She could be coming from the morgue or just sleeping very soundly.

If you’re able to sleep on your back, you’re one of the lucky few. Only 14% of us sleep on our backs. What’s so great about it? It can help to reduce back and neck pain, minimize the effects of acid reflux, decrease wrinkles, and even help maintain perky breasts. While back sleeping can exacerbate snoring issues for some and isn’t recommended during pregnancy, it’s considered the healthiest way to sleep. Sleeping this way makes it easy for your head, neck, and spine to maintain a neutral position; your neck and spine are in near ideal alignment when lying on a flat surface. Most doctors and sleep experts recommend it–if you can pull it off.

Generally I sleep on my side, but I’ve noticed that lately I’ve found myself occasionally waking up on my stomach. I’ve starting to develop a few random aches and pains, mostly in my back, and I worry that it may have something to do with my sleeping habits. I recently decided to try to sleep on my back so that I might get a little relief. I did some research and armed with a few tips I discovered online, I committed to a best effort attempt at healthy back sleeping!

How to Sleep on Your Back–a Few Tips:

• Use positioning pillows. Extra pillows in the bed can help to keep your body positioned in whatever specific position works best for you. A pillow under each arm is a preferred technique, but do whatever works for you.
• Keep a pillow under your knees to help maintain proper alignment of your back. This can help if you’re initially experiencing back discomfort.
• Be persistent. Always roll to back when you catch yourself positioned otherwise.
• Use a pillow that will hold your head in place. A malleable type like a buckwheat pillow works well. It will prevent your head from rolling from side to side and give you ideal support for your both your head and neck.

My Back Sleeping Experience

I already have a great pillow for back sleeping–a buckwheat pillow. I removed some of the fill to make it flatter, making it more conducive to back sleeping (when on your back there’s a much smaller space to fill between your head and the mattress). “Perfect, this will be no problem,” I told myself. How wrong I was.

My first night on my back was a total failure. I was exhausted and gave up after just a few minutes. “Tomorrow” I told myself. So much for best efforts…

The following day at bedtime, I laid on my back reading and within about a half hour my lower back became slightly uncomfortable. Initially it wasn’t anywhere near painful. It wasn’t something I’d have noticed under normal circumstances-typically I’d just roll over to my side and the discomfort would immediately disappear. I resisted the urge to do so. Soon the slight discomfort became a dull ache. It wasn’t working. I pulled out another pillow and placed it under my legs. Still, the back pain persisted. I gave up and fell asleep on my side.

It was more or less the same for the next few days: a real struggle. To make any progress, I had to experiment a lot with the pillows. I found that initially the pillow I used under my legs was a little too small and didn’t elevate them high enough to prevent the discomfort I was feeling in my lower back. I’m using a larger pillow now which has solved that problem. To prevent myself from rolling over, I’m using a buckwheat pillow under each arm which really helps to keep me anchored to my back (it’s also surprisingly comfortable). Finally after 5 days of trying, I fell asleep on my back. Of course I woke up in the morning on my side, so there’s no telling how long I managed to stay in that position. My guess is not long. However, I feel like that was progress and I’ll keep trying.

The most important of the tips listed above is be persistent. I found it incredibly difficult at first to resist the urge to roll onto my side. It’s hard to think rationally when you’re exhausted! It took a whole week just to get to the point where I could fall asleep on my back. I’m still not a back sleeper and to be honest I’m not sure I can do it. I’m going to continue, but I’m not sure if this is a something that I can turn into a habit. Try my recommendations yourself and let us know your experience.

The post Train Yourself to Sleep on Your Back appeared first on Hullo.

The next time you check into a hotel, ask if they have buckwheat pillows on their pillow menu.

Hotels and resorts around the world are adding pillow menus as a way to cater to individual needs and indulge their guests. This is great news for those of us who sleep on buckwheat pillows and can be a great opportunity for those interested in trying a buckwheat pillow for the first time. Hotel pillow menus are usually free of charge and buckwheat pillows aren’t the only pillows on the menu.

