Submarine Question of the Week: 4/5/2012

Background

"Vaginal infections are common." - The Naval Health Clinic Great Lakes, IL (now the Captain James A. Lovell Federal Health Care Center)

"Although there are only slight differences between the natural pH of men and women, the potential damage caused by a pH imbalance may be more pronounced in women. ...As yeasts thrive in an acidic environment, eating too many acidic foods may lead to a greater risk of yeast infections by lowering your body's pH. Although you should not attempt to correct for this by eliminating acidic foods from your diet, increasing your intake of alkaline foods may help to prevent and lower your risk of yeast infections." - ALKALINE PH IN MEN VS. WOMEN

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Dietary supplements are relatively poorly absorbed by the human body. Many even have undesirable side effects. What then, are the foods submarines will be introducing to benefit women crew members? A quantitative (per ounce) listing of 'Alkali-Forming Foods' is found here. Submariners know that fresh fruit items in the listing are going to be scarce for obvious reasons. How about Brazil nuts, however? ANS: Just as unlikely as bananas.

Questions of the Week:

1) What became known as the remedy for Scurvy, a disease that was once among the limiting factors in maritime travel for passengers and crew over long voyages?

2) Which item on the Alkaline-Forming Foods listing (linked above) will become the submarine remedy for vaginal infections in women submarine crew in long voyages?

ANSWER: Sunday April 8th (item 1, only).

PREDICTION: The answer to item 2) will eventually be one the first oolies due to female sub crew members.

Submarines are always silent and strange.