5 Organic Foods and Drinks You Need To Try

Organic food has become a staple in most people's weekly shops, which is great. The aisles are becoming more and more populated with the little 'O' graphic and 'Soil Association' logo which let you know that what you're eating is entirely chemical free. With the growth of the industry, comes a greater selection of produce and, therefore, more choices to make as you wander round with your trolley. Whether you're on a tight budget, want to know what the healthiest foods are, or would just like to try something new, there is an awful lot of choice. We've trawled the shelves for our top 5 Organic foods. Unlike many of the lists which you will find online, we've selected things which you could go out and buy right now in your local supermarket. Let us know if you have any suggestions in the comments section below!

1.Organic Fairtrade Bananas – Aldi

Aldi have been winning every award under the sun in the last year or so. Their prices, quality control and customer service are really impressive. The only thing they've really lacked is organic produce which, if you want to avoid chemical substances in your food, can be a deal breaker. Aldi have recently added organic bananas to their shelves, which represents a tremendous step in the right direction. As well as being certified as organic, they also carry the 'fairtrade' mark and a price which is very reasonable for organic fruit.

2.Taylor's Fairtrade Coffee – Multiple Shops

Needless to say, coffee isn't the healthiest thing on this list, but it's a big part of many of our day-to-day lives! Coffee benefits hugely from being organic, as a lot of the pesticides can add to coffee's natural toxins, which is what can give you that groggy 'crash' feeling after your morning cup of 'joe'. As with the bananas, it is also a fair trade product; it's always best to go organic AND fair trade where possible. The medium roast flavour makes this aromatic coffee perfect for any time of the day.

3.Yeo Valley Organic 0% Yoghurt

Where as coffee might not be the best for your digestive system, yoghurt certainly is. Active cultures in this organic yoghurt are great for you digestive system, fighting away the bacteria which can lead to an upset stomach. Natural yoghurt is also a great source of protein, so it will fill you up for longer than a sugary yoghurt. Yeo Valley is a great brand to buy organic dairy from as they are British, and it's important to support the organic industry in the UK.

4.Organic Nectarines/Peaches

It may seem awfully unspecific, but organic nectaries and peaches are 'musts' when you're buying organic food. In a survey which tested a number of different fruit and vegetables for chemical pesticides, peaches and nectarines were by far the most contaminated. This means that any non-organic peaches and nectarines you may buy will almost certainly have come into contact with pesticides and insecticides. Buying organic will enable you to enjoy a tasty, healthy treat without worrying about what it has come into contact with.

5.Nairn's Organic Oatcakes

The meat and vegetables needed to cook big meals are fairly easy to find, making that part of an organic diet relatively simple. It's the healthy snacking in between meals that can be difficult to find organic food for. For starters, wheat is not particularly good for you in the first place, so it's good for your body that these organic oatcakes are wheat-free. They come in multiple backs of six oatcakes, which makes them perfect for taking to work, or sending with your children to school.

4 Living belive that organic is the only way to go, which is why they are happy to offer a great selection of organic mattresses, natural latex mattresses and organic pocket sprung mattresses. Their Sussex showroom, between Lewes and Eastbourne, has a number of different mattresses to try out.

Get Active, Get Organic!

An organic lifestyle has a very close bond to the outdoors so activities like running and hiking are great ways to enjoy your local environment from a slightly different perspective. Combining an active lifestyle with a healthy organic diet is actually deceptively difficult. A lot of sports nutrition foods and supplements aren't geared towards being organic, and don't tend to use the most natural ingredients and methods. It shouldn't be difficult to live and active life whilst eating well, so we've put together a list of the different food and drink to help you with your new sport or activity! We've also included a couple of other organic products which will help!

Energy is the single most important part of getting the most out of your exercise. If you haven't eaten enough, or you've eaten the wrong food, you'll find yourself struggling more than you should be. The human body is just like a machine – without fuel it simply won't function.

If you are a runner or a walker, you'll need to loads up on carbohydrates before you head out. Carbs are one of the easiest organic products to find, so you shouldn't have too many problems with this one. If you want to step your healthy diet/activity balance up to the next level, try to get your carbohydrates from sources other than wheat. Wheat is actually a big cause of inflammation in the muscles, so will fuel you on your run, but will hinder the recovery of your muscles and joints once you get back.

