The Truth About Swimming After Eating

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Can you swim straight after having food?

“Stop! You have to wait for half an hour before you go swimming”.

Sound familiar? This month we step back and look at the research – is there any substance to the age-old advice that you might drown if you swim immediately
after eating?

This seemed almost universally accepted when we were children and is still believed today. The concerned parent or relative suggesting there is the
possibility of suffering severe muscle cramping and/or drowning from swimming on a full stomach.

While it’s true that the digestive process does divert the circulation of the blood toward the gut and to a certain extent, away from the muscles, the
fact is that an episode of drowning caused by swimming on a full stomach has never been documented.

After you consume food, the enzymes in saliva and the stomach begin the digestive process right away. About half of the consumed food remains in the stomach
for two hours and for the stomach to completely empty it takes about four hours.

You don’t need to sit around and wait for that to happen.

Use Common Sense About Swimming After Eating

You do not have to wait after eating before you swim unless it was a giant meal or you plan to swim very strenuously. Alcohol impairs your judgement, balance,
and coordination and should be avoided if you are planning to swim or be around water.

The Bottom Line

Swimming after a meal will not increase the risk of drowning, unless alcohol is involved.