A scientist has said he is now medically ten years younger after spending three months underwater.
Retired naval officer Joseph Dituri spent 93 days inside a 100sqft pod in the depths of the Atlantic Ocean to research the effects of a pressurised environment on the human body. Medics who assessed Dituri after he got back to dry land told him that his vitals, DNA and stem cells were now those of a younger person, compared to how he was at the start of the experiment.
The rejuvenating experiment, which also helped him achieve the world record of living underwater, helped him achieve better sleep and a 72-point drop in cholesterol. His inflammatory markers have been slashed in half.
The massive improvements in the physical health of the 55-year-old are attributed to the pressure, which is known to have a number of positive effects. Speaking to the Daily Mail about the pod he called home for 93 days, he said: "You need one of these places that is cut off from outside activity.
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"Send people down here for a two-week vacation, where they get their feet scrubbed, relax and can experience the benefit of hyperbaric medicine."
Dituri's research allowed him to see how human bodies respond to pressurised environments for a longer period of time. His pod was similar to what spacemen and women will experience while travelling to Mars.
During the getaway, he worked out for an hour five days a week but could only use exercise bands. He has still maintained the mass he developed down there weeks later.
He added that his metabolism has increased, allowing his body to become "leaner". His stem cells, which are already touted as a way of reversing visible aging, have multiplied by 10.
One similar - and more accessible - form of treatment is the hyperbaric chamber, which improves brain health, leading to better cognition.
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