For exercise sessions which last more than 80/90 minutes, you'll need some extra fuel to keep you going. Sports drinks usually serve as this extra dose of energy, and their carbohydrate and electrolyte ingredients are great, but there's also a whole host of other ingredients which are far from natural. 'Clif' energy bars are a great way of re-energising when you need a little helping hand. Their bars are made from organic rolled out, which are a fantastic form of energy. A few blueberry also provide you with some antioxidants, aswell as that all important deliciousness!

The same principle applies to refreshment. Sports drinks do have some benefits, but not as your main source of hydration. With hydration, why not stick with the master? Water is always the winner in this battle. Try mineral water instead of spring water; the high mineral content will help to replce the minerals you lose when sweating.

On that note, it's important to remember that your body needs more than water after you've exercised. When you sweat, you salt and mineral level can become incredibly imbalanced. The usual symptoms of this are intense headaches and lack of concentration. A couple of handfuls of organic salted peanuts will give you a salt boost and some organic bananas and oranges should adequately replenish your vitamin levels.

Getting a good night's sleep is imperative after you've exercised. Even if you stretch afterwards, drink enough and eat enough you can still end up with a few troublesome aches and pains. If you don't have a good quality mattress, your ability to recover and replenish energy will be seriously hindered. Most people don't think of it this way, but sleep is actually more important than food. A high quality, supportive mattress is a must, even if you aren't exercising a lot (If you don't exercise, congratulations on reading this far down the article). Natural latex mattresses are the natural alternative to memory foam mattresses. The supportive nature of the mattresses, combined with their organic certification (they are made using organic cotton, organic wool and a number of other organic materials.) makes organic natural latex mattresses the perfect choice to the organic athlete!

Paying attention and understanding your body is one of the central principles behind an organic lifestyle. Looking after your joints, back and getting a good night's sleep are all great ways to ensure your body cooperates with you when you are out and about! Supportive natural latex mattresses are a great way to support your body, without all of the nasty chemicals you might find in memory foam. 

Our Top 5 Organic Foods

Organic food has become a staple in most people's weekly shops, which is great. The aisles are becoming more and more populated with the little 'O' graphic and 'Soil Association' logo which let you know that what you're eating is entirely chemical free. With the growth of the industry, comes a greater selection of produce and, therefore, more choices to make as you wander round with your trolley. Whether you're on a tight budget, want to know what the healthiest foods are, or would just like to try something new, there is an awful lot of choice. We've trawled the shelves for our top 5 Organic foods. Unlike many of the lists which you will find online, we've selected things which you could go out and buy right now in your local supermarket. Let us know if you have any suggestions in the comments section below!

1.Organic Fairtrade Bananas – Aldi

Aldi have been winning every award under the sun in the last year or so. Their prices, quality control and customer service are really impressive. The only thing they've really lacked is organic produce which, if you want to avoid chemical substances in your food, can be a deal breaker. Aldi have recently added organic bananas to their shelves, which represents a tremendous step in the right direction. As well as being certified as organic, they also carry the 'fairtrade' mark and a price which is very reasonable for organic fruit.

2.Taylor's Fairtrade Coffee – Multiple Shops

Needless to say, coffee isn't the healthiest thing on this list, but it's a big part of many of our day-to-day lives! Coffee benefits hugely from being organic, as a lot of the pesticides can add to coffee's natural toxins, which is what can give you that groggy 'crash' feeling after your morning cup of 'joe'. As with the bananas, it is also a fair trade product; it's always best to go organic AND fair trade where possible. The medium roast flavour makes this aromatic coffee perfect for any time of the day.

3.Yeo Valley Organic 0% Yoghurt

Where as coffee might not be the best for your digestive system, yoghurt certainly is. Active cultures in this organic yoghurt are great for you digestive system, fighting away the bacteria which can lead to an upset stomach. Natural yoghurt is also a great source of protein, so it will fill you up for longer than a sugary yoghurt. Yeo Valley is a great brand to buy organic dairy from as they are British, and it's important to support the organic industry in the UK.

4.Organic Nectarines/Peaches

It may seem awfully unspecific, but organic nectaries and peaches are 'musts' when you're buying organic food. In a survey which tested a number of different fruit and vegetables for chemical pesticides, peaches and nectarines were by far the most contaminated. This means that any non-organic peaches and nectarines you may buy will almost certainly have come into contact with pesticides and insecticides. Buying organic will enable you to enjoy a tasty, healthy treat without worrying about what it has come into contact with.

