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From the UC Berkeley Wellness Letter......
ONCE UPON A MATTRESS
"Have Swedish scientists really created
"the world's best bed," guaranteed to give you "83% better sleep"
and "recommended by 25,000 doctors and sleep clinics"? Is a hard
mattress better for your back than a soft one? No and no. The
idea that there is a "best" bed exists mostly in ad copy. A hard
mattress might be excellent, but only if that's what feels comfortable
to you. If you like a softer mattress, your back will be fine.
There is such a thing as too
hard. There is no scientific consensus on what makes a good mattress.
Your mattress is a health issue only if it is uncomfortable and
interferes with your sleep and/or leaves you with a backache.
Comfort depends on a balance of heat, moisture
and pressure against points of the body. A small study published
in Applied Ergonomics recently found that "most commercially available
mattresses are likely to be rated at least 'reasonably comfortable'
by most potential purchasers." Comfort is subjective. Around the
world, people sleep comfortably on straw mats or the floor, in
hammocks, and on mattresses of every description. This is one
category, at least, where what feels good is good.
HOW TO CHOOSE A MATTRESS
If your mattress has developed peaks and
valleys or sags in the center, or if a coil is poking out, or
if it's just not comfortable, you need a new one. Mattresses wear
out at different rates.
If your mattress is too hard but in good
shape, an inexpensive layer
of foam or a down-filled liner
(feather bed) may correct the problem and save replacing the mattress.
Many people find an inner-spring mattress
atop a box spring most comfortable. Others like a foam
mattress on a platform. Still
others sleep well on a futon. Some people like water beds. Whatever
works for you is okay. The trend today is toward bigger beds -
king or queen size - and thicker mattresses.
When buying a mattress from a store, do
the Goldilocks test before buying: stretch out full length and
see how it feels. If you share your bed, take your partner along
for the test. If you order a mattress from one of the 800-number
services, make sure you have a comfort guarantee,
so that you can return the mattress if you don't like it. A comfort
guarantee is a good idea even from a store - though you can never
be certain the guarantee will be honored.
Comparison shopping for a mattress is difficult.
The cheaper generic mattress at one store may be identical to
the pricer brand-name model at another store - but it's hard to
know. There is no industry standard on the definition of "firm,"
"extra-firm," and so on. A salesperson in a bedding chain store
is sure to tell you to "invest" in your mattress and to emphasize
that you spend one-third of your life in bed. He/she may be right,
and the most expensive mattress may turn out to be the most comfortable
and durable. But it may not."
- UC Berkeley Wellness Letter, November
1999
Since there can never be one mattress that is perfect for everyone,
we offer 3 different comfort levels to meet your needs. The Memory
Lite is our softest visco-elastic foam and is recommended
for those who prefer a soft mattress or mattress pad. The 5lb
Memory mattresses and pads are made from a medium density
visco-elastic foam for those who don't like firm or very soft
mattresses. The 6lb
Memory foam mattresses and pads are for those who prefer a
firm mattress more comperable to ones found in most area malls.
MEMORY LITE 4lb MATTRESS (Soft) How
to Order/More Information
MEMORY 5lb MATTRESS (Medium) How to Order/More Information
MEMORY 6lb MATTRESS (Firm) How to Order/More Information
Memory Mattress
Comparison Chart
Click
here for more information on our Memory Foam Technology.
Click here
to compare our mattress to a standard mattress.
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