Common Pillow Types on a Typical Hotel Pillow Menu

• Aromatic Pillow: pillows infused with herbs, potpourri, oils or other aromatic ingredients that can have soothing and calming effects on the nerves and rejuvenate the senses. Some sleep inducing ingredients you may find in an aromatic pillow are hops, chamomile, valerian, skullcap, and lavender which can help promote restful sleep.
• Body Pillow: body pillows are as long as a full adult body, providing support to the head and neck at the top and to the knees and legs lower down. This type of pillow can be especially useful in providing support for those who sleep on their sides and for pregnant women.
• Buckwheat Pillow: popular throughout asia and filled with buckwheat hulls, this natural pillow conforms to the shape of your head and neck and stays cool all night. Many buckwheat pillows are designed with a zipper that allow you to add or remove hulls and adjust the pillow to your desired thickness.
• Cloud Pillow: based on traditional buckwheat pillows the cloud pillow is filled with over 10 million synthetic microbeads or “air beads.” The microbeads are designed so they do not break down over time and allow for air circulation which can help keep the pillow cool. Cloud pillows are an ergonomically designed, contoured pillow with a crescent shape.
• Down or Feather Pillow: these are the most common pillows you will find at a hotel. Filled with feathers from the back, wing, and chests of geese and ducks, down pillows are typically very plush, soft and warm.
• Hypoallergenic Pillow: designed to minimize the development of allergic reactions hypoallergenic pillows are often filled with silk, latex, or other synthetic fills. There are also hypoallergenic pillow wraps or covers which are designed to make ordinary pillows more hypoallergenic.
• Magnetic Therapy Pillow:  these pillows contain medical magnets embedded & hidden in order to encourage a sound & healthier sleep. Medical magnetic therapy is well know to aid in reducing inflammation; assisting in the treatment of arthritis; encouraging improved circulation and overall aiding in the treatment of many pain-related ailments including swollen joints, fatigue, sore muscles and insomnia.
• Maternity Pillow: usually wedges or full body pillows that support the belly and lower back, while helping to align the hips, all with the goal of alleviating the stress of pregnancy.
• Memory Foam Pillow: developed by NASA as an aircraft cushion, this polyurethane foam is pressure-sensitive and molds quickly to the shape of a body pressing against it, returning to its original shape once the pressure is removed. When new, some memory foam pillows give off a distinct chemical odor so you may want to check it out before committing to sleep on one all night.
• Music or Sound Pillow: can allow users to enjoy their favorite music or sounds in optimal relaxation and comfort. High quality stereo sound comes from two virtually undetectable speakers with a plug that fits most modern audio/electronic devices. Some sound pillows come with mp3 players pre-loaded with relaxing soundscapes that can help relax the brain and body so you can easily fall asleep and stay asleep throughout the night.

The next time you make a reservation online or check-in to a hotel look for a pillow menu. If you want a pillow that’s not synthetic or animal fill, don’t be afraid to ask for an all natural alternative. When available, we recommend a quality buckwheat pillow.

The post Hotel Pillow Menus Offer a Great Way to Try Different Pillow Types appeared first on Hullo.

This pillow will get you into heaven.

My family attempts to live a healthy and responsible lifestyle. We eat healthy, nourishing food and we all spend time outdoors together for fresh air and exercise. In addition, we try to make choices that are ecologically responsible. Our children deserve a world that isn’t damaged by our generation’s irresponsibility. As any parent will attest, it is very important to feel like you’ve provided the best environment possible for your child.

We try to make this a habit both for our own and future generations’ sake. Because of this, my wife and I scrutinize every product we use. BPA-free plastic, organic, all-natural, non-toxic – whatever the lingo may be – if we determine that it’s safer than the alternatives and not outrageously priced-we go with it. It’s not always easy to know what the “right” choice is, but generally with a little research into the product at hand, the answer is often quickly found. Unfortunately, sometimes the more research you do, the scarier things get. I discovered this a few years ago when it came time to move my daughter into her own room.

