Gloss Find: Wellness Kitchen Mat

Celebrity chef Mario Batali made a fashion statement when he started wearing Crocs for comfort in the kitchen. While his kicks might turn heads, the extra support from his soles might be helping prevent aches, pains and back problems associated with spending long hours in the kitchen.

If you don’t want to wear rubber-soled neon clogs every time you bake a cake, a Wellness Kitchen Mat from Napa Style is a must-have accessory for any busy kitchen.

Whether you station it in front of your sink for dish duty or near your prep space for marathon slicing and dicing sessions, the proprietary, cross-linked polyurethane material creates permanent cushioning and buoyancy for your feet, knees and back. Cooking might not seem like grueling work, but even triathlete chef Rocco DiSpirito has experienced chronic back problems from spending hours in front of the stove.

Not only are wellness mats great for anyone with arthritis, foot or back pain but they help prevent conditions that afflict the joints and muscles. With no-skid edges, they lie flat with beveled, no-trip edges and are easy to clean with a mop or dish rag.

They come in four colors: black, brown, navy blue and maroon and after about six months in a new apartment, mine is a mainstay in the kitchen.

Napa Style Wellness Mat – starts at $119 at Napastyle.com

(Photo Credit: Napa Style)