Aug 8, 2007 12:31 am US/Pacific
Good Question: Waiting To Swim After You Eat
by Pallas Hupé
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
Remember this? You're having fun, and just need a quick snack, and want to get back in the action, but wait! Mom says don't even think about swimming! So are you really supposed to wait a half hour after eating before swimming?
Christy Adams, with the Injury Prevention Program and a Mom herself says this really is a good question.
"Drowning is the number one cause of death for kids ages 1-4 within California," she says.
She adds there are more than 3,000 cases of drowning each year in the United States.
But is there any truth to waiting a half hour?
"There has not been a single case attributed to eating a meal unless of course alcohol was involved," says Adams.
Christy does see the logic behind the legend.
"I think the myths have developed because after eating a body moves blood to the intestines, to help with digestion, and that in some cases could cause cramping," she says.
She believes that would require some extreme eating and swimming.
"So basically that is an old wives' tale," says Adams.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