I began to investigate bedding and was shocked to find that pillows, mattresses and other products often contain dangerous toxic chemicals. Formaldehyde is one of the nastier ones: The World Health Organization identifies it as a carcinogen. Inhalation has been linked to a host of cancers, including nasopharyngeal cancers, leukemia, and lymphoma. Childhood cancer is on the rise due to the prevalence of formaldehyde and similar chemicals in so many of the products we use. In addition, due to government regulations on fire retardancy, bedding products are often treated with hazardous materials that are now linked with serious health issues. These regulations are currently being debated and investigated for perhaps being counter-productive.

All-Natural Pillow vs. Synthetic Pillow

Popular pillows with fill containing polyurethane or polyester foam can emit the toxins and carcinogens that were used in the manufacturing process. Short-term side effects for those sensitive to these emissions can include headaches, sinus issues and eye irritation. Long term-side effects are mostly unknown but could potentially include some cancer types. 

In addition to hazardous fill, the pillow’s case can be host to all kinds of dangerous materials. For example, cotton, the most frequently used bedding fiber, is grown using some of the world’s most hazardous pesticides.

“Conventionally grown cotton uses more insecticides than any other single crop and epitomizes the worst effects of chemically dependent agriculture… Cotton growers typically use many of the most hazardous pesticides on the market including aldicarb, phorate, methamidophos and endosulfan… Pesticides used on cotton– even when used according to instructions– harm people, wildlife and the environment.” Read more: Problems with Conventional Cotton Production | Panna.org

After it is harvested, it is often bleached, treated and dyed. These procedures inevitably leave behind a multitude of chemicals in the fibers. Bleach is considered one of the most toxic substances in the home; Greenpeace warns that “bleach can contribute to cancer, endocrine disorders and other dangerous health problems.” Dioxins contained in bleach have the ability to mimic human hormones and can cause low sperm count, testicular cancer or breast cancer. We know now that chemicals like formaldehyde and bleach are carcinogens, but others’ negative effects have yet to be discovered.

This wall of information is intimidating and confusing. Also, it just isn’t practical for most families to completely isolate themselves from the products manufactured as described above. Let me make a simple recommendation: limit exposure to these materials when it’s cost effective. We spend 1/3 of our lives on a pillow; it’s pretty hard to avoid a lot of exposure to its constituent materials. Thus, this is a product worth investigating carefully and perhaps spending a bit more on. Spend your hard-earned cash proportionally based upon exposure/use.

Choose an All-Natural Pillow

My advice is to look for an all-natural pillow containing fill like goose down, millet, kapok or buckwheat hulls. The pillow’s shell (containing the fill) should be made from unbleached organic cotton or similar chemical-free fiber. Obviously I’m partial to our own Hullo!

The post In Search of an All-Natural Pillow appeared first on Hullo.

Maybe she should turn on the air conditioner.

The summer is rapidly approaching. Is your pillow going to keep you cool?

I’ve spent many roasting summer evenings tossing and turning, trying to stay cool. Everyone knows the feeling of a hot sweaty pillow-they’re definitely NOT conducive to restful sleep! You can turn it all night long, but it will always build up and retain heat. Down, feather, polyester and foam pillows all suffer from this problem. The fact is that these types of pillows aren’t very breathable; the fill restricts airflow within the pillow. The temperature of air that’s trapped inside rises turning your pillow into a little oven.

You can crank up your air conditioner. You can flip your pillow over and over. Alternatively just find a cool pillow.

There are a lot of interesting solutions to a hot pillow out there: some use mysterious fabrics, others liquid cooling gels or refrigerated pads. These all address the issue with varying degrees of success. Most however, do not address the issue of breathability. A breathable pillow is a cool pillow. Most of the “cool pillow” products do not allow air to move through the fill with any more ease than a traditional pillow.

Fortunately there are a few simple and effective solutions to this problem. You can try using a pillowcase that’s more breathable-Egyptian cotton with a plain weave (as opposed to sateen) works very well. As for breathable pillows, I of course recommend buckwheat pillows. The buckwheat hull fill allows air to move freely through your pillow, preventing heat build up. You can sleep on the cool side all night long without flipping! Turn the air conditioner back down!