5.Nairn's Organic Oatcakes

The meat and vegetables needed to cook big meals are fairly easy to find, making that part of an organic diet relatively simple. It's the healthy snacking in between meals that can be difficult to find organic food for. For starters, wheat is not particularly good for you in the first place, so it's good for your body that these organic oatcakes are wheat-free. They come in multiple backs of six oatcakes, which makes them perfect for taking to work, or sending with your children to school.

4 Living belive that organic is the only way to go, which is why they are happy to offer a great selection of organic mattresses, natural latex mattresses and organic pocket sprung mattresses. Their Sussex showroom, between Lewes and Eastbourne, has a number of different mattresses to try out.

10 Fun and Healthy Things to Try this Summer!

1-Walking, Running or Cycling to Work

The weather may not be tropical, but it's certainly not snowing! As long as the temperature is OK, why not run, cycle or walk to work? If you work far from home, you could cycle to the train or bus? There's always a way to fit in an extra bit of exercise into the day!

If you're lucky enough to live in a nice rural area, you have absolutely no excuses! Try and convince some friends from work to join you, and you'll stay motivated all summer. If you get this extra exercise (which really adds up over a few weeks) that beer and barbecue will be guilt free come friday!

2-Organic Coconut Water

Coconut water is the drink of 2013! Where has it been all our lives? Coconut water is absolutely caked full of healthy vitamins and minerals, tastes great and is now available to buy organic! What's not to like?

3-Go to a Local Music Festival

If you live in the UK, you'll almost certainly have some kind of music festival within 100 miles of you! We just love to drink cider and enjoy music into the early hours! Whatever type of music you're into there's always going to be somewhere that caters to your needs. Having said that, a live festival the best way to get to know and love new music!

4-Look after your Garden

Boring, I know! You'll be absolutely ecstatic once you've finished though. If you have an outdoor space in which you can relax on a sunny day, you won't regretting having sorted out the garden at the beginning of the summer! If you have somewhere to spend time outdoors, you'll also be less likely to spend money to sit outdoors at a pub or restaurant!

5-Enjoy Spending Time with Friends

This is a pretty big one all year round, but whilst the weather is good, why not catch up with old friends? You can just go for a walk or wander round a few shops, without any kind agenda. The beauty of summer!

6-Run a Race for Charity

If you want to get fit, it's great to set yourself a goal to train for. Whether it's a marathon, half marathon or 5k, signing up for a race is a great way to get fit for the summer!

Even if you don't want to become an elite athlete, there are plenty of 'fun runs' where you can raise money for a great cause, dress up in a silly costume and make new friends!

7-Learn to Cook Something New

I'm going to learn to cook Paella, you? Summer is a great time for expanding your cooking repertoire as there are a lot of exciting fresh organic ingredients available. It's pretty easy to fall into a rotation of cooking the same meals over and over again, so it's good to get out of the funk!

8-Be a Tourist in your Local Area

I don't know what it is, but we often seem reluctant to truly appreciate the area we live in. Everywhere in the UK has a story to tell, even Basingstoke (sorry Basingstoke!). If you live in a city, hop on one of those open-top sightseeing buses and prepare to learn! If you live in a small town, look on trip advisor to see what the most local tourist attractions are. The chances are you'll spot a tonne of thing you don't know about and end up having a whale of a time.

9-Grow your own organic fruit

The main reason that organic fruit and vegetables are so expensive is that they need to be grown to such strict regulations and check thoroughly before being sold. It's good that the Soil Association regulations are so strict, but it does add an extra cost. Growing some of your own fruit at home will give you a hobby, save you money and give you lots of yummy summer treats!

10-Let your TV Gather Dust!

The new series of Game of thrones will still be there in the autumn, I promise! We've all looked out of the window on a sunny day and though “I just can't be bothered to do anything today”. This summer, it's time to go out and do things, not sit inside and waste all of that good vitamin D!

4 Living, a brand which has been consistently committed to promoting a healthy lifestyle,  are one of the leading Organic Mattress retailers in the UK. Their collection of natural latex mattresses and organic pocket sprung mattresses caters to all body types and preferences.

Organic Living - Creating your Green Bedroom

Trying to live a healthy and environmentally friendly life can be pretty tiring. There are so many little details in life to keep track of, so making sure that you are doing the 'green' thing requires an awful lot of attention to detail. Sometimes you have to prioritise the most important things in life. The bedroom is definitely 'up there' when it comes to day-to-day importance.

