In the world of memory foam versus latex mattresses, you need to be aware of the differences. Yet even those memory mattresses that are marketed as eco-friendly will have considerable differences between them too, so as you go shopping, you need to do a lot of investigation before you commit to buying a particular one. Buying a king or queen memory foam mattress or a latex foam mattress is a significant financial investment, hard to undo, so the last thing you need is to discover is that you’ve bought the wrong one after you’ve paid so much money.

The two basic types of latex mattresses are made either from the sap of the rubber tree or synthetically with petrochemicals. Sometimes the two substances also are blended, often to save money, since a natural latex foam mattress is very expensive. The blending might also be done because natural latex can be less comfortable, so manufacturers try adding some of the properties that petrochemicals provide. Yet a natural latex mattress can be made more comfortable by infusing natural oils and plant extracts, so natural vs. chemical doesn’t need to be a deciding factor when it comes to comfort.

A latex mattress is created in one of two ways. With the Standard method, the rubber sap is whipped into a froth, to fill it with the air bubbles that give memory foam its unique characteristics. After the whipped substance is sealed in a mold, it’s heated and cured into finished form. The Talalay method adds thousands of pin-like spikes to the mold, creating channels for the air bubbles and making the final latex foam mattresses more buoyant and resilient. Both of these processes can use blended foam, though, so you’ll need to investigate further if you’re concerned about eco-friendly mattresses.

Nor is every latex mattress necessarily organic, so that will be the main certification to check out. If a mattress is simply labeled “natural” or “green,” it may still contain some synthetic materials. Having actual “organic” certification, however, should mean that all materials used will be completely natural, and chemical and pesticide-free.

You must be sure to do all the research required before you buy a new mattress. Even labels that appear to meet your own high ecological standards might be “fudging” the facts a little, where supposedly “green” products still contain petrochemicals. And foreign manufacturers might not be as reliable as you had hoped. If you find out all the information you can about latex mattresses and memory foam mattresses before you head out on your shopping expedition, then you should be able to make a much more informed choice, with all the facts at your disposal.

Beth Kaminski is the co-author of Curing Your Anxiety And Panic Attacks which detailed anxiety therapy as well as tips on the various panic disorder medications available at anxietydisordercure.com.

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