It’s worth mentioning that some buckwheat pillow users swear that cooling their pillow in a refrigerator or freezer is the ultimate in keeping cool. I’ve tried it myself.

The post Try a Cool Pillow for Summer Heat Relief appeared first on Hullo.

Do your pillows look like these two gems?

Most consumers don’t stop to consider the amount of money they pour into pillows. The fact is that the frequency of replacement is what really determines how much you’re spending on pillows for you and your family. The most common pillows, like those filled with down, feathers or polyester fill need to be replaced as frequently as every 2-3 years. Others, like buckwheat or millet hull pillows can last as long as 15 years with a little maintenance.

Let’s look at the simple economics of pillows. I’ve done some rudimentary calculations below that demonstrate one person’s costs during a theoretical 15 year period.

Down pillows:

• The average lifespan of a down pillow is about 3 years.**
• A mid-priced down-filled pillow is about $57.**
• 15 year period / 3 year lifespan of pillow = 5 pillows purchased

5 pillows x $57 = $285.00 over 15 years

Polyester pillows:

• The average lifespan of a polyester pillow is about 2 years.*
• A mid-priced polyester-filled pillow costs $28.**
• 15 year period / 2 year lifespan of pillow = 7.5 pillows purchased

7.5 pillows x $28 = $210.00 over 15 years

Cheap Buckwheat Pillows:

15 years lifespan is frequently cited in web documentation. Whoa really? I think that’s probably overly optimistic considering that most manufacturer’s pillowcase, or shell, isn’t durable enough to last half that long. Buckwheat hulls can be pretty heavy, putting a lot of strain on the seems and zipper-all it takes is one failure and your pillow is quickly a mess on your floor. Additionally, the elasticity of the buckwheat hulls will naturally decrease over time as the hulls become flattened (dry environments can accelerate this behavior). The hulls would need to be replaced periodically to “refluff” the pillow so that it maintained it’s optimal characteristics.

Let’s make some more assumptions:

• 10 lbs of replacement buckwheat hull fill would be more than sufficient to “refluff” a standard 20×26″ pillow over 15 years. 10 lbs replacement buckwheat hulls costs $49.
• The average lifespan of a “cheap buckwheat pillow” is 7 years.
• A cheap buckwheat pillow costs $50.
• 15 year period / 7 year lifespan of pillow = 2.1 pillows purchased

2.1 pillows x $50 cheap buckwheat pillow + $49 buckwheat hulls = $154.00 over 15 years

High Quality Buckwheat Pillow:

For purposes of our numbers, let’s assume the “high quality buckwheat pillow” has a durable shell that if washed periodically and generally well cared for, is capable of lasting 15 years. It will not tear and the zipper will remain functional. Again, the buckwheat hulls will need replacement-we’ll use the same high-quality hulls as above.

• 10 lbs replacement buckwheat hulls costs $49
• The average lifespan of a high quality buckwheat pillow is 15 years.
• A high quality buckwheat pillow costs $79. Hmmm… which one?
• 15 year period / 15 year lifespan of pillow = 1 pillow purchased

$79 pillow + $49 buckwheat hulls = $128.00 over 15 years

I don’t recommend you purchase a pillow based upon price alone, but it is certainly an understandable consideration for most consumers. Price is a top concern for the discerning shopper. I’m an advocate of buying what works for your sleep first and your wallet second. If you’re price-minded, remember that the initial cost of your pillow can be deceiving; spending a little more now can save you lots in the long run.

*health.com
** sleeplikethedead.com

The post Cheap Buckwheat Pillow? The Economics of the Pillow appeared first on Hullo.

Experts say this stomach sleeper’s breasts will sag prematurely.

