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Heavy schoolbags strain the sensitive back of children

3. September 2018 von Redaktion Leave a Comment

School has different challenges for our kids and teens. So, instead of chilling in bed they have to get up early in the morning and spend the morning and often the afternoon in the classroom, mainly in a sitting position. At home, they have to do their homework and prepare for exams. Often, the free time remaining is spent with TV, computer and smartphone instead with exercise and sport. But, the resulting lack of movement often has consequences. Because, even kids in elementary school may suffer under back pain. Besides overweight and increased media consumption, lack of exercise is one of the main reasons for back pain of kids and teens.

But, back pains might also arise due to overload. Often, carrying a school bag too heavy is a huge additional strain for the spine. This, too, might lead to tensions and back pain and even to malpositions. Carrying a heavy and often overloaded school bag needs a strong back. Therefore, it is important to care for sufficient time off spent with sports and movement. Besides physical education, there are different types of sports like football, swimming, climbing, or romping outdoors that are fun and strengthen the core muscles and coordination.

Besides strengthening the back, you also should pay attention to the school bag itself, too. Here, not only the right choice is important but also correct packing and the weight of the school bag.

Requirements of a school bag

The following characteristics relieve the spine and enable an even pressure distribution:

sufficient stability
back part ergonomically formed and with breathable padding
wide, adjustable and padded shoulder straps

A simple trick further relieves the back: place heavy items close to the back and not in the front compartment of the school bag.

First signs of overload

Watch your child when it is carrying the school bag. Is your child struggling with getting the bag on the back, is it strongly leaning forward or backward or does it take an unnatural posture when carrying the school bag? These might be signs for an overload.

Avoid overload with proper weight

Since children are still growing they are more prone to overload. Therefore, the empty weight of the school bag – ideally not more than 1.2 kg – and especially the weight of the load is important. After packing the school bag, the weight should not exceed 10 to 12 % of the child’s own weight. Naturally, the load-bearing capacity varies individually – depending on the physical fitness, sportiness, coordination and the sense of balance of the child.

Correct packing has to be learned

Especially with young children it is advisable that parents take time in the evening before to pack the school bag together with their child. Check, whether all things needed and no redundant things are in the bag. This avoids unnecessary weight and saves your child from lugging a heavy school bag. Also, care for the proper weight distribution. As mentioned before, heavy items belong into the back of the bag. The front area may contain lighter items like a pencil case, for example.

Correct carrying technique

Besides correct packing, the carrying technique is important for the back, too. The school bag should be positioned close to the body, with the top edge not over the shoulders. The correct height setting of the shoulder straps avoids a position too high or too low. Are the shoulder straps too long, the school bag slips backwards and strains the abdominal muscles. Are the shoulder straps too short, the muscles in the back become strained. As a consequence, pains in the back and malpositions might arise.

Image Source: @deathtothestockphoto

Enjoy your well-deserved sleep with suitable covers

27. August 2018 von Redaktion Leave a Comment

As the saying goes: “As you made your bed, you must lie on it resp. sleep in it”. This actually is true for healthy sleep, too. Because, our sleeping quality significantly depends on a suitable bedding content. As different the sleep needs are as different are the kinds of covers offered. Thick or thin, filled with down or sheep wool – the purchase decision depends to a large extent on personal requirements.

Care for optimal sleeping quality with the suitable cover

Healthy, restful sleep depends on different factors. A healthy lifestyle as well as an appropriate sleeping hygiene are some of them. It is a huge advantage that each and every one easily can influence sleeping quality in many ways. There are certain basic conditions for maximum physical regeneration during sleep:

regular exercise during day
balanced nutrition
comfortable sleep surrounding a pleasant bedroom temperature and especially
bedding content incl. a cover in suitable size and filling material

Your way to a suitable cover

One cover is not just like the other, quite the contrary. They differ from size to filling material. Important for your purchase decision are individual aspects like body size, personal heat sensitivity and tendency to sweating.

The proper size

One factor influencing size is your body size and girth.
Another one are your sleeping habits like sharing the cover with your partner or using two covers. Although having your partner close to you is reassuring and is enhancing intimacy, sharing one cover might also disturb sleep. Because, if one partner tends to sleeping restless the other one sooner or later ends up without any cover.
Also, the size varies in different countries. Just some examples: the standard size in Austria is 140/200 cm, in Germany 135/200cm and in Switzerland 160/210 cm.

