Did you know that the bedding you sleep on could impact your health? Don’t even get me started on the quality of your mattress and what may or may not be sprayed on it – that’s for another post. Until recently, I had no idea that the type of bed linen I chose for my family, or the clothes we wear, could impact not only the quality of our sleep – which is precious with three under four – but it could also actually impact our health in the long run.

A little over a year ago, I started learning more and more about how fabrics can impact our health, specifically the fabrics we sleep on and wear. And then, in the last year, a wide number of popular athletic brands were exposed for having toxic PFAs in their clothing.¹ But this post isn’t just about the presence of forever chemicals or whether the fabrics in your home are organic. Rather, it’s about the frequency that each fabric gives off, because these frequencies can either help you feel amazing or can make you feel worse. Yep, not only can fabrics silently impact your health, they can actually determine how your body feels overall.²

The Study

Dr. Heidi Yellen conducted a study on the frequencies of fabric in 2003. She determined that the human body emits a frequency of 100 Hz, and that clothing and the frequencies of the fabrics used in that clothing has a direct impact on our bodies. Our skin is our largest organ, and what we allow to come into contact with that organ matters! If the fabric’s frequency is lower than 100 Hz, it puts a strain on the body; if the frequency is higher than 100 Hz, then it gives the body energy. The image below shows you some of the varying frequencies of common fabrics you have in your home.

The best fabrics for your body are flax linen and wool. But, before you try pairing your wool socks with your summer linens, it’s very important to know that you can’t mix them together! Despite what you may assume, Dr. Yellen’s study found that the 5,000 Hz frequencies of the materials are not additive and do not become 10,000 Hz when combined; Instead, they cancel each other out, netting out to 0 Hz because their frequencies flow in opposite directions. So, if you want to wear one of these super fabrics or sleep on them, make sure you only pair linen with linen or organic cotton and wool only with wool.³ Essentially, keep plant fibers with plant fibers, and animals fibers with animal fibers.

“…neither shall a garment mingled of linen and woollen come upon thee.”

Leviticus 19:19, KJV

Synthetic vs Natural Fibers

Synthetic fibers are derived from plastic, meaning they are ultimately derived from petroleum and petroleum byproducts. Dr. Yellen’s study found that these materials had frequencies of 0 Hz, even lower than the baseline 15 Hz of a corpse – not exactly indicative of good health. If that wasn’t enough of a drawback, they also require vast amounts of chemicals, water, and energy to produce. If you are interested in sustainability, synthetic materials should be off your list wherever possible. Wool and cashmere are one of the most sustainable fibers because a sheep can be sheared year after year. Additionally, if the ranchers and farmers are using regenerative agriculture methods, then they are routinely grazing on different areas of land, helping to benefit the soil, which is good for us and the planet.

Our world has been inundated with synthetically made products, which is really unfortunate because natural fibers like wool and linen have so many beneficial characteristics. Wool is a natural anti-inflammatory due to a wax in its fibers called lanolin that has many skin nourishing properties. Some people who suffer from fibromyalgia and sleep on wool bedding report a decrease in pain and an improvement in their condition.⁴ Additionally, wool is a natural flame retardant, with a self-extinguishing flame. This makes it a great option for upholstery, carpets, and curtains. Additionally, due to its self-insulating properties, it is an excellent option for a natural and non-toxic home insulation.

In the past, linen was used not only as an article of clothing, but in wound care and as hospital bedding. Linen is naturally antibacterial and antiseptic, making it an exceptional option for bandages, and its high frequency level may contribute to faster healing.⁵ At Life Giving Linen, one of my favorite companies listed below, one reviewer told her story of wrapping her sick baby in the linen baby blanket when he had a fever. By morning, without using any fever reducers or other medications, the fever had broken, and baby was feeling much better, just by being wrapped in the linen blanket.

My Favorite Brands

If you are interested in swapping out your synthetic products for natural ones, here is a list of some of my favorite brands for a variety of products within your home. Whether you are looking for new clothes, bedding, towels, or other products for your home, be sure to look for products that are as natural as possible. You want the fabrics in your home to be organic, free of toxic chemicals or dyes, OEKO-TEX Certified or GOTS Certified, and sustainable. There are larger brands out there that are creating these types of products, but also be sure to look for local artisans who may also be selling products. When looking, be sure to ask them how they source their fabrics, or what methods they use for dying to ensure they use non-toxic dyes, if any.

Bedding

• Coyuchi: I love Coyuchi’s products! We switched our master bedroom set to their linen bedding set and organic cotton duvet insert, and it is heavenly! We sleep so well on it, and both my husband and I have noticed a huge difference in the quality of our sleep with these sheets, no matter the time of year. Even during the Texas summer heat, we never get too hot, and in the winter it is just right.
  • (For $60 off your first purchase of $300 or more, click here.)
• Avocado: This is a great option for organic cotton sheets and organic mattresses.
• Life Giving Linen: I love Life Giving Linen. They are a small family business and all of their items are made-to-order by excellent seamstresses. They offer a wide range of products all made with 100% linen. I purchased my son’s linen baby blanket and crib sheet from them, and the quality is amazingl.

Clothing

• Wear Pact: Pact offers 100% organic cotton clothes for men and women, as well as products for your home. Each piece is beautifully designed using the highest quality cotton and non-toxic dyes.
• Mate the Label: Another great option for organic cotton clothing for men, women, and kids.
• NADS Organic Boxers for Men: 100% organic cotton underwear and boxers for men. NADS is a new company that prioritizes organic cotton and toxin-free dyes, if any. These are a great option for the man in your life.
• Q for Quinn: I love the quality and comfort of organic cotton and wool basics from Q for Quinn. They use only organic cotton or wool in their products and utilize non-toxic dyes. They offer underwear and socks for the whole family.
• Menique: This is a new brand to me, but they use 100% natural organic fibers for all of their products. They offer a wide range of clothing options for men, women, and children.

Bath

• Coyuchi: Coyuchi offers great organic cotton towel bundles, robes, bath mats, shower curtains and more.
• Rough Linen: At Rough Linen, you can find a beautiful collection of bathroom linens including towels, bath mats, robes, and shower curtains all made from 100% linen that is OEKO-TEX Certified.

Choose the Best for You

Everyone has their favorite clothes or favorite sheets. Some people prefer cotton, some prefer linen or wool. Today, the majority of products are cheaply made using synthetic fibers. We love them because they are cute and stylish, but maybe it’s time to look beyond that. Start investing in pieces that are timeless, and are made from materials that will benefit your body and your home. I recently did a complete clean out of our closet and I was shocked by the number of items I have that are 100% synthetic. Meanwhile, the majority of my husband’s clothes are cotton and he still has a closet full.

Organic cotton, linen, and wool pieces are definitely more expensive than your acrylic or polyester clothing, but in the long run, the investment will pay off. You will feel better knowing that the clothes you and your family wear, or the bedding you sleep on, is not contaminated with toxins, pesticides, or PFAs. And these choices may give you more energy, whether it is because of the fabric’s frequency or just from getting a better night’s sleep.

For more of my favorite home and clothing products, head over to The Ladenbod List.