Is it dangerous to go swimming 30 – 60 minutes after eating?

What child hasn’t sat around restlessly waiting for his summer hot dog to digest so he can get back into the ocean or swimming pool? For some, mom’s advice was 30 minutes but many of us were told to wait a full hour.

This old wives tale began with the idea that digestion diverts blood flow away from the muscles. This in turn could cause stomach cramps. A study by the New York University School of Medicine showed that fewer than one percent of U.S. drownings occurred after the victim had recently eaten a meal. The Red Cross has also stated that eating right before swimming does not increase the risk of cramps.

Alcohol, however, greatly increases your drowning risk (alcohol is involved in approximately one-third of all drowning fatalities). It is also recommended that you do not eat (or chew gum) WHILE swimming due to the increased probability of choking.