Do you really have to wait to go swimming after eating?
News Talk
By Tom Murphy | The Associated Press
FILE – Children cool off at the Hamilton Fish pool, July 18, 2017, in the Lower East Side neighborhood of Manhattan. In most cases, there’s no need to wait at least 30 minutes after eating to go for a swim, doctors say. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
(AP) – Did your parents warn you against jumping in the pool right after eating? They were misguided.
In most cases, there’s no need to wait at least 30 minutes after eating to go for a swim, doctors say.
That old warning stems from worry that people might drown or struggle because blood will be diverted to their full stomachs instead of their muscles.
In reality, people still have plenty of blood flowing to their muscles after eating, said Dr. Matthew Badgett of the Cleveland Clinic. A former high school swimmer, Badgett used to eat a couple of bananas and drink some water or Gatorade before he raced.
He worries that the old warning can actually cause complications. It’s important to quench your thirst before swimming, especially on sunny days. People often don’t realize they can still get dehydrated, which can lead to muscle cramps.
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