Throughout my childhood, I was never able to get through the summer season without being warned by a concerned family member that I "shouldn't swim after eating". I never objected to the order and I remember tediously watching the clock after eating before jumping back in the pool. I never asked for a reason why I must wait to swim again, so now seems like the perfect time. Why?
The theory: The stomach uses more blood while digesting food, therefore taking away blood from your important muscles that keep you afloat and if you attempt to swim you will have such bad cramps you will drown! (Apparently everyone else swimming with you will let you sink like a rock).Dr. Rajapaska, a gastroenterologist from the NYU School of Medicine disagrees with this old wive's tale, "While swimming strenuously on a full stomach could conceivably lead to cramps, for most recreational swimmers the chances are small. And at least one study that looked at drownings in the United States found that fewer than 1 percent occurred after the victim ate a meal". Plus, if you wait for the TRUE digestion time of some foods, you would be waiting 2-4 hours. Find me a kid that will wait that long for the pool.
So next time you are at a BBQ this summer, eat all the cheeseburgers, corn, hot dogs, chicken and ribs you want before you go for a dip in the pool. You may get a small cramp, but nothing that will prevent you from swimming safely out of the pool. Maybe you could even consume 12,000 calories of food like Michael Phelps before jumping in the pool, but it probably won't get you a gold medal.
Sources: http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/28/health/28real.html
This post was so cool! I was told the same thing when I was growing up. Every time I would eat, I would have to wait at least a half hour before I was allowed back in the pool. I never thought to ask why this was because I simply assumed my parents were just being overprotective. It is good to know that there is no reason for me to ever have to continue this practice with my children.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this post and was told the same thing while growing up. Its good to know that the theory isnt as bad as it seems, but I also wouldnt swim on a full stomach.
ReplyDeleteNice post. Even though my parents used to tell me this, I never used to listen, but this is something I always believed growing up. I still wait a little while before exerting myself after eating.
ReplyDeleteThis is a good post! Like everyone else, I was always told the same thing! I didn't listen though and went right in the pool anyway. Nothing ever happened though, I'm still here!
ReplyDeleteI think it's still good to wait a little after eating before swimming due to things like cramps, but as far as drowning goes, that's definitely not true! Nice post!
ReplyDeleteGood Post. I always wait to go swimming after I eat because I feel fat and want to keep my big ol' belly away from sight. Needless to say their is no scientific reason for not jumping right into the pool, but i will need to work on my self-esteem.
ReplyDeleteI agree, and I mean its not like im swimming vigorous laps anyway, Im usually just relaxing and keeping cool. Will keep it in mind tho, thanks!
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