Pillows Found Full of Fungi

Organic pillow lovers will be interested to know about a study that came to my attention recently that found that the average bed pillow is home to a host of potentially-harmful fungi. A University of Manchester research team found up to 16 types of fungi in pillows they analysed, the Allergy journal reported a while back. Researchers found that feather pillows had fewer species of fungi than synthetic versions, particularly in the case of a fungus which exacerbates asthma. The expert opinion was that pillows should be disinfected regularly as fungi appear in most environments. The study analysed samples from 10 pillows - 5 feather and 5 synthetic - which had been used for between 18 months and 20 years. The results were alarming - the fungal spores found in the pillows fed off human skins scales and dust mite faeces. The first of these types of experiments on fungal contamination in bedding were carried out in the 1930’s but little has been carried out since. Researchers found that all 10 pillows had a "substantial fungal load" with between four to 16 different species being found on each, whilst the microscopic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus was particularly common in synthetic pillows. This fungus commonly invades the lungs and sinuses and can worsen asthma. It is also known to cause infection in leukaemia and bone marrow transplant patients. Lead researcher Professor Ashley Woodcock said the findings showed there was a "miniature ecosystem" operating inside pillows. How to Sleep More Healthily People spend a third of their life sleeping and breathing close to a potentially large and varied source of fungi, which have important implications for patients with respiratory disease - especially asthma and sinusitis." A spokesperson for the charity Asthma UK said: "We are aware that patients at the severe end of the spectrum of asthma are more likely to be hypersensitive to fungi than others with asthma. However in BuyOrganics opinion, the researcher’s suggestion that we should switch to feather pillows may not be the best answer for Asthmas sufferers due to the amount of dust mites that can build up in these pillows over time. It is obviously advisable to choose a natural pillow, among the our top picks would be fillings that naturally repel dust mites and are also anti-fungal and anti-microbial. Our top picks would be wool, latex flakes or grain pillows, which have these properties as well as many more health benefits. All of our pillows at BuyOrganics are zipped so that the inside filling can be removed and cleaned naturally by placing in the sun and airing and the outside can be washed at 60 degrees, the temperature at which dust mites are killed. No need for nasty disinfectant chemicals!!

Why 'Cry It Out' Sleep Training Harms Baby

Organic cot mattress shoppers may be interested to know why letting their baby cry it out and fall asleep themselves may not be the best thing for them. I remember when my youngest was a baby, I was told by a very well-known baby sleep book that I was too soft and that I should let her cry herself to sleep in her cot to get her used to it. Well after an hour of complete inconsolable wailing, her in her cot and me in the next room crying myself, I gave up and never let her cry like that again. An article I read today nearly 7 years later explains that I may have killed a few of her brain cells in the process of trying to get her to accept sleeping in her own cot! According to Darcia Narvaez, an associate professor of psychology at Notre Dame, when babies are stressed, their bodies release cortisol into their systems -- a toxic hormone that kills brain cells. Babies brains are only 25% developed at this young age, so its not exactly giving them a great start and instead results in a higher probability of them developing ADHD, poor academic performance and anti-social tendencies, because human babies are hardwired for hands-on comfort and care. For the full article see http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/moral-landscapes/201112/dangers-crying-it-out

London Olympics Disrupting a Good Night’s Sleep For Millions!

So if you’re a Londoner, or from anywhere else in Europe, you can still sleep relatively well as the times you attend events or watch your team contend in their sports events is in line with your day and your body clock. However the situation is not so easy for millions of other viewers watching from all over the world. Take for example if you are watching from America! East coast timers will have to wake up at 4am, while west coasters will be burning the midnight oil!! Not so good for your REM sleep cycle. The best thing to do to really enjoy the Olympics, support your team and not damage your sleep cycle too much is TiVo !! Record what you really want to watch and make time for it in your ordinary day! If you really want to watch it LIVE, then don’t load up on caffeine to do so, otherwise you could be feeling the effects days after the Olympics have been and gone! By BuyOrganics - Organic Mattress Guide to Healthy Sleeping

