4102 Fact or Fiction : Wait 3 hours before swimming after eating?

Since moving to Italy I have been advised time and again by my girlfriend and her family that I should not go swimming for at least 3 hours after a heavy meal as I would die of stomach cramps (Apparently lots of people die every year according to them).

I thought this sounded like far too long and so decided to do some research on the Internet about this subject, what I found was numerous stories saying its a myth and an old wives tale.

Here are just a few links of about 30 I have.

[url]http://www.active.com/story.cfm?story_id=4475[/url]
[url]http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/aquatics/FAQ.htm#Q3[/url]
[url]http://www.alisonosinski.com/pooltips/e.htm[/url]
[url]http://www.cbc.ca/story/science/national/2005/06/30/swim-eat050630.html[/url]
[url]http://www.intellihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/35320/35323/315779.html?d=dmtHMSContent[/url]

As a kid I was only ever told an hour max and all my research seems to say this is an old wives tale and in fact there is no definitive proof for needing to wait at all before swimming (other than waiting long enough to feel comfortable). However no matter how much evidence I show my girlfriend and family, they just wont even consider the possibility that its just an old wives tale or misinformation.

Now its your turn, can anyone show me some "Italian" evidence for or against this theory so that I can finally put this to rest.

I just had a son and I really don't want to perpetuate a myth unnecessarily and make my son have to wait 3 hours "which must seem like a lifetime for a little kid" before they can enjoy themselves in the water.

Thanks for all your help in advance.

Category
General chat about Italy

[quote=tuscanhills]........tell the fish...[/quote]

OK, OK, I am joking but what better source of Italian wisdom than Barilla? [url=http://int.primopiatto.barilla.com/piacereebenessere/pensatoperte/htm/45533_awContent.htm]They suggest[/url] a 3 hr break.......basta?

I was hoping for medical examples not examples from pasta makers trying to cover there arses in case of being sued. I assume your trying to be funny, tongue in cheek.

There is some sense in this. While the stomach is engaged in digesting a heavy meal it needs a good blood supply, and this means that the muscles take second place on the blood availability front. In turn, this means the muscles are more prone to get cramp.
Now, if you are talking about a gentle swim in a pool, where the swimmer is "in his depth", the danger associated with getting cramp is clearly minimal (can be ignored). However, if the swimmer might get into trouble (long way from the coast, etc), I think the three hour rule makes good sense.
Now as to the Italian advice that fizzy water is poison to the human body.....can anyone convince me of any science on this!!! :)

[quote=WiredEyes]....... I assume your trying to be funny, tongue in cheek.[/quote]

I can but try

.........................and fail :D

[CENTER][CENTER][COLOR=black]I have access to medical data bases and could not find any research on the subject, only alcohol and swimming, The links you have found basically confirm that there is no research apart from the mention of cramps in athletics but do not think that would apply in a normal swim. As one article says listen to your body and clearly watch the kids. Swim and have fun! :) [/COLOR][/CENTER][/CENTER]

[QUOTE=Relaxed]There is some sense in this. While the stomach is engaged in digesting a heavy meal it needs a good blood supply, and this means that the muscles take second place on the blood availability front. In turn, this means the muscles are more prone to get cramp.
Now, if you are talking about a gentle swim in a pool, where the swimmer is "in his depth", the danger associated with getting cramp is clearly minimal (can be ignored). However, if the swimmer might get into trouble (long way from the coast, etc), I think the three hour rule makes good sense.[/QUOTE]

All well and good saying it makes good sense but AFAICS there is no proof that it is actually a risk factor and it erks me (For want of a better word) that this fictitious "rule" has been perpetuated as fact when the risks are nil or at most impossibly low to mean that your at more risk of being hit by a meteor than of dying from going in the sea less then three hours after a meal.

My Girlfriend literally gets frantic if I even think if going in the water before then (I just ignore her), if this is the result of hear say and Chinese whispers then I want to stamp it out or have it proved to me as fact before I perpetuate it to my son.

Everyone knows it can be uncomfortable to exercise when you have just eaten and it can cause you to have a stitch but it is going to kill you, I DON'T THINK SO...

But really I'm just looking for reliable medical proof for or against.. Although all your opinions do count there just opinions and not fact.

[QUOTE=Relaxed]Now as to the Italian advice that fizzy water is poison to the human body.....can anyone convince me of any science on this!!! :)[/QUOTE]

Sorry cant help with this one, I never drink fizzy water, gives me gas. :)

Go for that swim - but get married to the girlfriend first.......then we will see who's right :) :)

Lunchtime = approx 1pm = hottest time of day = sunstroke and/or sunburn if you swim.. as effect is not felt directly when partly submerged = wait 'til it cools down a bit = swim at 4pm = wait 3 hours!

Makes as much sense as anything else! :D :D

The risk of death is probably one degree lower than that most certain of killers; drinking a capuccino after midday!

