Here's a list of superstitions I came across that many believe to be true. Any on this list that you believed to be true and it wasn't?
Summer superstitions squelched
Do bananas draw mosquitos? Can you snack before swimming? Read on
Do not underestimate the power of apocryphal advice and myths. Parents have used them for years. "If you cross your eyes and the wind blows, your eyes will freeze crossed" is more effective than, "Stop doing that!"
Because summer trumps all seasons in this part of the world, it is no surprise that hot weather has spawned legion myths and beliefs. Some are born of coincidence. Others are based in homespun wisdom. Some are believed simply because someone said so ? with authority.
OK, OK. So the myths in Texas star sunburn and not a siren's song, cattle rather than a caduceus, and mosquitoes instead of Minotaur, Medusa or Midas. But the messages delivered by summer myths are as powerful as their ancient counterparts.
What are the myths that you recall from summers past? Are any of them true?
Is noon the hottest time of day? Is August the warmest month? Must you wait 30 minutes after eating before jumping in the lake? Do warm drinks or cold drinks cool you down faster? Will eating garlic keep mosquitoes away?
Turns out crossed-eyes (strabismus) is usually caused by poor eye muscle control, not the wind. I consulted some experts to find out which of these myths of summer are true, and which are tall, albeit charming, tales. Their answers will amuse, amaze and apprise you.
If you swallow a
watermelon seed,
it can grow in
your tummy.
False, false, false.
"Watermelon seeds are pretty innocuous, and I have seen these seeds in the colon go through intact," says gastroenterologist Alice Friedman of the Austin Diagnostic Clinic. Remember, people usually eat pumpkin seeds with no problems.
Ready for the "however"?
However, "for those with diverticulosis, fruit seeds could be a problem," Friedman says. Diverticulosis is a condition in which a person has small pouches bulging outward in the colon. These pouches could become infected and inflamed.
Noon is hotter than any other time of day.
False.
"Noon is not the hottest time of the day," declares KXAN meteorologist Jim Spencer.
You want the hottest time? Try 3 or 4 p.m., even though energy from the sun reaches its maximum at noon, he adds. This is called the thermal response, temperature lag or diurnal lag. "Temperatures are at their highest when the amount of incoming solar radiation is 'balanced' with the amount of outgoing heat energy," Spencer says. He likened it to a pot of water on a fire that is hottest when it has fully absorbed the energy of the fire.
On a larger scale? We are closest to the sun in June, but the hottest temperatures of the season are later ? most often in July and August.
August is the hottest month
of the year.
True ? but barely.
"The average high in August is 95.6 degrees, followed closely by 95.0 in July (Camp Mabry records)," KVUE chief meteorologist Mark Murray reports.
What causes this summertime clime?
The northern hemisphere warms when the sun is high in the sky (spring and summer), because incoming energy from the sun during the day is greater than the energy lost by the atmosphere at night. "By September, with the sun lower in the sky, that balance tips, and we begin to cool," Murray adds (and I pray!).
A red sky at night means another sunny day.
True.
The person who coined "Red sky at night, sailor's delight; red sky in morning, sailor take warning" was correct. The Library of Congress science reference service explains such everyday mysteries at www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/mysteries/.
When the sun sets, light is passing through the densest part of the atmosphere, which is loaded with dust particles. The red color is a result of the long wavelengths breaking through this thick atmosphere. Other colors such as blue have a shorter wavelength and break up. A red sky usually means high pressure and stable air coming from the west, the source of most storm systems. Good weather is on its way.
A deep red hue of a sunrise is the result of higher water content in the atmosphere. Rain is in the offing.
You have to wait 30 minutes
after eating before swimming.
False.
Though swimming or doing any exercise on a full stomach might cause discomfort, "there is no scientific evidence I know of that it causes cramps," says Keith Bell, local sports psychologist and coach of TeamTexas, an adult swimming team open to swimmers ages 18 and older.
The discomfort is from the pressure a full stomach places on the diaphragm. Oxygen used in digestion might cause a drowsy feeling. Athletes get used to training shortly after eating and are no longer bothered by it (unless they eat too much).
"I wasted good swimming time when I was a kid because they told us to wait," Bell says.
Drink eight glasses of water
a day to stay hydrated.
True and false.
Eight is a minimum and probably insufficient during the hot In summer, nine glasses are recommended for women and 12 for men (based on weight), says Neelu Kohli, clinical nutrition manager at North Austin Medical Center. Trust your instincts, and if you feel thirsty, drink more water. "Check your urine, and if it is dark, you are dehydrated," Kohli adds.
Others say, however, that overhydration (hyponatremia) is a possibility during prolonged exercise. Everyone sweats at a different rate. Trust your instincts to hydrate correctly.