As a rule, you should pay attention that the cover is 20 cm longer than your height. Also, it should be wide enough.

The proper filling

What material is supporting restful and healthy sleep: down, synthetic fibers, natural fibers or natural hair? A comfortable bedding climate is influencing your sleep to a large extent. During night, we release about 1 to 1.5 liters humidity via breathing and via our skin. Therefore, the filling material should above all be breathable and moisture regulating.

Down: covers filled with down are light and warm quickly. A disadvantage of down covers is the insufficient moisture regulation which leads to increased sweating. The humidity sticks to downs, the cover feels damp. The bedding climate is moist and warm – the ideal surrounding for dust mites.
Synthetic fibers: covers with synthetic fibers are often quite cheap but differ in quality. Often, petroleum is used in production.
Natural fibers: the advantage of natural fibers like Lyocell for example is their biological good degradability. Furthermore, they are breathable and have a good moisture regulation.
Natural hair: natural hair like bio-active sheep wool is a renewable raw material. Sheep wool has excellent climate characteristics. It is breathable, has an antibacterial effect and is highly moisture regulating. Also, it is able to neutralize pollutants like formaldehyde for example. Furthermore, natural sheep wool possesses a high self-cleaning power. These characteristics lead to a comfortable dry and warm bedding climate. Dust mites have no chance to thrive. This makes sheep wool to a perfect filling material for people suffering under dust mite allergies.

The proper heat level

Which cover is needed clearly depends on the time of year. During the cold months of winter, a four-seasons-duvet cares for the warmth needed. In the warm and sometimes hot nights of summer a light, airy cover is perfect. For a comfortable transition period the spring resp. autumn duvets are ideal.

Imagesource: @freepik.com

Correct drinking behavior during summer influences body and mind

20. August 2018 von Redaktion Leave a Comment

Correct drinking is important the whole year round. But, especially in summertime it is advisable to care for a harmonious fluid balance. Because, due to more sweating during hot summer days the body loses more fluids. But, not only is a sufficient amount important, regularity as well as type of beverage are too.

The human body consists to about 70 % of water, each body cell and all body fluids (for example blood, lymph) contain water. Water fulfills multiple tasks: regulation of heat balance (sweating), transport of nutrients, oxygen or metabolic waste products. Also, all chemical processes of the body need water. But, since the human body is unable to store water, it constantly has to be supplied with it. Only this ensures that all vital functions can be maintained.

First signs of a lack of fluids might be head ache, tiredness, circulatory problems, concentration disturbances as well as a diminished responsiveness. Furthermore, the risk for a kidney stone disease, urinary tract infections as well as obstipation increase. Also, skin and mucous membranes dehydrate.

Proper amount is important

As a directive, the daily requirement of an average adult is about 1.5 to 2.5 liters. The correct amount depends an energy turnover, the temperature of the surrounding as well as the type of food, amongst others. Our nutrition only covers a small part, the major part should be consumed with drinking. Heat, sports, physical exertion or intake of salted food are some samples for demand increasing factors.

Regularity is decisive

As mentioned above, not only the amount but also regularity of fluid intake is important. Evenly split up drinking over the day, for example a glass of water per hour. Like this, you continually supply your body with fluid and prevent a lack of fluids. Don’t drink too late in the evening, this only might lead to several, sleep-disturbing nightly visits to the bathroom.

Suitable beverages

Not all beverages are suitable. Avoid soft drinks, they contain a lot of sugar and calories. Also, they only increase sensation of thirst. Unsweetened herbal teas, water and mineral water as well as diluted fruit- and vegetable juices are effective thirst quenchers.

Water with a twist

Water is an ideal fluid. Unfortunately, it has no original taste and therefore not everyone enjoys drinking water. But, this can be changed easily. Add a twist of lemon or orange. Some fresh berries not only look nice but also add a fruity flavor. Fresh herbs like peppermint or lemon balm care for additional taste and freshness. By the way: peppermint has a pleasant cooling effect, lemon balm is calming and relaxing.

Ice cold or lukewarm?

When the temperatures reach 30 degrees, we all long for an ice cold refreshment. But, avoid too many ice cubes in your beverage. Because, the bigger the difference between the temperature of your drink and your body the more your circulatory will be strained.

A glass of water right after getting up

During sleep, our body loses about half a liter of sweat. To regulate our fluid balance best drink a glass of water in the morning. Natural materials like sheep wool diminish sweating during night.

