Did your parents tell you not to go swimming right after eating?
How long should you wait before diving after eating?
Doctors say that in most cases it is not necessary to wait at least 30 minutes to go to the toilet.
This old warning comes from the concern that people might suffocate or have trouble because the blood will go to their full stomach instead of their muscles.
Dr Matthew Badgett of the Cleveland Clinic says that people actually have a lot of blood in their muscles after eating. A swimmer in high school, Badgett usually ate 1-2 bananas and drank some water or Gatorade before a race.
He now fears that the danger may actually be ancient warnings about not eating or drinking anything before swimming: it’s important to quench your thirst before swimming, especially on sunny days. People often don’t realize that they can also become dehydrated while in the water, which can lead to muscle cramps.
“When we’re in the water, we sweat, we just don’t account for water loss,” he says.
So, going into the pool or the sea after eating is out of the question, unless, of course, it’s just for fun. If someone plans to swim or exercise for a long time, they may want to digest it to prevent cramping, just like before a run.
But alcohol is prohibited
Also, swimming after beer is dangerous. People become more aggressive, lack coordination and tend to make poor swimming choices after drinking. All of these factors can cause problems if one encounters, e.g. with some strong current in the sea.