The average night's sleep is 7 to 8 hours, which will be the minimum amount of time we spend in the bedroom every day. If you take into account that many people use their bedroom as an office or space to relax during the day, we can end up spending over a third of the day in just that one room. A third of a day may not sound too much, but when you think of it as a third of your entire life, it makes you realise just how much time you spend in the bedroom.

Going green in the bedroom is, in a lot of ways, similar to the rest of the home. There are certain techniques, gadgets and purchases which work all over the house. However, mattresses and bedding are something which you are exposed to for the whole time you are asleep; this amount of exposure makes it essential that you have a chemical free sleeping environment and, with that, peace of mind. We've made a short list of what we think are the biggest changes you can make for a green, chemical free bedroom:

Low VOC Paint

Paint seems to have always had health issues surrounding it. We may not have to deal with the toxicity of lead paint anymore (it is now legally prohibited in any home paint products in the UK or U.S) but, unfortunately there is a new hazard in that paint industry in the form of VOCs. VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds are used to make most household paint and emit hazardous gasses, even after the paint has dried. Although VOC has the word 'Organic' in it, it is definitely the word 'Volatile' to which you should pay more attention.

Living a green lifestyle revolves around thinking about long term effects, rather than simply viewing everything in the short term. VOC paint is something which can cause illness through long term exposure, so you might not necessarily realise the harmful nature of the paint when it is first applied. These chemical compounds have been linked to cancer, kidney damage, liver damage and many other conditions.

To avoid these long term hazards, there are many alternatives to conventional high-VOC paint. You can actually get paint which is made using milk, eggs, flour and natural dye; this might seem a little too bizarre, but the paint seems to get constantly good reviews. The most popular option is a reduced VOC paint, which has chemical levels which are viewed as 'manageable' for the human body.

Organic Mattresses

The modern organic lifestyle is nothing like the 'hippy' lifestyle which some people might picture. Organic mattresses aren't just glorified straw sacks; they are luxury mattresses, which are made for comfort as well as health. Organic mattresses are one of the most overwhelmingly 'green' choices when it comes to creating a healthy sleeping environment. If a mattresses is certified by organic by either the Soil Association or the Global Organic Textile Standard, you can be sure that it contains none of the potentially harmful chemicals of its non-organic brother.

The most common type of organic mattress is probably a natural latex mattress. Natural latex is the pure sap from the rubber tree, frothed up into a latex foam, and expertly baked into what will become an organic mattress. It is generally viewed as the alternative to petroleum memory foam and synthetic latex; it is important to note that natural latex and synthetic latex are nearly entirely different. Memory foam has steadily become one of the most popular mattress types over the last 20 years, with most mattress stores displaying just as many memory foam mattresses as conventional pocket sprung mattresses.

Natural latex provides a similar level of supportive luxury, without any of synthetic chemicals used in memory foam or synthetic latex. Another area in which an organic mattress will limit exposure to chemical ingredients is the fire safety treatment. Many people have to submit themselves to the idea that chemical fire treatment is an unavoidable necessity, even for a natural or organic mattress. Organic mattresses absolutely do not need to be sprayed with chemical fire retardants in order to pass official fire safety regulations! Organic wool is a natural fire retardant which passes all official fire regulations, removing the need for a single synthetic chemical to be used in the manufacturing process.

Organic Cotton Bedding

Organic cotton is growing increasingly popular in the clothing market, especially with more small retailers able to sell their organic cotton clothing online. The benefits of of organic cotton are not only health benefit, but environmental also. The Soil Association and Global Organic Textile Standard are championing an initiative called 'cotton on' which is aimed at increasing the visibility of the organic cotton industry, as well as helping organic cotton farmers. With the organic cotton industry in such healthy fetter, it stands to reason that cotton bedding, which you are exposed to every night, should be the next logical thing to 'go organic'.

Organic cotton is entirely free of the pesticides which are used on ordinary cotton. 25% of all chemical pesticides are used on cotton, so it's quite a significant problem to avoid. Organic cotton also requires as much as half the water of chemically fertilised cotton, the growth of which is often chemically accelerated.

4 Living are one of the UK's only retailers of high quality organic certified mattresses and organic bedding for a green bedroom. They offer a number of different natural mattresses, providing a healthy alternative to memory foam ad synthetic latex. A selection are available to try in their East Sussex Mattress Showroom.