Foods containing lot of water

Many people struggle with sticking to the drinking amount needed. Especially at times with an increased need of fluids this might light to physical complaints. But, there are some foods containing a lot of water that help: water melons, strawberries, pineapples, peaches, oranges, tomatoes and cucumbers are some examples that support keeping your fluid balance harmonious.

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Hot nights need cool hints

13. August 2018 von Redaktion Leave a Comment

Summer, sun, hot nights. But, how are we supposed to sleep in the heat? The following hints will help you to get relaxing sleep and to wake up the following morning well rested.

Air and darken bedroom early in the morning

Open the windows early in the morning and let fresh and cool air flow into all rooms, especially into the bedroom. Latest when the sun and its warming sunrays become visible, tightly close all windows and shutters to bar the heat. Once the air cooled down in the late evening, shortly care for a draft. This leads to a comfortable room climate that makes falling asleep easy. Be careful to avoid draft during the night. Draft not only might lead to a stiff neck it also might irritate your mucosa.

Heat, heavy meals and good sleep are incompatible

As a general rule, prefer light meals with a lots of fruits and fluids (water, tea or diluted juices) during days and nights of great heat. Take your meal three hours before going to bed, latest. Because, eating too close to bed time might impair with your night’s rest since your body is busy with digestion instead with the important and necessary regeneration and repair.

Most likely, you will sweat more on hot days. To balance your fluid loss your body needs more fluids than usual (2.5 to 3 liters are a guideline). Be careful to fill up your tanks during daytime and not in the evening. Or your sleep will be disturbed by nightly visits to the bathroom. By the way: alcohol, too, is a sleep disturber. Even when mild evenings are tempting you should not drink more than an occasional beer or glass of red wine.

Perfect temperature for sleeping

For good sleep, your body temperature has to be reduced by about one degree Celsius. A lukewarm shower right before going to bed supports this process. Don’t towel yourself thoroughly, let the humidity evaporate on your skin. This is comfortably cooling. But, be careful: even if a cold shower seems to be pleasantly cooling the opposite is true: due to the cold stimuli the body is going to produce even more heat!

In bed, prefer pure natural fibers – for your nightwear as well as for your bedding. A thin, airy duvet made of natural and climate regulating sheep wool as well as a suitable pillow prevent uncomfortable heat attacks. Possible sweating is quickly absorbed by the moisture absorbent fibers of sheep wool.

Stay away from sleeping pills

Fundamentally, sleeping pills should only be taken under medical supervision and only when suffering under sleep disturbances due to illness. Herbal sleep enhancing supplements like valerian, hops, passionflower, etc. are helpful and recommendable. In summer, too, a regular sleep-wake-cycle and sufficient sleep are important. Not always easy to achieve, because during the long days with much light the production of the sleeping hormone melatonin is inhibited.

Be cautious with fans and air conditions

Fans and air conditions are very popular. They let evaporate the sweat on your skin and have a refreshing effect. But, be cautious: the use of an air condition and/or a fan often leads to tensions in the neck and – once your body is cooled too much – to colds. Also, irritations to eyes and mucous membranes might occur.

From the sleep-biologic point of view, it must be advised against these devices. Especially cheap devices lack advanced technology. Furthermore, the high energy input stands in no relation to the cold produced. Last, but not least, these appliances produce sleep disturbing electro-magnetic radiations.

Imagesource: @SXC

Advantages of pure natural rubber for the user #3

6. August 2018 von Redaktion Leave a Comment

For people, who make a point of sleeping healthy and restful “cradle to cradle” natural rubber manufactured in the “Talalay-method” is not only environmental friendly and sustainable it also combines many further advantages. When producing a sustainable and orthopedic sleeping system, outstanding quality of raw materials should be regarded.

Natural materials like 100 % sheep wool, 100 % solid wood and 100 % natural rubber perfectly support your healthy sleep. Here, especially the combination of slat frame, mattress and bedding is important. A double-sided, flexible slat frame supports perfect pressure in relation to body weight and cares for sufficient support. This enhances microcirculation in the smallest blood vessels (capillaries). Optimal functioning of our cardio-vascular-system depends to 70 % on capillaries. The capillaries form a fine network in our body tissues as well as organs and enable the exchange of substances between the tissue and the blood. All capillaries put in a row would be about 150,000 km long!

