After working as a lifeguard and swim instructor for five years, I have heard numerous times that one should wait an hour after eating to swim in order to avoid dangerous cramps. I asked Jennifer Polniak, a clinical dietitian at Boone Hospital Center for the truth behind this myth.
“While the belief is prevalent in many countries and in many cultures, there has never been a drowning reported that could be linked to stomach cramps brought on by entering the water too soon after eating,” Polniak said. “However, rules of physiology do come into play when we talk about any activity after eating.”
“After a meal, there is an increased flow of blood to the stomach and intestines to absorb nutrients. This means that there is relatively less blood available to deliver oxygen to exercising muscles,” Polniak explained. “If you exercise immediately after eating, a competition for blood flow is set up between the digestive organs and muscles. Some people get cramps due to this because their body is unable to meet these competing demands.”
She went on to say that severe cramping could cause a person to drown. However, “regular splashing around in the pool isn’t likely to bring on the cramps.” Should a more severe cramp occur, she said that the person can usually float or go to the side of the pool until the cramp subsides.
As for foods to eat before swimming, Polniak recommends foods high in carbohydrates and low in fat such as cereal bars, bananas, a sandwich, pasta and rice because they are digested quickly.