Natural Latex Mattresses vs Synthetic Memory Foam Mattresses

Natural Latex Mattresses are made using from the quality, non-toxic natural components you would expect, when you consider that we spend roughly 30% of our life in bed. A good, high quality mattress is tremendously important, but is frequently overlooked. A mattress is no longer just some springs encased in fabric, the technology and research as moved on a lot in recent years. A mattress can provide spinal support, regulate your temperature and moisture and specialize in different types of sleeper. A lot of high street retailers will advise you to replace your mattress every 5-7 years, but it is never particularly clear what the actual facts are. Surely it all depends on the mattress?

Natural latex mattresses, along with memory foam, are mattresses which provide comfort and luxury, without the use of traditional springs. Both natural latex and memory foam can be moderately expensive, but the idea is that you are making a long term, quality investment. Despite having a few similarities, natural latex mattresses and memory foam mattresses differ greatly.

Memory Foam (technically 'visco-elastic polyurethane foam') is a soft, yet dense material which has become a household name in the world of mattresses. Usually petroleum based, memory foam is made using a number of different chemical components. Needless to say, a synthetic memory foam mattress is non-organic. Most memory foam mattresses are completely non-organic, and will have cotton, wool and other fibres which have come into contact with potentially harmful chemicals.

Memory foam is is flammable by nature and, consequently requires a chemical treatment in order to meet fire regulation standards. One of the most common chemical fire treatment sprays, PBDE, has been found to bio accumulate, on a small scale, in fat tissue, blood and breast milk. The fact is, these chemicals are designed to stop the mattress burning, not for your personal health.

Natural latex, in an organic wool cover, doesn't require any chemical fire treatment as organic wool is a natural fire retardant, which passes all of the official fore safety regulations. Another benefit to organic wool are its natural temperature and moisture regulating qualities. A common criticism of memory foam is that it is prone to overheating and, although comfortable usually, can cause many a sleepless night

Memory foam mattresses vary greatly in price, and can be produced for much less than an organic natural latex mattress. Natural latex requires more expensive components, which have to go through extremely strict, organically certified, manufacturing processes. You could be forgiven for thinking that memory foam was the more healthy and environmentally friendly mattress because of the angle of its publicity. In actual fact, natural latex mattresses provide comfort, health benefits and are more eco-friendly.

A natural latex mattress (Buyer beware that it is 100% natural latex and not part or fully synthetic latex) is a mattress which uses latex which has not been mixed with chemicals, or grown using chemical pesticides and fertilisers. 100% natural latex mattresses are not not be confused with mattresses which have combined latex with some of the same petrochemicals used in memory foam. Natural latex does not go through the same chemical process that memory foam does; it is simply the sap from the rubber tree (hevea brasiliensis), frothed up, put in a specifically engineered mattress mold, and expertly baked into a mattress.

Organic mattresses, much like organic food, are becoming more and more popular as people start to realise the quality and health differences. Organic mattresses usually carry long warranties (10+ years), which removes the need to buy a new non-organic mattress every 5-7 years. The care and attention to detail required to make an organic mattress provides peace of mind when it comes to making a purchase.

Natural latex provides the core for the mattress, however natural latex mattresses also use other fabrics to add to the comfort of the mattress. The most common, and comparatively eco-friendly, material used is organic cotton. Non-organic cotton, despite being so common, is one of the most potentially hazardous plants to both your health and the environment. Roughly 25% of the world's chemical pesticides and insecticides are used on cotton. In their industrial, concentrated forms, a single teaspoon of these chemicals would be enough to kill an adult. Obviously the version of the chemical which eventually makes its way into retail-standard cotton is seriously diluted, but its worth noting the kind of substances which are involved.

The organic cotton used in natural latex mattresses benefits the environment, as well as your health. Non-organic cotton requires an incredible SIX pints of water to grow just one bud of cotton; it is amongst one of the thirstiest plants on the planet. An effect of this unbelievable water requirement leads to cotton plantations depriving the surrounding area of water and, as a result, destroying entire eco systems. Organic cotton, which hasn't been treated with chemical fertilisers, requires only half the water. The difference in water requirements means that the surrounding area maintains healthy and nutritious soil, sustaining wildlife and enabling other plants to grow alongside the cotton plantations.