Uh oh! Trulli.. you're in trouble.. Cappuccino at 5pm = certain death by drowning in schiuma! :D :D

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]I know I have my weaknesses, have already been told off but hey I'm a rebel![/FONT][/COLOR]

[QUOTE=Relaxed]There is some sense in this. While the stomach is engaged in digesting a heavy meal it needs a good blood supply, and this means that the muscles take second place on the blood availability front. In turn, this means the muscles are more prone to get cramp.
Now, if you are talking about a gentle swim in a pool, where the swimmer is "in his depth", the danger associated with getting cramp is clearly minimal (can be ignored). However, if the swimmer might get into trouble (long way from the coast, etc), I think the three hour rule makes good sense.
Now as to the Italian advice that fizzy water is poison to the human body.....can anyone convince me of any science on this!!! :)[/QUOTE]

Now i would like to convey a bit of personal experience and some really unwanted knowledge here. I have already said in the Lake Garda thread about the dangers of eating and then swimming in fresh water lakes after eating.

What happens is that when you swim from the realatively warm shallow parts around the edge over a shelf where the water is deeper there is a dramatic temperature change.

We are warm blooded creatures (Except possibly Anastasia), our bodies need to maintain that temperature at all times. If you suddenly change the external temperature, it cannot cope and the tendancy is for the internal organs to contract to save heat. (Hence it's more urgent if you need a wee if you're cold!!!)

It is actually the effects of this change in temperature which is more apparent after you have eaten/been drinking. It can happen even if you haven't been eating.

It is best to leave it a period of time and to be honest it depends on what you have eaten. A big steak, tiramisu and a few beers will take longer to digest than a salad, so it's a case of judgement on how long you leave it. Three hours i say would be for a very heavy meal, it may be as little as half an hour for a very light lunch.

Andy

Please provide evidence that it is actually fatal / harmful. You haven't actually given any evidence, that is what I am looking for. When you say "personal experience" what do you mean?

It seems everyone tells me it is bad but no one has any actual proof or first hand experience, it's all hearsay and second hand stories, this leads me to believe they are simply perpetuating a myth without any evidence to back it up. All the ACTUAL evidence seems to say it is a myth.

[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]Wiredeyes, calm down, the links you provided has the nearest scientific evidence that I or you have found, the doctors in the articles have said as much, one being a gastroenterologist. So stop fretting just use your head about it, don't swim if you feel like a barrage balloon after a meal, above all no alcohol. :D [/FONT][/COLOR]

This article makes the most sense to me. [url]http://www.intellihealth.com/IH/ihtIH/WSIHW000/35320/35323/315779.html?d=dmtHMSContent[/url]

Tell you what.. just sit in the bath for an hour after your meal. That way, you get wet.. and keep your girlfriend happy at the same time! :D :p :D

[QUOTE=WiredEyes]All the ACTUAL evidence seems to say it is a myth.[/QUOTE]

Maybe that's because you don't know where to look and couldn't google yer way out of a paper bag!!

The digestive system needs more energy when it is digesting food. Therefore there is less energy available for non-core functions. Therefore, if the body suddenly loses a lot of heat, it does not have the energy available to maintian the digestive system.

This is when the body starts shutting down the external functions of the body. This may result in uncontrollable shivering or cramps etc or at it's extreme a loss of conciousness.

A loss of any function in water is dangerous. It is called hypothermia and is more likely to happen when your body is expending the maximum amount of energy (ie: after eating). Even if it's in a very mild form, it can be very dangerous in deep water.

It has also been the subject of HM Coastgaurds 'don't drink and drown' campaign and i assume even if you don't believe me, they would be considered to be people who would know what they are talking about.

Look at guidance on beach safety at [url]https://mcanet.mcga.gov.uk/public/c4/seasmart/beachsafety.htm[/url]

As for scientific proof, there is still no concrete scientific proof of a link between smoking and cancer, no concrete proof that global warming is occurring and the evidence to support the darwinian theory is based around the finds of a few skeleton's and to be honest takes a big leap of faith to end up where we did. Most people would quote these as fact. There is considerably more evidence to support this theory.

That said, three hours is probably excessive unless you have had a number of beers and a heavy meat based meal.

Regards

Andy

[QUOTE=widow twanky]Maybe that's because you don't know where to look and couldn't google yer way out of a paper bag!!
[/QUOTE]

Sorry, your saying that your one link to a site with a very generic paragraph saying don't swim directly after eating is some sort of major google find. You obviously didn't read the first post where I listed 5 (Much more descriptive) sites which I found with my obviously limited googling expertise.

Here are a few more I found in my frantic paper bag bashing google attempts.....

[url]http://www.snopes.com/oldwives/hourwait.asp[/url]
[url]http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a5_087.html[/url]
[url]http://siri.uvm.edu/ppt/posters/water/water.html[/url]
[url]http://www.speakingofwomenshealth.com/Health_Topics/swimaftereating.asp[/url]
[url]http://beauty.expertvillage.com/experts/swimming-eating.htm[/url]
[url]http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/Mar2003/1048459683.Me.r.html[/url]
[url]http://www.tafkac.org/misc/old_wives_tales.html[/url]
[url]http://www.soundmedicine.iu.edu/segment.php4?seg=400[/url]

and Ive got more if you want them.

