Wait at Least an Hour After Eating Before You Go Swimming
How many times have you sat in the sun, your skin baking, waiting for that hotdog or ice cream to digest so that you could get back into the water? Though the old adage that you should wait an hour after eating before swimming has been passed down from generation to generation, there isn’t any real evidence to support it. Now that summer is here, let’s dispel this myth!
John C. Wolfe, DO, associate professor of family medicine at Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine, suggests that there is a theoretical possibility that one could develop a cramp while swimming with a full stomach, which could lead to drowning, though the risk is extremely small.
Wolfe explains that after eating a big meal “the demand for blood in the gut increases, [while] less is available for carrying oxygen to the arms and legs. The muscles in these limbs require more oxygen to support the increased activity necessary during exercise like swimming.” The more vigorously we swim, the more oxygen our extremities require. “Fortunately, the muscles can continue to work [with little oxygen] for a while, but their metabolism is shifted to an anaerobic mode. The anaerobic activity causes lactic acid to accumulate in the muscles and in the blood. These changes, along with reduced oxygen levels … can cause muscle cramps.” In fact, muscle cramps do not necessarily lead to drowning, and no drowning caused by swimming on a full stomach have ever been documented.
According to the American Red Cross, although it may be a good idea to give yourself time to digest after a big meal, there is no real recommendation as to how long a person should wait after eating before swimming. As with any form of strenuous exercise, swimming right after eating a heavy meal can be uncomfortable and may cause nausea or vomiting, especially in children. Taking time to digest before swimming is a good general safety precaution, but not a solid, evidence-based medical rule. So, the next time you hear advice to wait an hour before going back in the water, rest (and swim) assured that the advice is nothing but a myth.