Your mom probably warned you that swimming right after eating could cause muscle cramping or spasming, possibly leading to drowning, but this is one case where mom doesn’t know best.  There’s no evidence to suggest that exercising after eating will give you cramps.  Vigorous exercise directs blood flow away from the digestive area and to the muscles in your arms, legs and skin. If your food is still half-digested this might make you feel nauseated, but it’s unlikely to cause cramping.  If you still want to follow mom’s advice, wait 20-30 minutes for the digestion process to stop.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.