BTW I'm not saying it is a bad thing to wait maybe an hour after a big meal before doing some mild recreational swimming. Obviously if I was going to go swimming in deep / cold water (on my own) I would probably take more precautions (although the probability of actually dieing I think would be pretty low still) but this is NOT the attitude of my girlfriend and her family.

What i was looking for was if any other Brits in Italy had come across this 3 hour myth and maybe had done some more research of modern Italian medical theory on the subject so that I could also bring that to the table and maybe convince my family that they have been miss led in there attitude as they seem to think that only Italian doctors would understand or know the truth of the matter.

I apologies for my seriousness (In an obviously less than serious forum).

My €0.02 worth:

I haven't read all the links you provided, Wired, but I did look at Snopes since I've always thought she was a voice of reason in a mad world. I was surprised by her conclusions.

My beliefs on this topic are based on evidence about as anecdotal as you can get: one incident involving two people. But it [I]was[/I] a pretty dramatic experience.

More years ago than I care to say, my wife and I went on a sailing holiday in Greece with another couple. One day, we anchored for lunch in splendid isolation in a tiny bay off a small uninhabited island. Too much time has passed for me to remember what exactly we had for lunch, but it was so hot that I'm sure it was light. Probably just salad, fish, bread and some wine. Half an hour or so after we had finished eating, I decided to do a bit of snorkelling. The water was lovely and warm and I swam around the boat for a little while, then I decided to swim to shore which was maybe 50 metres away. About halfway in, I had a bit of a cramp in my calf, but because I was wearing a face mask and snorkel, I didn't panic. I just stopped and floated for a bit, stretched my leg until the pain had eased and then moved on more slowly. When the water was shallow enough for me to stand, I did so. Only then did I discover that the other guy on the boat was a little ways behind me and in serious trouble.

Being a macho-man sort and having a high opinion of his swimming skills, he hadn't bothered with snorkel or flippers, but had just jumped into the water at some point as I swam toward the shore. He too had suddenly had leg cramps, but he'd panicked and he was flailing around in the water in a dreadful state of confusion. I've always believed that if I hadn't been there to haul him to the beach, it is likely he would have drowned.

As it was, he had taken in enough of the Mediterranean that I had to leave him laying on the beach heaving his guts up while I swam back to the boat to get the dinghy. Once the three of us had managed to get him on the boat and into his cabin, he spent three days in his bunk feeling very sorry for himself.

My conclusions: Three hours is probably erring on the side of excessive caution; it sounds to me like a rule created by over-anxious Italian mammas. But it is not a myth that one is likely to get cramp if you swim soon after a meal. Of course, getting a cramp while swimming is not necessarily a death sentence if you can keep your head. But keeping calm is probably difficult if, in your culture, [I]everyone knows[/I] that getting a cramp while swimming will result in your death by drowning.

It seems sensible to me to wait for an hour after swimming as a general rule, but there's obviously a big difference between doggie paddling around a metre-deep above-ground back-garden pool and setting off to swim across Lake Garda.

As for how one deals with this example of Italian superstition, I'd suggest that the best approach is to do what you feel is sensible. Let observers shriek in horror as you dive in before three hours has elapsed. When you survive, those who are bright enough to draw their own conclusions will do so. There's not a lot that can be done to help those who are unable to move beyond their social conditioning and the culture's accepted mythology. For them, logic and scientific proof will never be more persuasive than what mamma told them and what [I]everyone knows[/I].

Al

That post was the best €0.02 worth I've read on this subject! :D

Yes good comments, just wish it solved my problem.. :)

Have you actually shown the articles written by doctors to your girlfriend?

Ok, doctors are not always right about everything but they are more likely to flag up any concern and be over cautious, due to fear of getting sued!! They wouldn't dare publish an opinion if they hadn't weighed up the probabilities of risk first, trust me I work with the ******s every day!

[QUOTE=WiredEyes]Yes good comments, just wish it solved my problem.. :)[/QUOTE]
Suggest you write a letter to New Scientist who have a q&a section:

[url]http://www.newscientist.com/backpage.ns?id=mg19125582.600[/url]

Anyway, I think Widow T., Relaxed and Mr Mason have all given you scientific explanations, but to obtain incontroversial proof that three hours is too long you should do as Paul Newman did in Cool Hand Luke and then go swim...

Or if you are worried about alcohol and swimming, Burt Lancaster lived though "The Swimmer" :)

[QUOTE=Relaxed]Now as to the Italian advice that fizzy water is poison to the human body.....can anyone convince me of any science on this!!! :)[/QUOTE]
It's absolutely true and the only known cure (should you consume a glass of fizzy water) is to follow it swiftly with a glass of non-fizzy wine. This will counteract the immediate effects and also protect your internal organs from the rust which can form if you insist on drinking H2O.

My Gran used to tell the horror story of a school friend drowning because of stomach cramps. The fact that this still haunted her after 50 years made a great impression on me.
My Italian in-laws even worry about me taking a shower after a meal... I always ask them to show me the hundreds of people suffering cramp you should find outside restaurants during rainfall.