Buckwheat vs. Shredded Latex Pillows

Fiber-based materials like organic cotton, natural kapok, and eco-wool have been on the organic market for quite some time, but some exciting new additions have arrived on the scene. Buckwheat and shredded latex in particular have become popular for their health benefits, distinct textures, and body molding qualities.

Buckwheat

Buckwheat is a fruit related to rhubarb that originates from East Asian countries, having been popular in Japan for centuries. While buckwheat seeds are a nutrient-rich health food, the hulls those seeds are encased in are extracted, cleaned, and filled into a cotton or other natural fiber casing for use as buckwheat pillows. 

*Note: We no longer sell buckwheat pillows here at MyOrganicSleep

So why is buckwheat, of all materials, used for filling in pillows?

• Buckwheat has bouncy but firm qualities that make it effective in providing contouring support.
• A buckwheat pillow is malleable enough to shape to your comfort without shifting or flattening overnight, so your head, neck, and spine will stay properly aligned.
• This also reduces snoring, as a head held too high or too far back disrupts the airway in a way that causes snoring.
• Buckwheat hulls are smooth, cupped triangles with tiny air pockets in between them, providing air flow for a cool night’s sleep.
• Since the hulls themselves are not a food source, they are not attractive to bugs or insects. Paired with proper airflow, this keeps hulls hypoallergenic and resistant to dust mites. 

There are some drawbacks, however. Buckwheat is not for those looking for a more soft, fluffy option. These pillows are heavy and made to stay in place, so it may take some time to find a proper level of fill for that perfect position. The hulls also give off an earthy smell and create a rustling noise when shuffled around that could be annoying to some.

Shredded Latex

Latex is an organic material that most closely resembles memory foam, because of its firm, rubbery texture and softness. Latex is the natural/organic alternative to memory foam, which is almost entirely made of synthetics and gassed with harmful toxins. 

Why is shredded latex used in pillows?

• Latex slabs are shredded into small pieces (about 0.5-1.5 inches long) and stuffed into a 100% organic cotton cover, so that the pillow can shift and mold to the user’s contours. Pressure point relief and comfortable, deep sleep are the most immediate benefits.
• While a standard latex pillow is a single large slab of latex, shredded latex pillows consist of shredded chunks stuffed into a cotton casing. The spaces in between latex  allows for easy air flow and prevents heat build up.

Shredded latex really is the happy medium between memory foam and buckwheat. It has all the resilient, responsive support and naturally hypoallergenic, anti-microbial qualities as buckwheat, as well as the softness of memory foam, but with 100% organic construction. 

Here at MyOrganicSleep, we offer an Adjustable Shredded Latex Pillow. To adjust to level of loft you prefer (low to high), simply open the side zipper and remove or add micro cushions.