Howey here with some more swimming tips! This is a question we get asked a lot: Should we avoid eating before swim class? The answer is no! Usually. Confused? Read on!
You’ve probably heard that you should wait 30 minutes to an hour after eating before swimming. We’ve all heard it! My mom always warned me that if I ate a sandwich and jumped into the pool, I would get paralyzing cramps and sink to the bottom like the Titanic (minus violin quartet).
Well, it turns out that isn't exactly true.
Here's an excerpt from a swimming manual from the early 1900s. It looked bleak.
"Many [swimmers] make the mistake of going into the water too soon after eating. The stomach and digestive organs are busy preparing the food for the blood and body. Suddenly they are called upon to care for the work of the swimmer. The change is too quick for the organs, the process of digestion stops, congestion is apt to follow, and then paralyzing cramps."
It suggested that the shift in blood flow during digestion reduced the blood available to muscles, leading to cramps and early exhaustion. Sounds reasonable, right?
Fortunately, we've learned a bit more about the body since then, and it turns out there isn't any scientific evidence that eating impacts swimming performance. There have been a lot of studies on it, and the American Red Cross was kind enough to compile a list of a bunch of them for us.
TLDR all the studies; the human body is quite capable of handling digestion and physical activity simultaneously (we can do two things at once!). While it's true that the blood flow to the stomach increases after eating, your muscles have more than enough to keep working as they should.
Modern experts agree: Swimming after a meal doesn't pose a greater risk than swimming on an empty stomach.
Not that cramps aren't a concern. Muscle cramps can occur during any physical activity, including swimming.
They're often caused by dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, or overexertion. So, it's important to stay hydrated and maintain a balanced diet. Proper warm-up and stretching exercises also play a significant role in reducing the risk of cramps.
Your kid jumping up and down and waving their arms in front of the pool entrance because they're so excited for swim class to start counts!
Ah, but I said "usually", didn't I?
Yep! It is true that if you have a big meal before swim class, that full squishy tummy can be uncomfortable during a workout, especially for the upper level kids who are swimming laps.
The little ones should watch what they eat, too. Loading up on dairy or lots of fatty foods before getting in class where excitement (and sometimes apprehension) of doing something new and fun can result in an…unpleasant accident. And nobody wants that! Especially your teacher.
We have backup shirts to change into, but still. Ew.
So bottom line, having a meal before swim class is okay. Just make sure it's a light, healthy meal, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. And if your mom pulls out the myth again, just send her a link to this blog ;-).
Written by Howey the Dolphin, Houston Swim Club Mascot & Water Safety Expert
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