2006-07-16 07:39:16 · 16 answers · asked by frances.bacon&eggs 3 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Other - General Health Care
1/ The process of digestion withdraws blood from the rest of your body. This reduces oxygen availability to your brain & muscles.
2/ Swimming is hard work. doing that while your body is digesting food puts additional strain on your heart. Someone I really respect says it also adds strain to your liver because the liver is processing glycogen (an energy storage chemical) while it is also trying to deal with tehe cellular excretion products of exercise ( lactic acid, etc)
3/ The reduced blood flow, in addition to making your heart and muscles work harder (# 1), also reduces the ability of the body to keep arms and legs warm, this promotes cramping while also reducing the muscles ability to generate mechanical energy.
4/ It increases your relative density; you will float lower in the water, if you can float at all, after a heavy meal.
% It alters your center of gravity, the mass of food in the stomach changes the way you buoyancy will work in water, it will be harder to float on your back, and harder to keep your head above water.
This applies to substantial quantities of food; one hot dog, a few pieces of fruit, or an ice-cream cone aren't going to affect you in any significant way, unless you're a heart patient.
HTH
2006-07-16 07:53:43 · answer #1 · answered by Gerard S 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Muscle and stomach cramps are one of the major reasons people drown every year. Wait at least 30 minutes after eating a light meal or 60 minutes after eating a large meal before swimming.
This is not a myth or an old folk tale and certainly not anything to be taken lightly.
For a wealth of information on this subject, go to the following website.
2006-07-16 14:54:49 · answer #2 · answered by Healthnut 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The food in your stomach will jostle around and it will give you cramps... but if youre just doing some light swimming nothing will happen most likely.... but if you're doing all out swimming, like racing a friend you will most likely get cramps... wait a good 30 min. 15 at the least
2006-07-16 14:41:59 · answer #3 · answered by slp32 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you eat, the food in your stomach will be moving around too much, which is a direct cause of cramps. That could make you sink.
2006-07-16 14:43:45 · answer #4 · answered by suraj_krsna1 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It can give you cramps so you risk drowning-best to eat light before swimming for that reason,the stomach cramps make you convulse,, glug.....ktf.x
2006-07-16 14:43:44 · answer #5 · answered by Tommy D. 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You get a cramp if you don't wait an hour after eating!
2006-07-16 14:42:28 · answer #6 · answered by Time goes by 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's an old wive's tale. Not true. Swim if you want to.
2006-07-16 14:42:20 · answer #7 · answered by Silverglade00 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It gives you what they call the "Bends". In other words, severe cramping of the abdomin which could result in your drowning.
2006-07-16 14:48:20 · answer #8 · answered by ILCatLover 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
you get cramps. Wait 30-45mins depending on yur metabolism.
2006-07-16 14:42:38 · answer #9 · answered by hmmm 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your stomach can get upset , it is better to wait about 1 hour.
2006-07-16 14:45:44 · answer #10 · answered by antiekmama 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