Eating Before Swimming

The answer is A -- a bagel or low-fat muffin. A snack that is low-fat but high in carbohydrates is best to eat before exercise, since carbohydrates are the body's primary fuel source. Other beneficial high-carb snacks are cereal bars, bananas, a sandwich, pasta and rice.

Some nutritionists recommend a snack or meal that is two-thirds carbohydrate and one-third protein and fat. The body digests these foods easily, and quickly has it ready to use as fuel.

As for the recommended length of time between eating and swimming, there are no published studies on the subject. However, rules of physiology come into play. After a meal, there is an increased flow of blood to the stomach and intestines to absorb nutrients. This means that there is relatively less blood available to deliver oxygen to exercising muscles. If you exercise immediately after eating, a competition for blood flow is set up between the digestive organs and muscles. Some people get cramps due to this because their body is unable to meet these competing demands. It is possible that severe cramping could reduce one's ability to swim to such an extent that the person could drown.

If you want to play it safe, follow Mom's advice and give your body some time, about an hour, to begin the digestive process before swimming. On the other hand, if more than four hours have elapsed since you last ate, munch a high-carbohydrate snack for energy.

Resources:

Learn what foods are best to eat before exercise, how much you should eat, and when you should eat.

Here are more healthy foods to eat before exercise.

A physician from Harvard Medical School discusses what's happening inside your body when you get a cramp while swimming after eating.

July 26, 2003