Is it OK to swim immediately after a meal?

Question

Or is it true that you must wait an hour after eating before swimming?

Answer 1

as a competitive swimmer, i eat before swimming every day and am still here to tell the tale. of course, its not a good idea to eat a thanksgiving dinner before swimming, but that's the same with just about any form of exercise. i have never gotten a debilitating stomach cramp that cause me to loose control so the myth is just that, a myth

Answer 2

Swimming immediately after a meal causes trouble for your digestive system. Because your body is not use to the fluid environment of the water around you while you are swimming, it needs to work on homeostasis and stability of your internal organs, thus regulating your body temperature and condition. Therefore, digestion is slowed down and nearly stopped.

This creates a problem for the food you have ingested. It may remain in your stomach and eventually excrete by diarrhea, which isn't good. :( The best thing to do is eat a meal about an hour before swimming, and it is best if you do not swim intensely. If you are not eating a meal, at least have a higher-calorie snack to fuel your body while you are swimming about an hour before.

Hope that helps! :)

Answer 3

Nope. Funny you should ask. Growing up during the 1950s, my grandma made my dad wait exactly 60 minutes before swimming. It was that much of a myth- many people took it seriously. Sports nutritionist Dr. Helen O'Connor believes it comes from the fear of getting a stitch or cramp and that if you've got a stitch when you're swimming you might drown. The theory goes that after a meal, there's an increased blood flow to the stomach and intestines to absorb nutrients. This means there's less blood to deliver oxygen and to remove waste products from exercising muscles. It makes perfect sense as to how this turned out to be an oldwives’ tale.

Answer 4

It is best if you wait 30 minutes to 1 hour before swimming after a meal.

If you are low on "fuel" prior to eating, then eat, then use up what little "fuel" you have left in swimming, prior to the "fuel" being released from the food you just ate, the lack of "fuel" could result in cramping, or worse, causing lack of coordination and drowning.

That is why any heavy exercise immediately after eating is generally discouraged.

Answer 5

It is advised not to go swimming straight after a meal because it can cause you to get cramps in the stomach as the digestive system needs to kick in, it is best to wait at least and hour after eating to participate in any sports. Best to exercise before meal and wait the extra time for your body to concentrate on what it is meant to do after a meal. Give your body more energy.

Answer 6

Yes it is ok to swim right away. As long as you are just playing in the water and having a good time. It not good to do vigorous exercise immediately after a large meal, however. That applies to all exercise. Kind of hard to run a mile immediately after 3 pieces of pizza and a soda.......

Answer 7

it may take some time depending upon the meal which you have taken , but generally food starts digesting within 15 minutes and then absorption takes place in the next two to three hours,
thus if you exercise in this bracket then nothing drastic will happen but some time you may feel ischemic pain along your abdomen mostly in the right lumbar or rt para inguinal region , as most of the blood rushes to the muscles (as there is more demand) ,which may delay the food absorption and obiously mal-absorption too.
thus the answer would be wait for about three hours minimum

Answer 8

Swimming immediately after a meal supposedly causes cramps. Cramps while swimming causes drowning.

Answer 9

I'm no doctor but I would say its okay. If you are going to swim extremely long distances then of course not.
i have swam and seen others many times after eating without any effects. ALthough I have always heard that you should wait.

Answer 10

Don't swim after taking lunch or meal. swim after 15 minutes