Are you among the 16% of Americans that sleeps on your stomach? Any doctor or sleep expert will tell you to try acclimating yourself to another sleep position. Sleeping on your stomach will cause your head to be pushed upward at an unnatural and uncomfortable angle. While on your stomach, it’s very difficult to maintain a neutral sleeping position that allows your spine and neck to be aligned. In addition, there is increased pressure on joints and muscles which can also cause soreness or numbness. As a result, you’re much more likely to experience sleep-related discomfort and pain than someone who’s on their back or side. I was surprised to find when doing research for this post that sleeping on your stomach can even cause wrinkles and saggy breasts! Who knew? The list of terrible consequences goes on and on.

You should try to sleep in another position if it’s possible. That said, we sleep the way we do because that’s what is comfortable. If you’re intent on staying on your stomach, then make the most it.

What can you, a proud stomach sleeper, do to get more restful sleep?

A very simple solution is to try sleeping with no pillow at all. Give it a try. This will achieve something close to a neutral sleeping position, although your neck will obviously always be turned at a 90 degree angle because there’s no escaping the fact that you need to be able to breath! I don’t recommend cutting face holes in your mattress, but maybe one of those massage tables would look nice in your bedroom.

If it doesn’t feel right sans pillow, then you’ll want to find a pillow that has a low profile so that it doesn’t elevate your head too high. Some pillow manufacturers have specially designed stomach sleeper pillows. Most of these are quite simply just thin pillows, but some others offer wild features like special arm tunnels. The unique designs should be judged with skepticism; try these before you buy if possible.

My recommendation is that you try a pillow that allows the fill to be added or removed to adjust the profile and amount of support. Buckwheat pillows work great for stomach sleepers; most high-quality ones have zippered shells for adjusting the amount of buckwheat hull fill. Read more: Sleeping Position and Buckwheat Pillows

If you’re intent on staying on your stomach, then make the most it. First try sleeping with no pillow and if that doesn’t work out, do some deliberate and careful shopping for a stomach sleeper pillow. The best stomach sleeper pillow will provide you sufficient support for both your head and neck without elevating it too much. Above all, it’ll simply be comfortable.

The post Choosing the Best Stomach Sleeper Pillow appeared first on Hullo.

Enjoy that sleep while you can get it, lady. Your neck is going to be really sore after sleeping on that monster pillow.

Unfortunately pillows are not one-size-fits-all. With the hundreds of different types pillows available, buying one can be a thoroughly confusing experience. Purchase the wrong pillow and it can potentially cause or worsen headaches, neck and shoulder pain, arm numbness, general discomfort, and even sneezing. Before making an arbitrary purchase, It’s important to first consider how you sleep at night. What position do you prefer to sleep in? Side sleeping happens to be the most common sleeping position and is fortunately considered one of the best ways to sleep.

What does sleeping position have to do with pillow type?

To answer, first let’s consider that the reason we sleep on pillows in the first place. Pillows help to keep our head in neutral alignment while we sleep. During sleep, ideally your head should be perpendicular to your shoulders; your neck should not be bent too far in any direction. For side sleepers, the pillow fills the gap between your head and the bed, preventing your neck from angling downwards toward the mattress. Sleeping with a pillow that is too soft or thin will cause your head to lay too low, creating a bend in your neck. Conversely, using a pillow that’s too thick or firm will create an upward bend in the neck. Neither is comfortable or conducive to restful sleep. These circumstances can cause excessive stress on your neck and can potentially cause pain. I’ve woken up with a sore neck too many times to use the wrong pillow again…

If your pillow doesn’t keep your head at the correct level, it is likely you will experience back and neck pain.

What is the best type of side sleeper pillow?

Side sleepers generally require a firmer, fuller pillow than back or stomach sleepers.This is simply because there is considerably more space to fill between the ear and outside shoulder when on your side. Your pillow needs to be thick enough to keep your spine straight, but not so thick that it bends your neck upwards out of alignment.

Do a little shopping and you’ll quickly discover that there are hundreds of different pillows designed specifically for side-sleepers. Of these, many come with a predetermined shape, meant to conform to the shape under your neck. Before you run out to pick one of these up, keep in mind that most people change position frequently during sleep. While you might prefer to be on your side, it’s quite likely that you move to your back and stomach many times throughout the night. These pillows are designed to work best while you’re lying perfectly perpendicular to your mattress. These work best for those that hold a relatively static sleeping position during the night. For most, a malleable pillow with down, feather, micro bead, or our personal favorite, buckwheat hull fill is preferable.

