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It’s officially summertime, and that means higher temperatures at night. When it’s especially hot, we’ve all had the experience of waking up in the middle of the night and feeling like your bed is on fire. You’re sweating, your skin feels sticky, and your bedding feels like it’s 100 degrees.
It’s no secret that sweat and falling asleep do not work well together, leading only to sleeplessness and hours of tossing and turning. If you don’t have air conditioning or you’re caught up in an unexpected heat wave, you’re probably seeking a quick fix or a magic position to cool off in bed. Along with tips and cooling gadgets, it is important to buy an organic mattress that’s made with cooling materials, providing much-needed comfort in the summer months.
But first, it is worthwhile to learn why temperature matters so much to a good night’s sleep.
The science behind sleep and body temperature
Throughout a typical day, our body temperature goes through a cycle with various peaks and declines. Generally speaking, your body temperature will be at its highest in the early afternoon and lowest in morning hours. Over a period of 24 hours, the hypothalamus regulates your body temperature between 96.8 and 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit.
After a long day when your body starts to grow tired, your internal temperature will naturally cool down, preparing for sleep. On the flip side, when you wake up in the morning, your body will begin to heat up, garnering energy to start the day. As morning becomes afternoon, your body temperature will continue to rise as you expend this energy.
For the average person, sleep — and the deepest sleep — occurs when your core temperature is dropping. By cooling your body to a lower temperature at night, you can actually encourage a deeper sleep, and your mattress can help with this if it’s made with organic materials like wool, alpaca, or cashmere.
Why sleeping cool helps
There are many advantages to sleeping cool, especially in the summertime. The most obvious benefit is that you won’t have to deal with those sleepless nights when you’re frustratingly overheated. A cool room will instantly alleviate your discomfort, allowing you to relax and comfortably drift off to sleep under the covers.
Furthermore, a cool room and sleep environment will help your body maintain a normal temperature, which means that you won’t be suddenly woken up by feeling overheated. A colder sleep environment is actually fundamental to reaching the deepest levels of REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, which is beneficial to the restorative powers of sleep that your body experiences at night.
Otherwise, in an environment where you feel hot, your quality of sleep can be negatively affected. If your bedroom and your bed are too hot, the heightened temperature can actually wake you from your sleep or you won’t be able to properly reach REM. Certain people even experience sleep onset insomnia, which has been noted in people who have consistently warmer core body temperatures before falling asleep.
Choosing the right bedding
When it comes to sleeping cool in the summer, choosing the right bedding is key. You’ll want to avoid foam mattresses that advertise “sleeping cool,” as these products are often laden with toxic chemicals that reduce heat temporarily, but dish the heat out later.
Instead, choosing an organic mattress like Naturepedic’s Halcyon line is your best bet for a cool night’s sleep. Packed with luxurious fibers like wool, alpaca, and cashmere, our mattresses are made to wick away moisture and keep you cool all night. Beyond the fabrics, the hybrid design also features organic latex and a contouring support system that breathes, giving heat somewhere to go.
Another great option for sleeping cool is to add an organic mattress topper to your bed. Naturepedic’s mattress toppers create a cooling effect, integrating an additional breathable layer between your body and the mattress. In particular, organic wool is a great material for a mattress topper because it has natural temperature-regulating qualities. Our Woolly Organic Mattress Topper wicks away moisture while you’re sleeping and keeps you comfortable even during the hottest of nights.
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Temperature matters, and that’s why it’s essential for you to create a sleep environment that allows your body temperature to maintain its natural cycles. By choosing natural materials, your sleep environment won’t trap heat, allowing for a comfy, cool night’s sleep.