The Missing Link to Good Sleep

Stark has a 360-degree approach to health and fitness — this includes sleep, as better sleep means you will perform better throughout the day. Did you know that the average person who lives to 72 will spend 25 years in bed? If you’re going to spend that much of your life in bed, we want to ensure you get the highest quality of sleep possible. Most people don’t understand why they can’t sleep at night, so we have gathered beneficial information regarding sleep here for you!Is a Soft or Firm Mattress Better?

The best sleeping posture is the best standing posture. So, typically if you are a back sleeper (which is recommended), a firmer/flatter bed is ideal, as you need the bed to push into the lower back to give proper support. While there is no one perfect mattress for everyone, most people sleep the best with a firm support mattress that has a contouring top layer. This type of mattress has the firmness to support the core, but the suppleness to match the body’s natural curvature. Perhaps the most crucial aspect of a mattress is to ensure it allows for the distribution of your weight instead of placing more pressure on one area, like your hip or shoulder.Sleeping With a Partner

For those who have partners, finding a mattress that best suits both parties can be tricky. 25% of couples in the United States sleep in separate bedrooms because of their partner’s movement, snoring, or the heat. But don’t worry- there are ways to remedy all of these issues while sharing the bed!

It’s essential to understand that people find comfort on mattresses depending on their body type and weight. If your partner doesn’t have a similar body composition to you, we recommend going inside of a mattress store for a fitting. Shopping for a mattress can be viewed like shopping for a good pair of shoes — you want to try the product to ensure it’s right. You want to be correctly fitted for a mattress!

If you and your partner cannot agree on which type of mattress you prefer, purchasing a customized mattress would be highly beneficial to suit both of your sleeping preferences. If a custom mattress is currently too expensive for you, we suggest compromising with your partner by finding a mattress with a firm base and a plush top.Do you or your partner snore? There’s no need for a sleep apnea machine if you elevate your head by 8% — this minor adjustment helps reduce the snoring. Adjustable beds are fantastic because they can elevate your head to take the pressure off your lower back (or elevate your feet, too). Cheaper options include inserts you can add under your sheets to elevate the bed, but be sure if you are doing this it doesn’t put too much pressure on other body parts while you sleep.

If you’re constantly fighting over the temperature with your partner at night — you’re not alone. The optimal room temperature for sleep is between 68 to 72 degrees Fahrenheit. We recommend getting a mattress made with natural materials as these regulate temperature well. Wool is the best material for regulating temperature!Sleep Affects Your Health

Our metabolism is impacted when we do not get quality sleep. In fact, 80% of obese people get an average of six hours of sleep (or less). Stark’s own Tyler Mounce says, “If you sleep less — your risk for obesity goes up. This is for 100% of people across the board.”

People who sleep for five hours a night (or less) have a 73% chance of increased risk of obesity. Tyler says, “One of the things that’s interesting when you don’t sleep — there’s an increased caloric intake for two reasons. There’s a decrease in the hormone leptin, or the hormone that tells your body it’s full. It takes your body longer to realize it’s full. It also kicks up ghrelin production — a hormone that triggers cravings and hunger. What happens is you have a decrease in the ability to feel full and an increased intensity of cravings. Over time, in a chronic sleep-deprived state, you’re going to have an increase in caloric intake at some point.”

A study consisting of two groups ate exactly the same things, but got different lengths of sleep. One group slept eight hours while the other slept five and a half hours. While both groups lost an average of six pounds of scale weight, the group that slept eight hours per night lost three pounds of lean mass and three pounds of fat mass. The group that slept five and a half hours per night lost one pound of fat — and five pounds of lean mass.The Chemicals in Mattresses

You can put tons of effort into eating organic and avoiding toxins, but you could be lying in bed at night unknowingly sucking in chemicals from your mattress. The owner of multiple mattress companies such as Ultra King and Custom Comfort Mattress, Gary Trudell, shares that “foam is a petrochemical. It’s plastic and will off-gas — it will eventually powder or dry rot, so it becomes airborne. So, you’re basically inhaling it.”

According to Gary, nearly 100% of those “bed in the box” beds are chemical based. Since manufacturing in California is expensive, many companies have begun manufacturing mattresses overseas as there is a lower cost and fewer regulations. Many of the chemicals in mattresses wouldn’t be inserted in mattresses made in the United States — but many mattress companies import their foams to save money.We’ll Let You Sleep On It

We know this article contained an influx of information, so we’ll let you sleep on it. We just want you to understand that your sleep quality affects your overall quality of life — including your overall health and wellness. You’ll be much more productive and happy if you get good quality sleep regularly. As you can see, there are so many factors that contribute to a good night’s rest!