Normally, natural rubber mattresses are amongst the heaviest on the market. Therefore, the base is very important. Due to a double-sided, freely suspended and highly flexible slat frame a natural rubber mattress of only 5 – 7.5 cm is needed for a dynamic-orthopedic sleeping. Like this, your 100 % natural rubber mattress remains easy-care and hygienic its total lifespan of more than 20 years.

Following, the advantages of pure natural rubber for the user summed up:

100 % natural rubber mattresses with the “cradle to cradle” resp. QuL certificate actually consist of 100 % nature – meaning 100 % natural rubber. Even the materials needed (Sulphur and salts) for foaming/vulcanization are from natural origin.
Unlike in viscoelastic foams often common, no chemical flame retardants are used.
Guaranteed no evaporations of air- or water soluble toxicants (VOCs).
100 % natural rubber has an antibacterial effect and is resistant to dust mites and mold. Dust mites prefer a humid-warm surrounding which they will not find in natural rubber mattresses. Are you sensitive to dust mites? Then, using 100 % natural rubber mattresses often prevent resp. alleviate allergies and therewith support sleep.
Its high breathability is unique. The cellular structure of natural rubber is very open and therefore ventilated like no other mattress core foam. This counteracts humidity and enables an optimal dry and warm microclimate in bed. Especially when combined with a sheep wool pad and cover. This combination is cooling in summer and warming in winter.
Mattresses from 100 % natural rubber are also suitable for latex allergic persons. Because, this allergy normally is a “contact-allergy”. Due to the thick and solid shell made of kbA cotton there is no direct contact.
These mattresses have a high tensile strength, are highly elastic and springy and ensure a high point elasticity. This creates a unique resilience and they fatigue less rapid than similar products made of synthetic foams.
100 % natural rubber reacts flexible on body pressure and therefore enables an orthopedic correct positioning and optimal regeneration of spine, intervertebral discs, muscles, tendons, ligaments as well as fascia structure. No pressure marks arise, especially when combined with a freely suspended slat frame. This prevents from back pain existing back pain gets “passive therapy” during sleep.
100 % natural rubber mattresses are non-electrically conductive and contain no metals. Therefore, they don’t couple to electromagnetic fields and don’t distort the natural earths’ magnetic field. This makes them the perfect choice for metal-free sleeping.
100 % natural rubber is five times thicker than e.g. polurethan foam. Out of this reason its life expectancy is about two to three times higher. 100 % natural rubber mattresses worldwide belong to the most durable mattresses with a life expectancy of at least 20 to 25 years.
Consider the sensibility of natural rubber to heat and UV radiation. Mattresses made of 100 % natural rubber never should be exposed to direct sunlight. Because, with organic natural rubber mattresses UV impermeable covers are waived. An ideal cover of natural rubber mattresses consists of 100 % kbA cotton.

Natural rubber versus synthetic mattresses #2

30. July 2018 von Redaktion Leave a Comment

Advantages of pure natural rubber mattresses for our environment

Natural rubber is a milky liquid gained by scratching the bark of rubber trees grown on plantations. This makes natural rubber to a natural, sustainable and environmentally friendly product.

Talalay method

In the so-called “Talalay method”, natural rubber mattresses are produced from the natural rubber panels gained from the rubber milk. This method waives all chemical blowing agents. Instead, it works with a vacuum. The result: a biologic, organic, 100 % natural rubber mattress, foamed without the use of any chemical additives. All other methods result in “chemically foamed mattresses”. With the Talalay method, the natural rubber cores are washed three times to remove any possible impurities and allergens. Thus, the natural rubber becomes antibacterial, hypoallergenic and resistant to mites.

Pure natural rubber mattresses, produced in the Talalay method, have significant advantages to synthetically produced foams:

Natural rubber is a renewable material and at the same time an ethical material. No animals are harmed, no herbicides or pesticides are used.
100 % natural rubber mattresses are CO₂ neutral – although CO₂arises in production. During its lifespan, the rubber tree produces oxygen and so binds a lot of CO₂. Since the rubber tree is not destroyed during the production of natural rubber it continuously produces oxygen which neutralizes the “carbon-footprint” arising with production, transport to the factory and further processing companies up to the customer.
The production of 100 % natural rubber mattresses consumes about 10 % of the energy used in production of synthetic foam.

Imagesource: @Fotolia