Did your parents warn you not to jump into the pool right after dinner? That was a mistake.
In most cases, doctors say it is not necessary to wait at least 30 minutes after eating before swimming.
This old warning stems from the concern that people could drown or struggle to survive because blood is diverted to the full stomach instead of to the muscles.
In reality, a lot of blood is still flowing to the muscles after eating, says Dr. Matthew Badgett of the Cleveland Clinic. Badgett, a former high school swimmer, always ate a few bananas and drank some water or Gatorade before a race.
He fears the old warning can actually cause complications. It’s important to quench your thirst before swimming, especially on sunny days. People are often unaware that they can still become dehydrated, which can lead to muscle cramps.
“We sweat when we are in the water, we just don’t feel the water loss,” he said.
Therefore, it is no problem for the recreational swimmer to jump into the pool or the sea after eating. However, if you want to swim a few laps or do some exercise, you may want to let your food digest to prevent cramps – just as you would wait before jogging.
Plus, swimming after a few beers is risky. People tend to be more aggressive, less coordinated, and make poor decisions when swimming after drinking alcohol. All of these factors can cause problems at the beach this summer when there are strong currents or tides.
“They just won’t be as sharp,” Badgett said.
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