoria, narcolepsy, or are just always tired pulling an all nighter isn't the best idea. When minimizing sleep is a part of your lifestyle, then you're going to ruin your chance of the productivity benefits you'd gain with pulling an all-nighter.

There are some situations where staying up all night might not hurt any benefit you would otherwise gain:

1. Light workload the following day- Staying up late on Thursday to finish a project due Friday isn't going to be nearly as harmful or difficult if you have a light workload the rest of the day. 
2. If you have time for naps- Losing sleep only solved by getting sleep. Pulling an all-nighter to get a project done for the following morning can be okay if you have find time to nap later that day. 
3. When you haven't pulled another all-nighter recently. Staying up all night means losing sleep. Staying up every night means you are causing your body chronic sleep deprivation.  If you've missed out on a large amount of sleep that week then don't attempt an all-nighter until you are fully rested. 

Now that we know the risks, lets try to plan out how to pull off an effective, safe and healthy all-nighter.

• Turn off your apps, television, and phone- When you are constantly getting distracted by notifications, friends, and the internet then your effective study time will be hindered. 
• Work next to a window or open door- The cool breeze will keep you awake and alert. Or if you stay alert when you are warm then put on a cozy sweater!
• Sit at a desk or table. Setting up your study area on a comfortable bed or chairyou will feel tempted to sleep and the more comfortable the location, the worse you'll feel.Working at a desk and chair will allow you to stay motivated and effective.
• Avoid the call of caffein.- Coffee and tea may seem like a helpful tool, but you can a small buzz then crash badly the that night or the next day. Try staying hydrated with water, cold water will keep you alert and cause you to urinate (making trips to the restroom will keep you awake).
• Turn up the lights. “We need darkness to have the onset of melatonin, which is the hormone that makes us sleepy,” says Natalie Dautovich Ph.D., a National Sleep Foundation environmental fellow. “So if you’re trying to stay awake, bright light can be very effective.”

• Take a short break every 45 minutes to an hour. Walk around and stretch, allow your brain to relax and breathe. If you are using a laptop or desktop make sure you are taking frequent breaks to rest your eyes, this will calm the muscles and prevent them from becoming strained. 

• Know when to stop. If you can't even remember what you just read or you're nodding off, then you need to go to sleep. Know your limits and listen to them when they call. 

The Pros and Cons of Co-Sleeping

We love the littles in our lives, but what is the best for everyone when it comes to sleep? Let's face it we have all heard both sides of the story, some experts and parents believe that co-sleeping works great it strengthens bonds, eases nursing and encourages more cuddles. On the other side, some believe it prevents babies and children from learning independence, sleeping by themselves, and causes more night-time disturbances. So lets look at the pros and cons of co-sleeping. Does the entire family jump in bed at night, or should we each stick to our own bedrooms?

Some Pros:

• Co-sleeping can nurture emotional attachments between parent(s) and child.
• Co-sleeping enhances bonding and intimacy between parents who can't see their baby during the day.
• Co-sleeping makes daytime and nighttime breastfeeding more convenient, one study showed that co-sleeping infants nursed up to twice as much as non co-sleeping infants.
• Prolactin (milk producing hormone) levels are increased during more nighttime breastfeeding, this eases the nursing process.
• Co-sleeping allows nursing moms sync their sleep with baby's sleep cycle, "co-sleeping mothers often awaken just before their babies start to cry for a feeding and can nurse them back to sleep before they both fully awaken" (Mother Mag).
• Co-sleeping makes it easier to calm a crying infant back to sleep. 
• Co-sleeping may help infants fall asleep easily and go back to sleep quickly during the night.
• Co-sleeping may help prevent SIDS by keeping baby from entering a sleep state that is too deep. The parent’s own breathing may also help the baby ‘remember’ to breathe.

Some cons:

• Evidence to support claims of emotional and psychological benefits of co-sleeping have not been scientifically documented. There is no scientific evidence that confirms co-sleeping enhances a better (or worse) emotional attachment than children who do not co-sleep.
• Some believe feeding a child to sleep during co-sleeping at night can extend beyond the age where overnight feeding is needed for  nutritional value.
• Co-sleeping could lead to dependent and/or demanding sleep behavior and daytime behavior.
• Co-sleeping with an infant can prevent parents from receiving a healthy and good night’s sleep (with full range of motion) for fear/anxiety of rolling onto the baby.
• The parents’ bedtimes can be restricted and determined by the baby's bedtime.
• Over-attentive tendencies of parents may cause less sleep for baby and cause more harm then good.
• Co-sleeping with movements of an older child during the night often makes co-sleeping difficult and tiresome for parents.
• Co-sleeping and Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is unclear and research is unfinished and continuing. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) policy statement says that "although co-sleeping may have benefits (such as promoting breastfeeding) there are no scientific studies suggesting that it reduces SIDS." 
• The AAP advises against sleeping in the same bed for safety purposes (crushing baby, child falling off bed, etc.)
• Co-sleeping interferes with parents/partners sex life and important intimacy. 

Sources: neuroanthropology.net, kidshealth.org, cosleeping.org, babycareadvice.com, mothermag.com, whattoexpect.com, sleepjunkies.com

Image by Permanent Glimpse