Sleep Soundly: Secrets for Creating a Healthy Sleep Sanctuary

Sleep -- good, restful sleep -- is essential to help you recuperate from the stresses and toxic exposure of your day.

So, you certainly don't want to expose yourself to even more toxins during your slumber.

Unfortunately, most people are sleeping on a bed of toxins, fungi and germs (and a lot more). In fact, a study by the University of Manchester found that the average pillow contains 16 different kinds of fungi. 

What are some tips for eliminating toxins, dust, chemicals and more?

Replace Synthetic Fragrance

If you're using scented candles or air fresheners in your bedroom, make sure you're replacing synthetic fragrances with natural scents. Synthetic fragrance contains chemicals that act as endocrine disruptors and can interfere with your body's hormones. You spend a third of your life in your bed, so it's important to have healthy air. Air fresheners in general contain a lot of carcinogens (cancer-causing chemicals). You can make your own air freshener by combining 10-15 drops of an essential oil (such as lemon oil) with two cups of water and then just shake and spray in the room. Lemon oil has been proven as a mood enhancer as well.

Go Organic with Your Bedding

Cotton sheets or cotton blend sheets (if not labeled "organic") have most likely been sprayed with pesticides. If you think about it, cotton is a crop, and as such, would be treated with insecticides as other crops are. If you have bedding that's labeled "easy care," "wrinkle-free" or "no iron," it's likely that it's been treated with formaldehyde, which is a dangerous carcinogen. You certainly don't want to be sleeping on it. There are many options for organic, fair trade bedding that are completely safe.

Avoid Mattress Mayhem

Most mattresses are made from petroleum-derived, polyurethane foam and include flame retardant chemicals. In 2007, legislation required all mattresses to pass a blow-torch test. Manufacturers used to make mattresses flame retardant by using really toxic ingredients that have been linked to developmental delays in children, thyroid issues, attention disorders and more. While the chemicals have changed over the years, you still don't really know how safe (or rather, how harmful) they are, because the manufacturers aren't required to tell you. The only way to get around this is to buy an organic mattress, made with organic materials and things like natural latex and wool. 

Get Turned Off

Electromagnetic Fields (EMFs) from your cell phone and any other electronic gadgets you might have next to your bed interfere with your sleep; particularly affecting your inner cellular communication. Remove all WiFi devices from your bedroom or turn them off at night. Or, if you must have your cell phone near you at night, turn it to airplane mode. 

Banish Dust

An Ohio State University study found that a typical mattress can have 100,000 to 10 million dust mites inside of it. Another study suggests that 10 percent of the weight of your mattress and pillow(s) is comprised of dead dust mites and their droppings. Look for organic pillows, which will help diminish the amount of dust and dust mites. You can also kill dust mites by washing your sheets in 130 degree (F) water, once a week.

Tune in as Ron and Lisa Beres join Lisa to share more about creating your healthy sleep sanctuary.