Focus Magazine of SWFL Cheers To Your Style

Sweet Dreams by Daniel Fernandez Down is nature’s best insulator and offers the sleep inducing benefits of warmth without weight. The wonderful softness of down and feather pillows feels great and is good for you because it conforms to the body more naturally than many synthetic fibers or foam pillows. This quality has led to the increase in non-traditional pillow shapes for specific types of sleepers—such as those who sleep be st with a large pillow they can “hug”, or the pillows designed for expectant mothers. In a more traditional bed pillow, the neck and shoulder muscles are less strained as the head is naturally cradled in the down and feather pillow. Down and feather is a natural material that wicks moisture away and allows it to quickly evaporate rather than trapping moisture. Waking up in the night having to throw off a blanket because of feeling overheated is a thing of the past when your pillow and comforter are made from down and feather. Dust mite allergies plague at least 10 percent of the population and are a leading contributor to developing asthma. Hypoallergenic down and feather is a good product for allergy sufferers because the natural breathability means that moisture– which dust mites need to live and thrive–is not trapped in the fibers. Additionally, the fabrics that encase the down and feathers are tightly woven–possessing a high thread count–in order to keep any feathers from escaping. This tightly woven fabric also serves as a barrier to dust mites. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), insufficient sleep is a public health epidemic in the U.S. Further, the CDC says that a lack of sleep makes a person more likely to suffer from other chronic diseases such as diabetes, depression and obesity. How can people help create better sleep habits and lead healthier lives? The first step is to realize what is keeping them awake. Feeling too hot or too cold? Restless and sore from fidgeting while sleeping? These seemingly trivial discomforts can have adverse effects on sleep and health. Use these tips from the American Down and Feather Council (ADFC) to pick out the right bedding for a night of deep and refreshing sleep. 1 78 FOCUS of SWFL 2014 • Waking up Shivering or Sweating? Down is nature’s best insulator and offers the sleep inducing benefits of warmth without weight. A down comforter with a fill power higher than 500 will give added warmth, and a down comforter with less than 500 will keep you snug but cool. • Fidgeting in your Sleep? Look for bedding that is soft and will naturally conform to your body – like down and feather. Down and feather contours and moves with your body as you shift positions, this will keep you from getting tangled up in your sleep. • Feeling Dirty and Gross? Easily washable, down and feather products are made from natural materials that wick moisture away and allow it to quickly evaporate rather than trapping it close to your body. Sleeping in a moisture-free bed will help you retain a fresh and clean feeling. • Suffering from Allergies? Plaguing at least 10 percent of the population, dust mites thrive in humid locations and are one of the leading contributors to asthma. Superior construction and breathable materials allow down and feather products to be dust mite free and hypoallergenic.

Focus Magazine of SWFL Cheers To Your Style | Page 178