Considering you spend one-third of your time sleeping, you're in constant, long-term contact with what you sleep on. But the toxic soup found in most mattresses can keep you tossing and turning at night.

More often than not, new ­mattresses come laden with adhesives, flame ­retardants and petroleum-based synthetic products that off-gas volatile organic compounds and can be absorbed by the body. While some people are just bothered by the bad smell coming from their new mattress, ­others have reported dizziness, headache, nausea, sore throat, flu-like symptoms, rashes, breathing problems and eye ­irritation.

Essentia (www.myessentia.com), a manufacturer of what's billed as the world's only natural memory foam, has opened its first store in Vancouver. Essentia sells eco-friendly, natural memory foam mattresses made of latex rubber. No need to suffer sleepless nights.

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