Remember to hydrate before exercising. If you plan to exercise 40 minutes or more, down a sports beverage. The higher salt and sugar content in these drinks helps you absorb water faster, Kohli says.
Cool drinks cool you off faster than warm drinks.
True.
Cold water is better for a couple of reasons. Cold water gets into your system faster than warm or hot liquids, emptying out of the stomach and into the body, says Phil Stanforth, director of the Fitness Institute of Texas. In addition, body heat is used to warm up the cold water, thus helping cool you by dissipating body heat.
Eating bananas makes you more prone to mosquito bites; eating garlic makes them go away.
False and maybe.
Female mosquitoes (the ones that bite) find us through body odor, moisture and carbon dioxide. All three are plentiful in sweaty humans.
The banana as an attractor is "a total myth, and I have no idea how that got started," says Texas A&M University entomologist Jim Olson. Mosquitoes store about two hours' worth of energy and look for carbohydrates to replenish the supply while flying. Fruit has carbs. So if you are eating a banana, they could be attracted to the carbs, Olson says. His advice? "Next time mosquitoes are biting, hit 'em with the banana."
The garlic-as-deterrent evidence is somewhat anecdotal and has mixed reviews. "We tried spraying a yard with garlic, but it just made the mosquitoes mad and bite more," Olson says. His take on eating garlic in the summer? "If you want to smell like a Pizza Hut, go ahead."
Meat tenderizer takes the itch out of bug bites.
True, sometimes.
The active ingredients in meat tenderizer might neutralize the sting of wasp and bee stings, but not bug bites, says Connie Sterritt, dermatology physician assistant to Dr. Stephen Houston,a local dermatologist. Wet tobacco can be an effective poultice. The folks at McCormick, which makes meat tenderizer, declined to comment on this myth, saying spices are "for food use only."
Some readers report that a cold compress helps relieve the discomfort of a sting or bite. The summer first aid kit should include tweezers to remove stingers and hydrocortisone cream to relieve itching. If a family member is allergic to insect stings, also include a syringe and epinephrine.
Sunscreen is no good after a year.
True.
Many sunscreens post expiration dates. Heed them.
Sunscreen without an expiration date might not offer protection after one year. Sunblock can lose its potency, dermatologist Houston says. In addition, any change in the product's consistency might mean the sunscreen is less effective. Houston recommends an SPF 15 (sun protection factor) sunscreen for brief exposures to the Texas sun, and SPF 30 for full-day outings. Note: Avobenzone and a "clear" zinc oxide are two ingredients to look for in sunscreen for improved protection.
You cannot get a bad sunburn
under water, on a cloudy day
or wearing sleeves.
False.
Ultraviolet rays penetrate clouds, so some of the worst sunburns are received on cloudy days, says local dermatologist Dr. Toni Funicella. Long sleeves help. The looser the fabric's weave and the more translucent the fabric, the more likely you will be sunburned. Some folks wash new clothing before wearing it in the sun to tighten the weave.
Remember, "tanning is an injury response of the skin," Funicella says. So wear sunscreen every day, all year long.
Living as we do in a climate with more than 300 days of sunshine a year makes merely walking unprotected across a parking lot a bad idea. Wear sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses daily.
In addition, Funicella says children younger than 2 should not be out in direct sun. Their skin is not equipped to handle it, and their heat exchange mechanism is not good.
One more warning: Stay away from tanning beds. You might not see the damage tanning beds cause skin right away, but it is there.
It's so hot, an egg will fry
on the sidewalk.
False.
The American Egg Board has not heard of anyone who has had success doing this, says Elisa Maloberti, consumer information coordinator. The white of the egg coagulates (cooks) between 144 degrees and 149 degrees, and the yolk cooks at higher temperatures: 149 degrees to 158 degrees. The heat of summer might make you feel as if an egg could fry on the sidewalk, but the temperature would have to be concentrated to make that happen, Maloberti adds.
Hmmm, on a dashboard in a closed car perhaps? One Statesman staffer managed to do this, but declined to eat the egg.
If the temperature falls below freezing, fleas will not be a
problem.
False.
One day of freezing weather might kill some flea eggs but not all the adult fleas, says Dr. Mark Venghaus, veterinarian at Highland's Pet Medical Clinic in Austin. In a 15- to 30-day life span, each female flea lays about 2,000 eggs. Reinfestation is just a few eggs away. Fleas are ectoparasites, living outside the animal's body. Many fleas live indoors, and it never freezes inside your house.
Several consecutive days of below-freezing temperatures do affect the adult flea population. Last winter, Austin experienced four consecutive days with below-freezing weather (Dec. 6-9).
Source: http://www.statesman.com/life/content/l ... sumer.html
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