Historically, alcohol was used to treat bends in Greek sponge divers. In the late 1980s attempts to verify the possible beneficial effects of ethanol on prevention of DCS led to prevailing opinions that there was no proven benefit and that divers should not drink and dive. On the other hand, the assumption that wine drinking has beneficial effects on general health is still propagated. (more…)
Nutrition
Who got it wrong, reporter or scientists?
Eating a Mediterranean diet has been reported as beneficial in preventing metabolic syndrome, slowing down the progression of atherosclerosis and decreasing risk of myocardial infarction and stroke. Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a disorder of energy utilization and storage, which according to the American Heart Association, is characterized by at least three of the following five signs:
- Abdominal obesity: (excess body fat around the waist) waist circumference greater than 102 cm (40 inches) in men and greater than 88 cm (35 inches) in women
- High serum triglycerides level: equal to or greater than 150 mg/dl (1.7 mmol/L)
- Reduced high density lipoprotein (HDL): less than 40 mg/dL (1.03 mmol/L) in men and less than 50 mg/dL (1.29 mmol/L) in women
- Increased blood pressure: equal to or greater than 130/85 mmHg or use of medication for hypertension.
- Elevated fasting blood glucose level: equal to or greater than 100 mg/dL (5.6 mmol/L) or use of medication for hyperglycemia
The Dive Lab 