There are two simple ways to be certain you’re getting the ideal pillow that fits your body type and sleeping style:

1. Try the pillow in the store. If it’s possible, lie down on the pillow. A bed is best, as it will give a bit and If that’s not feasible, try putting it between your head and a wall and lean on it to get a feel for it. You want to make sure your head and neck are in a neutral position (aligned with your spine).
2. Buy an adjustable pillow. Unfortunately you can’t do this with most pillows on the market. Some pillows are designed so that fill can be added or removed via a zippered opening. Our own Hullo buckwheat pillow is a great example.

The best side sleeper pillow will provide you sufficient support for both your head and neck. Above all, it’ll simply be comfortable. If you’re careful and deliberate with your purchase, you’ll get the most restful sleep possible. Trust me, it’s worth it!

The post Choosing the Best Side Sleeper Pillow appeared first on Hullo.

A buckwheat pillow reshapes and resizes to fit both your body and your sleeping positions.

About Contour Pillows

“Contour pillows” or support pillows are orthopedic pillows designed to keep your neck and spine in alignment while providing comfort and healthy rest to the user. These pillows are typically made of synthetic foam, and more recently memory foam has become popular. Memory foam pillows are made of a heat-sensitive foam which accquires the shape of the body sleeping on it.

Contour pillows can be very effective at promoting comfort and restful sleep, and there have been many claims of them providing relief from various medical conditions including neck pain, sleep apena, snoring, lower back pain, and insomnia among many others. While contour pillows are comfortable and healthy, synthetic foam pillows do come with some disadvantages compared to a pillow filled with buckwheat hulls.

A typical memory foam contour pillow. Is your body really always shaped like this?

Foam Contour Pillows Are Not Adjustable

One of the biggest problems with foam and memory foam pillows is that they come in a predefined geometric shape. Foam will collapse and conform to you head somewhat, but it cannot be shaped, plumped or molded to support a wide variety of sleeping positions. Many people change positions throughout the night and a preformed foam pillow is not shaped optimally for many of these positions. With foam pillows you typically can not adjust the pillow thickness. Depending on your body shape, the firmness of your mattress and your sleeping positions, the foam pillow may be too thick or too thin for maximum comfort and health.

High-quality buckwheat pillows generally have a zipper, which allows adjustment in the amount of fill in the pillow. This allows the thickness of the pillow to be customized for maximum comfort. A buckwheat pillow can then be shaped to a range of shapes and sizes as you sleep to provide superior support and comfort.

Breathability

The curved shape of buckwheat hulls creates airspace within your pillow providing air circulation and breathability. This results in a cool, dry pillow, for that “cool side of the pillow” effect all night long.

Natural Renewable Materials

Synthetic foams are often made with petroleum products and other harsh manufacturing chemicals. This may include chemicals you’d rather not rest your head on for 8 hours every night. Foam contour pillows are typically not biodegradable and certainly not compostable. Buckwheat hulls are usually considered hypoallergenic, and are an all-natural plant product. Buckwheat pillows are the ultimate natural contour pillow.

Highest Satisfaction Rating

The natural adjustable comfort of a buckwheat pillow makes for the best contour pillow. According to an independent study based on over 13,000 customer experiences, buckwheat pillows have a higher customer satisfaction rating than memory foam pillows. Many people do not give their choice of pillow a second thought and they are likely missing out. You can read our buckwheat pillow testimonials for an idea of how much people like their pillows.

The post Contour Pillows – Why Buckwheat is Better than Memory Foam appeared first on Hullo.

Buckwheat hulls are available in many different varieties and qualities. My goal was simple: find the best ones for use in a pillow.

