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Do you really have to wait to swim after you eat?

FILE - Children cool off at the Hamilton Fish pool, July 18, 2017, in the Lower East Side neighborhood...

FILE – Children cool off at the Hamilton Fish pool, July 18, 2017, in Manhattan’s Lower East Side. In most cases, it’s not necessary to wait at least 30 minutes after eating to go swimming, doctors say. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS

(AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, Archives)

Did your parents warn you not to jump in the pool right after dinner? They were wrong.

According to doctors, in most cases it is not necessary to wait at least 30 minutes after eating before swimming.

This old warning stems from the concern that people might drown or get into trouble because blood would be diverted to their full stomach instead of their muscles.

In reality, a lot of blood still flows to people’s muscles after eating, says Dr. Matthew Badgett of the Cleveland Clinic. Badgett, a former high school swimmer, ate a few bananas and drank some water or Gatorade before racing.

He worries that the old warning could actually cause complications. It is important to quench your thirst before swimming, especially on sunny days. People often do not realize that they can still become dehydrated, which can lead to muscle cramps.

“We sweat when we are in the water, but we don’t realize the water loss,” he said.

So jumping in the pool or ocean after eating is no problem for recreational swimmers. But people who plan to swim laps or play sports may want to let their food digest to avoid cramping, just as they would wait before jogging.

Swimming after a few beers is also risky. People tend to be more aggressive, less coordinated and prone to poor choices when swimming after drinking alcohol. All of these factors could cause problems during strong currents or tides at the beach this summer.

“You just won’t be as sharp,” Badgett said.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.