No swimming for 20 minutes after eating?

Question

Is it true or an old wives tale that you should not swim for 20 minutes after eating?

Answer 1

i dont know but i dont follow that

Answer 2

No, not if you're just takin a few laps or playing aroudn in the pool.  However, if you're about to race competitively, then it probably is not a good idea.  Use your best judgement, because in my personal experience you may be more prone to cramps after eating.

Answer 3

I read that you are more likely to gets cramps on an empty stomach. The fact is that an episode of drowning caused by swimming on a full stomach has never been documented. Neither the American Academy of Pediatrics nor the American Red Cross makes any specific recommendations about waiting any amount of time after eating before taking a swim.I think it is an old wives tale.

Answer 4

Totally untrue. You don't need to wait. Swim away!

Answer 5

actually, you need to wait 25 minutes for a reason, it takes a bit to have your food digested, and if you get in to early, you will get a really painful, piercing pain in your side or stomach. the rule is 20 minutes, but wait 5 minutes longer, just to be safe! trust me, better being safe than sorry! it happened to me before, some food can take longer than 25 minutes to digest. so, be sure to wait 25-30 minutes before swimming, if not, prepare for a piercing and painful side after 10-15 minutes.

Answer 6

total wifes tale! CBS did an experiment with this a few years ago with a swim team. They gave the swimmers hamburgers and french fries and then they swam their practice. The myth is you get a cramp after eating while in the pool and drown. Only a couple of swimmers got cramps. THey said it wasn't like they were so bad that they had to stop though. However, you will find this with any sport, you might get cramps if you drink too much water before running or eat too much. Nothing happens if you go swimming 20 min. after eating.

Answer 7

This used to be advised. The rationale behind it was that after you eat your intestines have increased blood flow which may reduce blood flow away from muscles used when swimming, theoretically making it more possible to drown. Since people drown all the time, surely someone in history drowned after eating(probably having nothing to do with eating) and the wive's tale began. On the other hand if you are doing competitive swimming, likely you would not want to do it on a full stomach.

Answer 8

My basic rule is NO eats one hour before swimming. I don't know if it's an old tale  but as with any other sport you don't want to work out on a full stomach. And swimming  (especially if you're doing lengths) is a good workout indeed.

Answer 9

you shouldn't swim for an hour just so that you don't get cramps while swimming. it's not an old wives tale. i've gotten cramps while swimming b/c i ate and then swam too soon. it hurts (trust me). just get out and stretch that area. it should help. it never hurts to be safe rather than sorry.