Firstly, I narrowed the search considerably by considering only USA produced buckwheat hulls. Our company, Hulltex, is American. Thus it’s very important to us that we support locally owned farms and companies, particularly during these challenging economic times.

Interesting Fact: China and India are both big exporters of buckwheat and there are some good prices to be found, but they are typically not produced using the same high standards employed in the USA. Manufacturers of buckwheat pillows that utilize imported buckwheat hulls will frequently advertise their hulls as being, “roasted.” This term refers to a process required by the US government to remove any potential contaminants the product might contain prior to being distributed to American markets.

These certified organic buckwheat hulls have been crushed flat, making them less effective for use in a pillow.

I ordered our first sample buckwheat hulls thinking that they’d be perfect. They were certified organic and dirt cheap! Well they looked like dirt too… When they arrived in the mail my high hopes were dashed. The hulls were all crushed flat and broken into many small pieces. What’s wrong with that? A few things:

1. The buckwheat hulls have lost their malleability. Using this type of hull will result in a pillow that doesn’t hold its shape well and also has less “give” or softness.
2. There’s much less space between the buckwheat hulls when they’ve been crushed flat and thus the benefit of air circulation (and a cool pillow) is greatly diminished.
3. When crushed, buckwheat hulls, especially if they’re very dry, will break into very small pieces creating dust. Even with air-cleaning, significant amounts of dust can remain with the larger pieces of buckwheat hulls. These small pieces can work their way through your pillowcase and make a mess.
4. Buckwheat hull pillows are not light. Flattened hulls are considerably denser and will weigh down your already hefty pillow.

Interesting fact: Some marketers of buckwheat pillows try to use this characteristic to their advantage claiming that they’ve been “pre-flattened” or “polished.” The only potential advantage to this is that crushed buckwheat hulls will potentially make less noise when the pillow is moved (not something I was too concerned about). I decided to try again.

Buckwheat sample #2 consisted of comparatively tiny hulls.

My second sample of buckwheat hulls wasn’t much more successful than the first. Another certified organic variety with a considerably higher price tag arrived at my door step. I tore into the package and was disappointed to see the tiny little hulls contained. While completely intact, they were shriveled-appearing compared to some of the larger varieties typically used in buckwheat pillows. Being so small, these were much more dense; they were heavier and restricted air flow much like the crushed buckwheat hulls in my first sample. Strike two…

I got a few other samples with similar issues-they were less than ideal for one reason or another. Finally a sample came that was perfect… well almost. The buckwheat hulls were:

1. completely intact.
2. malleable.
3. large enough to allow good air circulation.
4. dust free.

The ultimate buckwheat hulls for use in a pillow!

The one catch was that they weren’t certified organic. Does that matter? As it turns out, this is only a significant issue for the marketing departments who want to claim their product is 100% organic certified. After hours of research I determined that it was of little importance that the buckwheat hulls be certified. Buckwheat grows well without requiring any fertilizers or pesticides so it is most often very close to the definition of organic without being certified organic. In the end, it wasn’t a difficult decision. I decided that it was better to use buckwheat hulls with superior physical characteristics rather than rely on the seemingly meaningless label applied to inferior product.

In summary, without seeing the buckwheat hulls up close in person, it’s very difficult to know what you’re getting. We’ve done that for you. If you’re in the market for buckwheat hulls for use in a pillow, look no farther. We’ve selected the best we could find and use them in every Hullo we ship. I guarantee you’ll agree.

The post Locating Bulk Buckwheat Hulls for Use in a Pillow appeared first on Hullo.

Surprisingly while sleep patterns may change and naps might be required, as adults age the total amount of sleep required for good health is the same for young adults and the elderly.

“Although some people claim to feel rested on just a few hours of sleep a night, research shows that people who sleep so little over many nights don’t perform as well on complex mental tasks as do people who get closer to seven hours of sleep a night.”

It’s important to remember that the quality of sleep you get is just as important as the amount of sleep you get. If your having trouble getting a good nights rest we suggest you read our Tips for Achieving Restful Sleep.

The post How Much Sleep Do You Need for Good Health? appeared first on Hullo.