How long should you wait after eating to begin swimming?

Doing any hectic physical activity like swimming just after eating can be quite tricky and therefore, it is advisable to wait for a while.

It is common knowledge that it is a good habit to eat something before any physical activity or a sport like swimming. The body needs food as a source of fuel to provide the necessary energy to perform the hectic activity at an optimal level. However, it must be kept in mind that there needs to be a period of time between the ingestion of food and performing the activity.

This is especially important in an activity like swimming where the general belief is that the pylorus or the gate between the stomach and intestines will cramp up and render the swimmer unable to stay above water.

As a result, it is always suggested that one should wait for at least 30 to 60 minutes before going for a swim just after consuming food.

Just after we eat and when the food is still in the stomach, the body directs a lot of blood towards the stomach and intestines in order to aid digestion. Swimming or performing any physical activity during this time leads to the blood flowing to those extremities and muscles in the legs, hands, chest, and core.

This sudden drawing of blood away from the stomach and intestines also leads to the digestive system getting in a state of flux.

It takes a long time (as many as four hours) for the body to completely digest food and during the entire period, the body utilises oxygen and energy to aid the process of digestion. As a result, these necessary resources are taken away from other uses such as fuelling energy or removing the lactic acid that builds up in muscles during exercise.

This means that having a large meal just before swimming can cause a lot of bloatiness and lead to one feeling very stuffy. It can cause indigestion and discomfort due to the state of flux in the digestive system. Moreover, the risk of digestive issues can lead to cramps which definitely interferes with someone’s ability to swim normally.

There should be a minimum of three hours of break after a meal so that the food gets broken down, digested, the stomach gets relaxed and there is no additional stress. The pylorus gate won’t open up if we do this and we can avoid symptoms of cramping, spasms, nausea, acidity, burping and acid reflux.

The danger of acid reflux and hiccups while swimming is greater as it can lead to water going inside the nose.

Cases have been reported of children who have vomitted because they were unable to handle their body’s biofeedback during a swim. Putting the face under water can also result in accidental ingestion of water.

A state of dehydration and electrolyte imbalance has also been shown to cause cramping. It is important to be hydrated before engaging in any activity in the water. Therefore, one should drink plenty of water before taking a swim.