4 Living are a retailer of high quality certified organic mattresses. All of their mattresses are made using organic materials, and are designed for comfort as well as health. You can try a number of their mattresses in their Sussex showroom, where their team of experts will happily answer any questions you may have.

Organic Cotton vs Non-Organic Cotton: The Facts

It's strange to think that only ten years ago, the organic grocery industry was only just gaining some form of recognition. It feels like 'going organic' has been an option for much longer than that. Everybody is aware of organic produce nowadays, and the whole organic 'green' lifestyle is a whole industry and way of living in it's own right.

We think about apples, spinach and coffee in a perfectly logical way; exposure to chemicals can't be a good thing. That mindset is exactly the right way to think. However, what we often don't consider is that anything with a natural source can be organic. The largest non-food product with which we come into with on a day-to-day basis is probably. Many people don't think of textiles in terms of organic/non-organic, but cotton is grown in the ground, just like any fruit or vegetable. In fact, cotton might just be one of the most chemically contaminated things on the planet.

The next logical step for the the organic generation is to really explore where else we might be exposed to the chemicals which we try to avoid in food.

Cotton is cotton, right? We wear it, lie on it, sit on it. What else is there to think about? Cotton is one of the biggest industries on the planet, dating back hundreds of years.

Cotton has, more than perhaps any other plant, an incredible history. During the American Civil War, the South even attempted to use cotton as a way of involving Britain and France! They believed that their cotton, farmed by slaves, was enough to draw Britain for fear of a shortage (Britain's industrial revolution heavily relied on the cotton trade). The South eventually lost it's battle and slavery was abolished, decimating the once of thriving economy of the South.

That, and many other countries growing and selling their own cotton, changed the cotton industry forever. There are now far too many countries relying on the cotton trade, churning out huge volumes quickly. This is where one of the biggest questions in the organic/non-organic debate arises: Are the chemical pesticides and fertilisers used on cotton harmless? Or would it simply be too expensive to admit they're not?

Chemical pesticides became especially prevalent during the US outbreak of boll weevils in the early to mid 1900s. Once the boll weevil situation was under control, the pesticide use did slightly decrease, but it set a precedent for global pesticide use. Cotton now accounts for a tremendous 25% of the global annual pesticide use.

The kind of chemicals which are used to make the pesticides used on cotton aren't the same as your everyday DIY store weed killers. Although it sounds pretty morbid, the chemicals used to make industrial pesticides such as aldicarb, are designed to kill the animals with which it comes into contact. Not only is aldicarb designed to kill these insects, it is designed to systematically paralyse them, preventing them from travelling any further. It would, of course, be absurd to suggest that pure forms of the pesticide can make it to your cotton bed sheets, but it is certainly unclear what traces remain. Aldicarb is still used to grow cotton in the US, the third largest supplier on cotton in the world. Certainly worth thinking about.

Organic cotton, needless to say, is not treated with an chemical pesticides, insecticides or fertilisers. Any farm caught using any form of chemical agent on their crops will instantly lose their licence from the Soil Association or the Global Textile Standard, the agencies responsible for the licensing and certification of organic cotton. The strict regulations for organic farming lead to numerous other benefits: There is a constant communication between regulators, manufacturers and farmers, ensuring the highest quality cotton. The strict guidelines also mean that every square inch of organic cotton has to be grown, woven and stitched with immense attention to detail, in order to avoid any chemical contact.

An area where cotton differs from non-organic fruit and vegetables, is that it actually has a significant impact on the environment. Cotton is amongst the thirstiest plants on earth, requiring an incredible amount of water to survive. A non-organic cotton plantation will require even more water, due to the growth acceleration caused by chemical fertilisers. Non-organic cotton plants can require up to six pints of water in order to grow one single cotton bud. The environmental impact of such water consumption is something to worry about. Cotton sucks up so much water and nutrients from the soil, that surrounding plants and wildlife simply can't survive. Organic cotton grows slower, making it more expensive, however far less thirsty. Organic cotton cosumes roughly half as much water, which is the difference between wiping out an entire eco-system, and living side-by-side with other plants and wildlife.

All of the organic cotton mattresses in 4 Living's range are made using an organic cotton certified by either the Soil Association or Global Organic Textile Standard. The mattress range includes organic pocket sprung mattresses, natural latex mattresses and a number of other certified organic materials. You can try their collection of organic mattresses in their showroom, where their mattress experts will be happy to answer any questions.