The Best Eco Friendly Pillows for Greener, Healthier Sleep

Most people spend their nights resting their heads on a combination of cotton, polyester fill, and petrochemical based memory foam or down feathers. Although you may think you’re being natural if you use cotton or down feather pillow, there are much better eco-friendly pillow options that are natural and actually good for you and the planet. Ordinary cotton is one of the worst offenders, using a multitude of pesticide, herbicides and water in excess in order to grow. Most people think that polyester is a safe fabric, even though it’s not natural. This is not true. Polyester is a petroleum-based, non-renewable resource, It’s production is very energy intensive, using 63% more energy than the production of cotton. The main toxic chemical in polyester is ethylene glycol, this gets absorbed by our bodies through inhalation and our skin. It can damage your kidneys and central nervous system – most definitely not the best thing for a rejuvenating sleep! Down feather pillows maybe natural but are one of the worst fillings to harbour dust mites in abundance, the fillings stay warm and moist so are equivalent to dust mite heaven! Most down and feather pillows can’t be opened for the fillings to be cleaned. The other latest invention is polyurethane foam based memory foam pillows, these release VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds ) into the air whilst you sleep. The main bi-products of polyurethane foam production are benzene and formaldehyde, hardly healthy for workers or the planet. To begin with the most eco-friendly pillows are organic pillows, because all the fibres and fillings are either wild grown, or grown without using pesticides or herbicides and nasty chemicals. With an organic pillow you can be assured that the top cover on which you rest your head, is made of organic cotton, not regular eco unfriendly cotton! 1. Kapok Pillows – Kapok Pillows are very popular and is great eco-friendly alternative to poly fill pillows. Kapok is wild grown and comes from the seed pods of the kapok tree, it is an entirely renewable vegetable based fibre and as the tree is pest free, pesticides are not needed in the growth of this wonder fabric. It’s soft and lofty producing really comfy pillows which are hypoallergenic, water and mould resistant and quick drying. 2. Grain Pillows – Grain pillows such as Spelt, Millet and Buckwheat have been used for centuries to create pillows that have healthy and beneficial effects for mind body and soul due to the high level of Silica in the grain. The grains move freely allowing perfect cushioning of the head and neck. They are hypoallergenic and easy to clean. The only thing that might take some getting used to is the crunchy feel and the rustling sound when you move. 3. Natural Latex Pillows – Natural Latex comes from the milk of the rubber tree and if bought from a reputable source has no additives or chemicals added to it. Totally renewable, the tree starts to regenerate in an hour! Latex is the best fillings as it is bouncy, comfy and comes as little flakes in pillows which move around freely. They have antibacterial, antimicrobial properties and are dust mite resistant and biodegrade naturally 4. Organic Cotton Pillows – Organic cotton is much healthier for you and the planet than non- organic, , organic farming techniques are used and the cotton tends to be grown in high rainfall areas making it less water inefficient, but it’s not for everyone as a pillow stuffing because it flattens over time. Great for people who like flat pillows though! 5. Organic Wool Pillows – Wool is a fabulous filling for all bedding, and pillows are no exception. Wool has great insulating properties that keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. As a filling it is dust mite, mould and mildew repellent, It is naturally wicks away moisture and is also naturally fire repellent. Totally renewable, the sheep are raised organically and re grow their coat year after year. Once removed the coat is not treated with any toxic chemicals after. The added bonus with BuyOrganics organic pillows is that they are zipped allowing the filling to be removed for cleaning and the cover to be machine washed separately. You can even adjust the amount of filling to suit your needs!! None of our pillows have fire retardant chemicals on them or in the fillings and rely on wool as a natural fire retardant.

3 Ways To Protect Yourself from Toxins In Your Conventional Mattress

Although ideally everyone should invest in an organic mattress, It’s not always possible to replace a mattress, especially if it’s fairly new and you’ve invested a lot of money in it. However when you are conscious of chemical smells or the effect of chemical fire retardants, heavy metals, or petrochemical foams, sleeping can also become stressful! So here’s 3 easy ways you can cut down the toxic effects of a conventional mattress. 1. Air your mattress thoroughly, open windows and let the air circulate round the room daily. 2. Invest in an organic mattress pad/topper. At a fraction of the cost of a complete organic mattress, it will give you great comfort as well as separate you from your mattress. 3. Invest in an Organic Mattress Protector. Use this over your topper to prolong your toppers life and also add another layer between you and your mattress.

How To Choose The Right Organic Futon Online

So you’re interested in buying an organic futon, one made of totally natural organic fibres with no nasty toxic chemicals such as PBDE or HBDE fire retardants or heavy metals, and no synthetic foams such as petrochemical based foam fills, you’ve identified BuyOrganics as the online store that sells exactly what you’re looking for, but how do you choose the right comfort of organic futon for you? To help answer exactly this question BuyOrganics have a organic futon sample available of each type of organic futon for you to buy at a low cost and test out in the comfort of your own home. Whilst wool tends to make the firmest type of futon, cotton and kapok are the softest. Kapok is warmer than cotton. Coir in the middle of the vegetable fibres adds stability and firmness whilst Horsehair in the wool futon adds softness and a slight springiness. For extra comfort and cushion and for a western style futon, choose an additional layer of natural latex which will make sleeping super comfy. (Just a note though that all our futons have some organic wool in them under the top cover for fire retardancy purposes). We have put together the most ideal combinations of fillings for you to choose from. Once you’ve tried your sample at home and chosen the futon that you feel meets your needs, you can post back the samples for a refund and money off your final futon order. It’s as easy as that!

Organic Mattress and Futon Sale

Special Discount Codes launched at www.livingethically.co.uk Upto 15% off plus Upto £100 worth of special bonuses. For the full deal on money off organic mattresses and futons check out our Living Ethically Offer Page Organic mattresses and futons rarely come on sale in the UK, so don't wait, hurry and check out this offer now!!!