2006-07-22 05:56:01 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Other - Health
Very little merit actually. Most likely it was used by mothers who didn't want their children dirtying the pool after eating.
But it is not without its problems. When your stomach is busy digesting food that you just ate, it sends extra blood to the stomach to aid in digestion. If you were to swim, especially if you do laps, the body would now have to choose which to prioritize: stomach or muscles. Since the main activity of the moment is swimming the muscles would get the lions share of the blood, depriving the stomach of much needed blood in order for it to do its job, which oftentimes leads to indigestion.
I know this for a fact since i was a competitive runner and swimmer in high school. We of course ran and swam as often as we could, and we normally developed stomach aches if we decided to pursue either activity immediately after eating a heavy meal.
Same holds true for the old wives tale of getting appendicitis if you exercise after eating a meal. It's totally bogus.
Happy swimming.
2006-07-22 06:13:42 · answer #1 · answered by dinocruz53 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is kind of an old wives tale. The idea of having to stay out of the water for an hour or you will drown is an old wives tale.
If you go in the w3ater after a heavy meal and are very active, you may experience some stomach pains.
Just use your common sense and you'll be fine.
2006-07-22 13:02:44 · answer #2 · answered by horses 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason you're not suppose to swim for an hour is so that the food can digest somewhat before you use your muscles. Its the same thing as why you shouldn't play sports or workout right after eating. It helps so you don't have cramps.
It is not an old wives tale, at all.
2006-07-22 13:05:36 · answer #3 · answered by somecoolkid 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The reason you are not supposed to go swimming right after eatting is that the oxygen in your blood supply will be used up to help you digest the food you ate. You could get a cramp in the muscles you use to swim because of a lack of oxygen getting to them.
2006-07-22 13:00:44 · answer #4 · answered by reteach007 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's an old wives tale and was busted on "Mythbusters" about a year ago.
2006-07-22 13:00:47 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Depends on a couple of factors. The one extreme that playing in the water will cause crippling cramps is certainly not true. On the other hand, if someone accidentally punches a kid in the stomach during water play, that could cause them to vomit if it's immediately after lunch.
http://pediatrics.about.com/library/owt/bl_swimming_eating_r.htm
2006-07-22 13:00:51 · answer #6 · answered by hawkthree 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it certainy is not. Can you imagine swimming after downing in rapid succession, six hamburgers and an eight pack of lucky? There would be just a little cramping
2006-07-22 12:59:51 · answer #7 · answered by clampnugget 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
old wives tale.. I think
2006-07-22 12:59:37 · answer #8 · answered by TP 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i just went swimming at my aunts house last week & asked her about it. she said its not true at all but it is best to wait 15 mins before u get back in the pool.
2006-07-22 13:12:35 · answer #9 · answered by KimB 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
OLD WIVES TALE!
2006-07-22 12:59:30 · answer #10 · answered by robbet03 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